“You’re assuming I have a TV in my bedroom,” he pointed out.
Her lips curved. “If you don’t, I’m sure we could find something else to occupy the time.”
* * *
He decided to go with her plan, but upgraded it a little by setting the table with candles and champagne flutes filled with sparkling grape juice. And for dessert, he picked up some miniature pastries from the Bean There Café.
After the pizza had been eaten, Matt asked Georgia if she had any update on her mother’s plans.
“They want to stay for two weeks,” she told him, making the “two weeks” sound like “forever.”
“Charlotte misses her grandchildren,” he guessed.
“I think she does, but it was actually Trigger’s idea to stay for a while, to get to know his new family.” But she didn’t sound very enthusiastic about the prospect.
“And you’re afraid that if you get to know him, you’ll like him, and if your mother walks out a second time, you might never see him again.”
“That’s certainly been the history,” she admitted. “But honestly, I think Trigger is different. I think my mother could walk out a dozen times, and he’d track her down and take her back, because he loves her.”
“Does that mean you now believe they did fall in love over a baccarat table?”
“It seems that I do.”
“Then it wouldn’t be completely out of the realm of possibility that a man could fall in love with his next-door neighbor after only a couple of months?”
She picked up her juice, sipped. “I guess not, but I’m hardly an expert on the subject.”
“Okay, as a non-expert, do you think there’s any chance that she might someday feel the same way?”
She nibbled on her lower lip for what seemed like an eternity while he waited for her response.
“I think it’s possible that she already does,” she said, and he was finally able to release the breath he’d been holding.
“I know you probably think I’m rushing things—even I thought I was rushing things,” he admitted. “But Charlotte convinced me that sometimes the heart just knows what it wants.”
“You’re taking relationship advice from a woman who’s been married five times and divorced four?”
“It takes courage to follow your heart.”
“Then she has to be the bravest woman I know.”
“She probably is,” Matt agreed.
“And you think I’m a coward.”
“I think you’re wary,” he said. “And I understand why you would be.”
“My kids are my priority.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” he assured her. “And I don’t think your kids have any problem with us being together.”
“They don’t, because they want you to be their new daddy. But they’ve already lost one father—how will they feel if things don’t work out?”
“I’m thirty-eight years old and long past the stage of wanting to sow any wild oats. I wouldn’t be with you—I wouldn’t risk getting close to your kids—if I wasn’t serious.” He put his hand in his pocket and closed his fingers around the box from Diamond Jubilee. He set it on the table in front of her. “Very serious.”
* * *
Georgia’s breath caught when she recognized the logo. Matt hadn’t opened the lid, but that didn’t matter. She didn’t care if he’d chosen a diamond solitaire or a cluster of cubic zirconias, it was the significance of the box itself that had her mind reeling.
“This isn’t how I planned to do it,” he told her. “But I couldn’t let you continue thinking this is just a fling, because it’s not. Not for me.”
“I kind of liked the idea of a fling,” she said, keeping her tone light and her hands clasped together. “I’ve never had one before.”
“Because you’re not the type of woman to share your body without giving your heart. At least, I hope you’re not.”
That heart was pounding frantically now, though she didn’t know if it was with excitement or apprehension. “I’m also not the type of woman who believes that an intimate relationship has to lead to a walk down the aisle.”
“And I’ve never felt compelled to propose to a woman just because I slept with her,” he pointed out. “But I’ve been married before and if the failure of that marriage taught me nothing else, it at least taught me that there are no guarantees in life.
“After the divorce, I learned to appreciate every moment—and I vowed that if I was ever lucky enough to find someone with whom I wanted to share those moments, I would never let her go.” He reached across the table and linked their hands together. “I want to share all of my moments with you.”
The heartfelt words brought tears to her eyes. And while she could appreciate that he was putting it all on the line, she was too cowardly to do the same.
“I wasn’t ready for this,” she protested. “I’m not ready for this.”
He released her hands and tucked the box back into his pocket. But removing it from the table didn’t make her feel any less pressured, because now she knew it was there.
“I wasn’t pushing you for an answer. Not right now,” he said. “I just wanted you to know that I was looking toward a future for us—all of us—together.”
“And I was looking forward to tonight—just the two of us.”
She could tell that he was disappointed in her response, but she didn’t know what else to say. Or maybe she was afraid to admit what was in her heart. She wasn’t just wary—she was terrified, because what she felt for Matt was so much bigger than anything she’d ever felt before.
“Then let’s start with tonight,” he said, and led her upstairs to his bedroom.
Georgia wouldn’t have thought it was possible, but she was almost more nervous now than the first time they’d made love. Because then she’d had no hopes or expectations beyond that single night. And when one night had become two, she’d still been content to live in the moment.
I want to share all of my moments with you.
As Matt’s words echoed in the back of her mind, Georgia knew without a doubt that she wanted the same thing. From this moment to forever.
He paused in the act of unbuttoning her shirt. “You’re trembling,” he noted.
She could only nod.
“It can’t be nerves,” he said, in a gentle, teasing tone. “Because I’ve seen you naked at least once or twice before.”
“But I never knew it wasn’t just a fling before.”
“But you know it now?”
She nodded again. “You matter to me, Matt. And I don’t want to screw this up.”
“You won’t,” he assured her.
“How do you know?”
“Because we’re in this together, and I won’t let anything screw this up for us.” He kissed her then, softly, deeply, thoroughly. “I love you, Georgia.”
She wasn’t sure if it was the kiss or his words, but suddenly her head was spinning and her knees were weak. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, holding on. “Show me.”
So he did. With each kiss, every touch and every caress, with his lips and his hands and his body, he showed her the depth and truth of his feelings. She had never felt more treasured or cherished. Her pleasure was his pleasure. He gave and gave until she couldn’t take any more, until she didn’t want anything—not even her next breath—as much as she wanted him inside of her.
And when their bodies finally joined together, Georgia knew that their hearts and souls were equally entwined.
* * *
Afterward, when she was snuggled against his chest waiting for her heart rate to return to normal, she appreciated that this was one of those moments he’d been talking about. A moment that she wanted to share with only Matt. Not just because they’d had earth-shattering sex together, but because, when she was in his arms, she felt as if she truly belonged there. And because there was nowhere else in the world that she would rather be.
And along with t
hat certainty came the courage to finally admit what she wanted. “Was there really a ring in that box you pulled out earlier?”
“You want to see it, don’t you?” His lips curved, just a little. “It’s always about the bling, isn’t it?”
“No, I don’t want to see it,” she denied. “I want to wear it. But only if I hear a proper proposal.” It really hadn’t mattered to her that Phillip had never formally proposed. But he was her past and Matt was her future—and she wanted this time to be different. She wanted this time to really be forever.
His brows quirked. “Does that mean I have to get dressed?”
She shook her head. “It only means you have to ask.”
He leaned over the edge of the mattress, searching for the pants that had been discarded on the floor to retrieve the box from the pocket. He fumbled a little, trying to open the lid, but she covered his hand.
“The proposal,” she reminded him.
“Now I’m nervous,” he admitted.
She smiled, relieved to know that she wasn’t the only one. “Would it help if I told you that I’m probably going to say yes?”
“Probably?” he echoed. “That’s not very reassuring.”
“Well, I can’t say anything until you ask the question.”
“I really didn’t plan to do it like this. I wanted to have all the right words to tell you how much you mean to me, how just knowing you has changed my life and made every day a little bit better.”
“That sounds pretty good so far,” she said.
“Being with you makes me happy,” he told her, “and the only way I could imagine being any happier would be with you as my wife. But I don’t just want to be your husband, I want to be your partner in every aspect of your life. I want to share your hopes and dreams, to help raise your children, to celebrate with you when you’re happy and hold you when you’re sad. I want to share every moment of the rest of your life, and that’s why I’m asking, Georgia Reed, will you marry me?”
She blew out a shaky breath. “I don’t have any words that can top that.”
“There’s only one word I want to hear,” he said.
“Yes.” She pressed her lips to his. “Yes, Matthew Garrett, I will marry you.”
“You haven’t even looked at the ring,” he chided.
Because it seemed so important to him, she dropped her gaze to the box in his hand. And this time when her breath caught in her throat it was because she was absolutely stunned by the enormous princess-cut diamond set in a platinum band.
“So it’s not about the bling?” he teased, slipping the ring onto her finger.
She couldn’t deny that she liked the way the diamond sparkled on her finger, but far more precious to her was the love in his heart. A love that matched her own.
“No,” she said, and kissed him again. “It’s all about the man.”
* * *
Georgia had hoped to keep the news of their engagement on the QT for a while—at least until she had a chance to get used to it herself. She didn’t count on the fact Charlotte could sniff out a diamond at twenty paces. Georgia had barely walked into the kitchen the next morning when her mother let out a squeal of delight and snatched up her daughter’s hand for a closer inspection.
“Look at the size of that rock,” she said approvingly. “If that doesn’t say ‘I love you,’ nothin’ does.” But then her gaze narrowed. “So why is it that your cheeks are glowin’ but there’s worry in your eyes?”
“I guess I’m just feeling a little like I’m venturing into new territory.”
“You were married once before,” Charlotte reminded her.
“I know, but everything was different with Phillip. I felt safe with Phillip.”
“You’re feelin’ vulnerable,” her mother guessed.
She nodded.
“Every time you put your heart out there, you put it at risk,” Charlotte acknowledged. “You just have to trust that it’s worth the risk.”
“I loved Phillip, but it was a comfortable kind of love. What I feel for Matt is so much more intense, so much more all-encompassing. So much more...everything.”
“Love can be scary,” her mother agreed. “It’s both exhilaratin’ and terrifyin’, much like those roller coasters you enjoyed so much as a kid.”
“That was Indy,” Georgia reminded her. “I hated roller coasters.”
Charlotte chuckled. “That’s right. You used to scream bloody murder whenever your sister convinced you to strap yourself into one.”
“She didn’t convince me—she bribed me.” Usually by offering her share of the cotton candy or caramel corn Charlotte had bought for them. Georgia would happily devour the treat—and then promptly throw it up again when she got off the ride.
And she couldn’t help wondering if she was making the same mistake now. The idea of a future with Matt was like a trip to the carnival—both thrilling and terrifying. She had never loved anyone as she loved him, which meant that no one had ever had so much power to break her heart.
But when she was in Matt’s arms, she had absolute faith that he wouldn’t do so. He was like the safety bar that held her tight, that would keep her in the car, protect her through all of the ups and downs and corners and curves. He would be the partner who shared not just her life but her hopes and her dreams, and a father for her children.
When Phillip died, she’d mourned for her children even more than she’d mourned for herself. She’d cried for her sons who had absolutely doted on their father, and who had been devastated to know that he was never coming home again. And she’d cried for her unborn child who would never even know her daddy. But she hadn’t cried for herself, because the truth was, she’d been living life on her own for a long time before she buried her husband.
“So when’s the weddin’?” Charlotte asked.
“We just got engaged,” Georgia reminded her.
“Which means it’s time to start thinkin’ about a weddin’,” her mother insisted. “Better yet, let’s go out today to find you a dress.”
“I’m not rushing into anything,” Georgia protested.
“But it would mean so much to me to see my baby girl happily married before I go back to Montana.”
She shook her head. “There’s no way I’m planning a wedding in two weeks.”
“You don’t need to do a lot of plannin’,” Charlotte said, her eyes twinkling. “You and your fiancé can just fly down to Vegas—”
“No.”
Her mother frowned. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to get married by a second-rate Elvis impersonator in some tacky chapel...” She felt the flood of color in her cheeks as her brain finally halted the flow of words from her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
Charlotte waved off her apology. “Most of those chapels are tacky, but some of those Elvises are real good. Not the one who married me and Trigger, mind you, but I didn’t care about the settin’ so much as the vows.” Then she winked. “And the weddin’ night.”
Georgia cringed. “Too much information.”
“Honestly, Georgia May Reed, I don’t know how any daughter of mine grew up to be such a prude.”
“Did you know that the word ‘prude’ provides the root of the word ‘prudence,’ meaning the exercise of sound judgment?” she asked, undaunted by the criticism.
“Nothin’ would show more sound judgment than movin’ forward with your life with that sexy doctor,” Charlotte told her. “And I’d feel so much better about goin’ back to Montana if I knew you were settled and taken care of. But if you won’t do it for me, do it for your children.”
Georgia narrowed her gaze. “Don’t you use my children to manipulate me.”
“I’m just askin’ you to consider how happy they’d be to have a full-time daddy in their lives again. Especially the twins, since they’ll be startin’ kindergarten soon.” Her mother refilled her mug with coffee, added a heaping teaspoon of sugar. “When they’re asked to draw those pic
tures of their family, I’m sure they’d like bein’ able to put a daddy in the scene.”
It was, as Charlotte had to know, the only argument that could sway Georgia from her conviction not to rush into anything.
* * *
Matt was surprised but not opposed when Georgia suggested a date for their wedding that was less than two weeks away. And he was determined that doing it on short notice didn’t mean they couldn’t do it right. While Georgia went shopping with her mom for a dress and made arrangements for a minister, flowers and cake, he enlisted the aid of his brothers to get the upstairs bedrooms ready for the kids.
He’d let the twins decide what they wanted for their room and was pleased with the sports-themed border and green paint they selected. Since the room had been empty, he ordered new furniture for them, too—a set of bunk beds, and dressers and desks. Georgia picked out the paint for Pippa’s room and lace curtains for her window and pitched in with the decorating whenever she could spare a few minutes in between taking care of the kids and dealing with wedding details.
They were both so busy that they rarely had any time alone. And when they did manage to steal a few minutes of private time, they usually only stayed awake long enough to make love and then fall asleep in one another’s arms. But as the date of the wedding drew nearer, Matt knew they needed to find time to talk. Except that now, with the wedding only a few days away, he couldn’t help but worry that he’d already waited too long.
He was in the midst of hanging the border in the twins’ room when he remembered that he needed a utility knife. When Georgia walked in to check on his progress, it seemed logical to ask her to get the knife out of the top drawer of his desk. It wasn’t until she’d started down the stairs that he remembered the photo that was in that same drawer.
Panic clawing at his belly, he dropped the border and raced after her, desperate to get to her before she opened that drawer. But when he reached the doorway, he saw that he was already too late.
Georgia stood behind the desk, the utility knife in one hand and a wallet-sized photograph in the other. He couldn’t see the picture from where he was standing, but the image was burned into his mind. A six-year-old boy with dark hair, dark eyes and a broad grin, wearing a mortarboard and gown and holding a rolled-up scroll. Liam’s kindergarten graduation photo.
From Neighbors...to Newlyweds? Page 18