So he did, but not before kissing her thoroughly.
“Now can I open the envelope?” she asked.
He took a deep breath. “Yes, please.”
She grinned at him, then opened the top of the envelope. She pulled out the stapled papers inside. “What is this?”
He didn’t answer, just let her read through the acceptance letter.
“What did you do?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Turn the page,” he said, hoping that this had been a good move.
She turned the page and gasped. “You paid the tuition? And...” She flipped to the third page. “I’m registered?”
“You can change the classes if you want, but the guidance counselor said these are core classes that are required for the more advanced courses.”
She was still staring at the list of classes. “How... how did they accept me? It’s been years since I’ve done any serious art.”
Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets. Here came the hard part. “I sent them your watercolor.”
She looked up at him, her green eyes wide. “This is... This is...” She took a deep breath. “What about my job?”
“This is only a part-time schedule. There’s one class on Saturdays, and the other two are evening classes,” Cameron explained. “A lot of people go to college when they’re still working a full-time job. But maybe you wouldn’t have to work full-time since the tuition is already paid for.”
Jane opened her mouth, then shut it. Finally, she said, “This is not a scholarship. You paid the tuition?”
“I did,” he said, expecting her rejection. “I can get my money back if you don’t want to do this. But I don’t want my money back.” He raised his hand to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. “You’re an amazing artist and a great business woman, Jane. You can do anything. I just want to help you get there.”
Jane exhaled, then waved the papers in front of her as she blinked her eyes. “Cameron, I just don’t know. I mean, this is wonderful, generous. It would take me forever to pay you back.”
“I don’t want you to pay me back,” Cameron said. “And I’m hoping that you won’t sign that lease either.”
Her eyes connected with his. “What? Why not?”
“Because a year would be way too long to wait to marry you.”
Jane went absolutely still. “What did you say?” she whispered.
“I said, I love you,” he said. “And don’t sign the lease, because I’m going to ask you to marry me soon—when I know you’ll say yes. It might be too soon now, but a year will be way too long.”
Jane brought a hand to her mouth, and she seemed to be trying to catch her breath. Then she turned away.
“Jane?” Cameron asked after a moment.
Slowly she turned around. She wiped the tears from her eyes, then threw her arms around his neck.
Jane applied her final touches of makeup. Tonight was game night with her dad at the assisted living center. It had been Bea’s birthday earlier this week, so Jane had made cupcakes, and she was wearing a pink blouse in honor of Bea. Jane had found some silver, heeled sandals, since silver was Bea’s second favorite color.
The woman would get a kick out of it. Jane had bought a beginner’s oil painting kit as a birthday present for Bea. Even though the woman’s hands weren’t steady, she had talent in painting. Jane had also bought five small canvas boxes that contained pre-printed images that Bea could practice oil painting on.
“Are you ready, Jane?” her dad’s gravelly voice echoed from the kitchen.
“Coming!” she called out as she put on her earrings. She was wearing her hair down, and she applied a final spritz of her favorite apple blossom scent, which of course made her think of Cameron. He always said she smelled good.
Cameron had been hinting at proposing all week, until Jane was about to ask him herself. Three weeks had passed since that day in the leasing center parking lot. Jane had been overwhelmed, and thrilled, and astounded... And she could only hope that she was seeing their relationship for what it really was, that she wasn’t just being swept off her feet.
Jane hadn’t signed the lease. Perhaps she was being too hopeful. But if things fell apart she could find another place. She knew she should have more faith, but it was difficult when her parents had divorced and her mother had been a serial dater. Yet, when Jane was around Cameron, she saw the sincerity in his brown eyes and heard the truth in his words. He loved her, and it was heady to think about.
Cameron had said nothing about a ring, but with all the hints he’d been dropping, and considering that they had plans next weekend to go to another charity gala hosted by his mom, Jane wondered if he’d ask the big question there.
She grabbed her purse from the bed before her dad took it upon himself to shuffle down to her room. Then she picked up the present she’d carefully wrapped in pink-and-white polka-dotted paper—another thing Bea would appreciate.
“You’re looking spruced up,” she said as soon as she saw her dad.
He wore a polo shirt and khakis with his best leather belt. “It’s Bea’s birthday.”
“Yes, it is,” Jane said, raising her brows.
“I like the pink,” her dad said, waving a hand at her ensemble.
Compliments were rare from her dad. “Oh, thanks. Bea’s favorite color.”
Her dad chuckled. “She makes no secret of that.”
Jane smiled. It seemed her dad was in a very good mood tonight. “Ready?” She grabbed the container of cupcakes.
As they headed out of the house, Jane breathed in the crisp air. Fall was just around the corner, and the leaves had started to change in the neighborhood. The ski resort was already a riot of orange, red, and yellow. She probably should grab her dad a jacket, but he might turn grumpy again if she delayed any longer. Besides, she could just warm up the car for a few minutes before they drove home tonight.
She set the cupcakes on the back seat. “Remember—”
“I know,” her dad said. “Only one cupcake.” His tone was light and obedient.
Again, Jane was surprised.
On their way over, Jane knew she’d miss Cameron tonight. He’d been coming every Saturday to game night, but he was in San Francisco over the weekend for some board meetings. They’d had a lot of talks about the art college, and Jane was starting in January, at which point she hoped to turn more work hours over to her part-time employee. It was a new experience having an employee, and Cameron had been great with advice on that.
She sighed as she pulled into the parking lot of the center. Tonight wouldn’t be the same without Cameron here, but she was determined to make it a fabulous evening with Bea.
Jane parked and climbed out of the car. She helped her dad up and got him situated with his cane, then grabbed the cupcakes.
Once inside, Jane took the cupcakes to the main kitchen so she could keep them a surprise. The center had likely made her a cake earlier in the week when it was her actual birthday. As she entered the gathering room with her dad, Pete waved them over to the card table right away. Jane crossed to the table with her dad, and Pete said, “Do you have one of those cell phone things with you that plays music?”
“I do,” Jane said, reaching for it in her pocket.
“Not now.” Pete waved her off. “I want this to be a surprise. We’re going to have a dance, and I’m going to ask Bea to dance with me.”
“Oh?” Jane said with a grin. “When?”
“In about an hour,” Pete said.
“Okay, great,” Jane said. “I brought some cupcakes. We’ll sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ then I’ll break out my music.” She looked about the room. “Do you think I could hook it up to the speakers so everyone can hear it?”
Pete shrugged. “You’ll have to ask the staff.”
Jane did and found that one of the staff members had a bluetooth speaker.
Jane made her way over to the art table. Bea was already beaming because she obviously knew that the pres
ent Jane carried was for her. Bea wore a bright pink blouse with a paisley print that Jane suspected was a couple of decades old. The woman’s yellow hair was topped by her usual sparkly silver headband.
“Well, look at you,” Bea said. “We almost match.”
“It was your birthday a few days ago, so I decided to dress in your favorite colors.”
Bea laughed, and when Jane set her present before Bea, she said, “What’s this?”
“Happy birthday,” Jane said.
Bea giggled as she tore at the wrapping paper, and then she oo’d when she saw the oil painting kit. “Can you show me how to use it?”
“Of course,” Jane said.
“Tonight?” Bea asked.
“Sure, why not?”
The other ladies exclaimed over the kit and said they wanted to try too.
Jane opened the kit and set to work. Soon, they were all dabbing brushes into one of the oil colors, and painting on the canvas boxes Jane had passed out. She’d bring more next week. She was glad the beginner’s kit had low-scent paints in it.
When the women had made good progress on their canvases, Jane went to get the cupcakes from the kitchen. She handed over her phone to the staff member to pull up the “Happy Birthday” song. When the music started, Jane came back into the room with the cupcakes.
Bea clapped her hands in delight, and everyone started singing. After the song and cupcakes, Pete came over to the art table.
He cleared his throat and said in his scratchy voice, “Bea, I’d like to ask you to dance a birthday dance with me.”
Bea stared at him. “There’s no music, Pete.”
Pete turned to the staff member who was handling the music and gave the signal. He started the playlist on Jane’s phone, and music filled the room.
Bea grinned and put her hand into Pete’s. She rose.
Jane tugged back an empty table to give them more room. She looked over at her dad to see him smiling. A few others stood and started to dance—in modified versions of how they might have danced if they were younger. The women at the art table danced together, and those who weren’t so steady on their feet tapped the table with fingers, or the floor with toes.
Jane laughed. Bea was smiling wide, and Pete’s face was flushed. The next song started, and Jane found herself swaying to the music. It was hard to just stand and watch. The music was contagious, and everyone in the room was enjoying it. Jane mostly enjoyed watching Bea and Pete. How had she never seen that Pete obviously had a crush on the woman?
Song after song played, and the residents were fully enjoying the dancing. The staff even joined in.
When Jane felt someone’s arms slide around her from behind, she yelped.
“Hey,” Cameron said into her ear.
She turned in his arms. “What are you doing here?”
His brown eyes were merry as he scanned her face. “I heard about this rocking party and thought I’d come over.”
“But, I thought you were in San Francisco until next week,” she said, looping her arms about his neck. She inhaled his spicy scent that was unique to Cameron.
“I missed you,” he said.
“Yeah, but what about work?” she asked.
“I’ll head back tomorrow,” he said and pulled her closer.
“Everyone’s watching us,” Jane said, wondering if he was going to kiss her right there in the middle of everyone.
“Yeah, I know.” Cameron leaned down and kissed her.
The kiss was brief, too brief. But that was probably good, because, well, her dad was just a few feet away from them. And even though her dad wholeheartedly approved of Cameron, Jane wasn’t into PDA so much.
“Did your meetings get canceled or something?” she asked.
“I canceled them,” he said with a shrug. “I had something really important to do.”
Jane raised her brows.
“This morning on my way to the first meeting, I passed by a jewelry store,” he said. “I happened to glance at the windows, and I had to stop.”
Jane blinked. “Why?”
One side of his mouth lifted into a smile. “I saw the perfect ring.”
Jane couldn’t speak. Was he talking about an engagement ring?
He released her, and at this action, Jane’s pulse rate doubled. Yep, he was reaching into his pocket, and yep, he was pulling out a small velvet box.
“Cameron,” she breathed.
“It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, and it reminded me of you,” he continued.
Jane’s eyes pricked with tears. Why did he want to show her the ring at this assisted living place? And why would he cancel his meetings to drive back and show her?
“Jane, you know I love you,” he said.
Jane could only nod. She was well aware everyone around them could see and hear everything that was going on. She almost expected her dad to interrupt, but no word came from him.
Then Cameron knelt down, and Jane couldn’t breathe.
“Marry me, Jane,” he said. “I know without a doubt that we belong together.” He broke eye contact to open the ring box.
Jane couldn’t see any details of the diamond ring because her vision was blurry.
“If you don’t like it, we can find something else,” he said, looking up again. “But I couldn’t wait another minute to ask you to be my wife.”
Jane covered her mouth. Her heart was beating so hard, she wondered if it would burst out of her chest. “I—I didn’t expect...”
“Say yes,” someone called out, and Jane was almost positive it was her dad. But she couldn’t take her eyes from Cameron’s beseeching expression. She loved this man, more than she ever thought she could love someone.
Cameron didn’t move, and it was like everyone in the room was waiting with him.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Cameron grinned and was on his feet in a second, pulling her into his arms. As he kissed her fiercely, the people around them cheered.
Jane kissed him back, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around him.
More cheering, and Jane broke away, laughing.
“Dance with me?” Cameron asked.
“Of course, but first, let me see that ring.”
Cameron pulled the ring out of the velvet box.
The ring was beautiful. The solitaire sat in a diamond-studded silver band. Cameron slid it on her ring finger, and Jane felt warm chills all the way down her spine. The music shifted to a slower song with perfect timing.
“You surprised me,” Jane said as Cameron pulled her into his arms and started to slowly sway to the music.
“I hope it was a good surprise,” he whispered against her ear.
“It was the best surprise,” she whispered back. She looked past Cameron to see her dad sitting at his game table with a big smile on his face.
Not too far away, Pete and Bea were still dancing. Pete winked at her as their gazes connected.
Jane smiled and nestled closer to Cameron, who was only too happy to oblige.
“What do you think about a Christmas wedding?” Cameron asked.
Jane looked at him and quirked an eyebrow. “I think our moms would have a heart attack.”
Cameron chuckled. “Maybe we should just elope then.”
Jane ran one of her hands over his shoulder. “My mom would definitely kill me. I think she already has my wedding dress picked out.”
“Okay, okay,” Cameron said. “I’ll stop making suggestions, but I also don’t want to wait too long.”
“Yeah, I figured that out,” Jane said with a laugh. “Do you always get what you want?”
He shrugged. “Not always, but all I need is you. Nothing else matters.”
“Hmmm,” Jane said. “Well, you have me, Mr. Vance.”
When Cameron kissed her for the third time on the makeshift dance floor, Jane let herself melt into his arms. What did it matter that they had an audience? Everyone here would be invited to the wedding, and they’d be seeing p
lenty more of Jane and Cameron kissing.
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Heather B. Moore is a four-time USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore; her latest thrillers include The Killing Curse and Poetic Justice. Under the name Heather B. Moore, she writes romance and women’s fiction. Her newest releases include the historical romance Love is Come and Ruth. She’s also one of the coauthors of the USA Today bestselling series: A Timeless Romance Anthology. Heather writes speculative fiction under the pen name Jane Redd; releases include the Solstice series and Mistress Grim. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
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