Page 100 of The Deal Breaker
“I love you.” He swallowed, seeming nervous. “You helped me make my dreams come true. If you hadn’t been there every step of the way, either long distance when I was in college or right next to me at home supporting me, I wouldn’t be the founder of a successful company. Even when you were taking care of your mom and working the dinner shift here, you’d bring me a meal, so I wouldn’t go hungry.”
“You can’t live off fruit snacks and soda.”
“I know.” He laughed. “You gave, gave, gave until I realized I needed to do the same.”
She gazed up at him, hoping he could feel her love flowing from her to him. “You have. These past months…”
“It’s only the beginning.” He motioned to the dining area. “This was your home, where you grew up, and where we became friends.”
“You made it not so lonely for me.”
“And you gave me a sanctuary to escape my parents’ arguing.” He reached into his jacket pocket, removed a set of keys, and placed them in the palm of her hands. “The restaurant is yours now. The way it should have been six years ago when your father left town.”
“You remembered my dream.”
Dash nodded.
Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes stung. “I don’t know what to say.”
He held her close, his warmth and strength soothing the emotions tumbling inside her. “Don’t say anything. Your eyes and expression tell me what this means to you, and I’m so happy to do this for you.”
“For us, right?”
“Yes, for us.” Laughter lit his eyes. “And I hope you’re not saying this because of all the remodeling it needs.”
She grinned. “Now that you mention it…”
“There’s no rush. We can go slow.” He ran a finger along her jawline. “I figure we have until you graduate from culinary school.”
“Sounds perfect.” It really did. She glanced at the table. “Is that for our celebration dinner?”
“Yes, but I want to do one more thing first.” He dropped onto his knee before removing something else from his jacket pocket—a ring box.
She gasped, clutching the keys in her right hand.
“I love you, Iris Jacobs. You have my heart. That will always belong to you. I can’t imagine my future without you by my side.” He opened the top to show a large diamond in a platinum setting. “Will you marry me?”
Butterflies erupted in her stomach. Tingles spread outward from her chest. “Yes. A billion times, yes.”
A collective sigh sounded from the kitchen.
Dash slid the ring on her left hand finger. A perfect fit.
“It’s stunning.”
“Not compared to you.” Dash kissed her and then drew back. “Now it’s time for our celebration dinner.”
She stared at the elegant diamond, the facets shooting colorful prisms around the room. “And then what happens?”
“We kiss.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “And then we live happily ever after.”
“And have lots of children,” Henry yelled from the kitchen.
She and Dash laughed.
She gazed up at him. The love reflected in his eyes echoed her own. “I’m game.”
He kissed her. “Same.”
