Page 72 of Naughty Heart
“Well, if we do it the same, we will have started a tradition, and I kind of like the idea of doing that with you. So, yes, I’m opening my present first.”
With my answer in hand, Evelyn moved to the tree in her office, bent down, and picked up the small square box. Both boxes under the tree this year were about the same size.
After she handed it to me, I wanted to throw her off a bit, so I said, “Based on the size of this box, it seems like you could have gotten me the same thing I got you. But I might be bummed if that’s the case, because I was kind of hoping I’d get another one of those coupon books this year.”
“I have money this year, so I was able to get you a real gift,” she reasoned.
“I told you that gift was the best gift I could have gotten. We made so many good memories with it.”
She smiled. “I’m so glad you enjoyed it. This last year with you has been a lot of fun. Unfortunately, this gift isn’t the same.”
Unwrapping and opening the box, I found a set of personalized cuff links inside for me. On one of the cuff links were our initials, and on the other was what looked like latitude and longitude coordinates.
As though reading the curious look on my face and knowing what I was thinking, Evelyn revealed, “That’s the location of the coffee shop where I fell into your lap, and you told me you weren’t feeling much like Santa.”
I let out a laugh. “And look at me now. I give you so much more that the guy in the red suit only wishes he could.”
“I must admit you do.”
“These are really nice, Evelyn. And I love the sentiment behind them. Thank you.”
I wished I could have come up with something else to say, but the truth was that I was too excited to give her the gift I’d purchased for her. So, I moved to the tree, picked it up, and handed it to her.
Just like last year, she tore open the package like a little kid. Even after all this time, she still treasured every good thing she got like it was precious.
But her excitement came to a grinding halt when she opened the box and revealed what was inside. I took the velvet-wrapped ring holder from inside the box and got down on one knee.
“Evelyn Fisher, the only love of my life, will you marry me?”
She seemed to be in a state of total disbelief as she nodded her head slowly.
“Yes?” I pressed, wanting to hear the word.
She continued to nod her head. “Yes, Malcolm. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I slid the ring on her finger and barely got to my feet when she threw her arms around me to hug and kiss me.
“This is the best Christmas of my life,” she declared.
“So, it’s okay I went over the budget this year?” I asked.
She pulled her face back from my neck to look at me and shrugged. “It’s a tradition.”
At least we could put that potential problem to bed.
“I hope you know how much I love you, Evelyn. Nothing in this world has ever made me as happy as you do. And as we get ready to head into the next year, the both of us taking on new roles within the company, I wanted us to do it with both of us knowing what we’re building here. You’re going to be a Westwood, darling, and this company is yours, too.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I love you so much. I can’t wait to see where this life leads us.”
“I don’t know, but with you by my side, I know it’s going to be a blast.”
Evelyn smiled at me before she touched her lips to mine and kissed me. We stayed like that for a long time, caught up in one another and loving every second of it.
Of course, we didn’t get much work done the rest of the day. We had an engagement to celebrate, and we kicked it off by closing and locking the office door. Over the last year, we’d gotten frisky in the office quite a few times, but this time was different. Being inside her while she wore my ring on her finger made it that much better. And I couldn’t wait to see where we’d be in another year.
* * *
FOURTEEN YEARS LATER
