Page 13 of Bothered By the Grump

“Just because I love you doesn’t mean I’ll start being a meek woman who agrees with everything you say,” Noelle says with a smile on her face.

I stroke her cheek and see the love in her dark brown eyes. “I would never expect anything else, lass. I hope to argue with you for all the rest of my days.”

Epilogue

Noelle

He makes every dream come true for me. -Noelle

One Year Later

I dart from booth to booth at the fall festival, picking up local crafts along the way. I also pick up a cone of maple ice cream. A drop of it falls on my arm and I happily lick it off.

“Mo shíorghrá, you’re getting just as much on you as you are in your mouth.” Luca

chuckles as he catches up to me.

I turn to wink at him. I love when he calls me that name. He told me it’s Irish for soulmate or my love. After a year together, I know we are soulmates. This funny, sometimes grouchy, always loving, man is all mine.

“You can lick it off if you like,” I tease. My core heats as I think of all the parts of me he has licked. Maybe we could experiment with ice cream sometime…a nibble here, a drop there. I shiver but it’s not in response to the cool fall air.

“You’re having wicked thoughts, my girl. I love it.”

I chatter as we zip along the main strip of booths. Luca is strangely quiet, seemingly content to stick his hands in his pockets and watch me shop and talk to everyone.

For once, we get to play. Both of us left our employees in charge of our booths and decided to just stroll for a while. Actually, Luca surprised the hell out of me and arranged it. I grin back at him. I love this man.

He grabs my hand and suddenly pulls me towards him. “Can we stop here for a moment, Noelle?”

I peer up at him, curiosity running through my veins. “Sure, if that’s what you want. Did you want to get a donut or something?” We’re right next to another apple cider donut booth and the smell is making my mouth water.

“Um, no, lass. That’s not it.” He shifts his feet.

He looks nervous. He never, ever gets nervous. My heart starts beating rapidly. Is he going to break up with me?

I tilt my head and look up at him, trying to prepare myself for anything.

“I thought here might be the right spot.” He raises a hand and gestures to the sign behind him. The corny one that says Fall in Love.

I lift an eyebrow in curiosity. “The right spot for what?”

“For this.” He sends me a nervous grin and then squats down on one knee.

My heart rate speeds up even more. Oh, my. I glance around. Everyone has stopped to watch. For two people that don’t like attention, we seem to attract a lot of it.

He reaches for my hand, and I give it to him.

“Noelle, I’ve tried to think of the perfect place to do this, but I’m not sure there is one. I thought a lot about it and decided maybe this goofy sign would do it. As cheesy as it is, it expresses what happened to me right here in Maple Lane Falls. And I think I probably wouldn’t have gotten up the nerve to try to woo you if you hadn’t made me jealous here at the fall festival a year ago.”

I bury my head in my hands. I’m still a little embarrassed at that move.

He pulls my hands back into his. “I’m glad you did it.” He licks his lips and smiles. “It made me get my head out of my arse.”

He reaches into his back pocket, and I hear everyone gasp as the ring box comes out. I’m mesmerized by the diamond winking up at me.

“Noelle, I love you more than I ever thought it was possible to love another person. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Of becoming mine forever?” His blue eyes look up at me, so hopeful, so full of adoration and love. The look in them takes my breath away.

“Yes, you silly, impossible man! Yes, of course!” I throw myself into his arms, knocking him over in the process.

I kiss him all over his face as the crowd claps and cheers.

Luca laughs. “I thought I might get a shy or tentative yes. I didn’t expect so much enthusiasm.”

I shrug. “The time for being afraid of love is over. I’m jumping into this with both feet.”

The End