Chapter 40

Forty

LUCY

“What have you and Henry been up to since you got back from London?” Mia asks with a devilish look in her eye.

“Aside from the things you saw in the posts on his social media accounts?” I ask, but don’t leave time for her to answer. “Enjoying the peace and quiet.” As if I’d share the details of how we spent the last three days enjoying each other on every surface of this house, including the kitchen island she is currently leaning on. Of course, we made sure to do a deep clean before they all returned from visiting their relatives.

“Well, that’s incredibly disappointing and boring,” Mia huffs and rolls her eyes.

As always, Hannah is the voice of reason with a kind smile, “I think it sounds romantic.”

Not wanting to linger on this topic any longer, I suggest, “If we head out now, we can get drinks on the way to the salon.”

“Yes, please,” Hannah agrees as she puts her coat on. Then, hooks her arm with mine. “Thanks again for surprising us with this. A stress-free girls’ day is just what I needed after all that traveling.”

Little does she know, this day was planned weeks ago. Like most women, Mia and I were sure she’d want her nails done when showing off her new ring. Also, with the numerous photos we’ll be taking, she’ll be glad to have that fresh-from-the-salon look.

I give her hand a squeeze in return before we all enter the car. I choose to sit in the backseat. Unexpectedly, I start to recall the last time I sat here. I can laugh about it now because it’s over, but John showing up without notice had me spiraling on the drive out of the city. I wonder if things between Henry and I would have progressed as quickly if I had come alone. It might just have been the best thing that could have happened.

Turning back to me, Mia suggests, “I’m thinking of tea to take to the salon and then grab coffees on the way home. It’s going to be a late night, ladies.”

Mia is the queen of partying, which is why she was the one to coordinate the order of events for tonight including after the proposal photos and phone calls. I’m certain she could run the world if she tried.

Hours later, I text Henry from the back seat of the car.

Lucy

Just finished at the salon. We are stopping at the coffee shop, can we get you anything? Please check with Finn and Oliver too.

Henry

We’ll pass on the coffee. The boys and I will be waiting to greet you in the driveway.

The remainder of our drive passes quickly. I don’t say much to avoid mistakenly spoiling any surprises. I sit quietly until we find ourselves parked next to Henry’s home. Mia is the first to jump from the car, with Hannah and I following.

Mia and I are fantastic actresses. “What are you all doing standing out in the cold?” Mia asks.

“We did some decorating for the New Year’s Eve celebrations,” Oliver shares.

“It should be a surprise, and we are quite frankly still in the middle, and it looks a mess. We only want you to see the finished product,” Finn explains.

Henry stands there as he would, not saying much but going along with it all just the same.

I argue when they pull out the blindfolds. “We just got our hair done for tonight. You can’t put those on us.”

“What if we promise not to look at your decorations?” Hannah asks.

Henry speaks up, “All right, how about if we cover your eyes with our hands?”

Oliver continues, “And when we get to the stairs, you can face the wall and walk up sideways. ”

“I’m recording this.” Finn laughs to himself.

I face the girls, and we form a huddle like a team preparing for the game-winning goal. After a moment of fake deliberations, we agree and get our boys to stand behind us to cover our eyes.

As we enter, Henry silently lowers his hands down so I can get a look at it all. Vases of red roses sit on every flat surface with gold confetti placed around them. A garland made of white hydrangeas wraps around the banister of the staircase. Mia is peaking too, and we exchange silent looks, making our eyes wild while keeping our lips firmly sealed.

Once we are all at the top of the stairs, our eyes are once again covered, and we receive our instructions. Oliver begins, “None of you are allowed to leave your rooms unless escorted by one of us.”

Next to speak is Finn with a tone similar to that of a drill sergeant. “You ladies have mobile phones, use them. If you need to speak with each other, call her, text her, I don’t care if you video call each other but do it from your rooms.”

Henry sighs behind me. I lower my hand behind me and rub his leg. His breath catches as he lowers his head to rest on my neck.

Finn continues, “If you wish to contact your hunky fella, the same means of communication are required. We will have our phones with us at all times, should you need us.”

“Please know I will be available to meet any and all needs you may have,” Henry whispers softly, the heat of his breath brushing against my skin before he clears his throat to address the others. “We will be starting dinner preparations and plan to serve at 8:00 p.m. I do believe the next two hours should provide plenty of time for each of you to relax and get dressed before the festivities begin.”

Finn speaks up one final time. “You will be escorted into your rooms now.”

I laugh, “I think you’re enjoying this too much, Finn.”

“I think it’s sexy,” Mia says in a seductive tone.

Henry and I walk a little faster into our room. The door closes with a loud noise as Henry signals to the others that we are inside. Two similar sounds follow.

“Your hair is lovely.” His fingers comb through my hair as his gaze locks on mine.

Placing a finger under my chin, tipping my face up to his, he leaves soft kisses around my lips. With each touch, my need for him grows stronger. We have plenty of time, perhaps we could grab a quick shower…together. Before I can suggest my steamy idea, a thunderous noise coming from the other side of the door startles me.

“No funny business, Pop!” Finn yells.

Oliver joins in, laughing as he says, “We have things to do!”

Finn pounds on the door again. “Give the lady a rest!”

Henry kisses me one more time before opening the door to his sons, laughing in the doorway.

I wave silently, not wanting to give anything away.

With more than enough time to get ready, I decide to pick up my e-reader. Our days have been filled with waves of uncontrollable pleasures, which hasn’t left much time for reading. Not that I’m complaining. The only book I’ve read is Pride and Prejudice , to discuss the adaptation with Henry. I think it’s time to revisit Captain Wentworth—surely, he misses me.

Tonight is New Year’s Eve. My favorite holiday is one most people overlook, but that’s one of the things I love about it. I like that I’m the only one who makes a big deal about it because that makes it feel more like it’s just for me.

Yet, after tonight, it will always be special for Oliver and Hannah as well. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when he gets down on one knee.

Next to my new bouquet of flowers is the alarm clock with the time showing ten minutes before 8:00 p.m. Butterflies start to dance in my stomach as my excitement builds. I’m all about being ready early, but now all I have to do is sit and wait until Henry comes to fetch me.

Getting dressed this evening is nothing like the other night when Henry cooked for me. My hair looks different thanks to the amazing hair stylist at the salon we visited this afternoon. My makeup is done and I’ve selected a black sequin dress that covers much more of my body, well at least my top. The dress has flowing long sleeves and covers most of my neckline. Yet, it does show a lot more leg, cutting off a couple of inches above my knees, so I paired it with black tights and my knee-high boots.

The guys all got ready in the spare bedroom so as to not risk us seeing the decorations before it was time.

Three loud knocks strike the door before Henry enters the room. My breath catches as he stalks toward me. I notice he is wearing the same suit he wore the other night.

He notices my recognition. “I had it dry cleaned. For you,” he says with a mischievous smile.

“Well if I had known,” I tease. “Let me go change into the dress I wore then.”

Turning toward the closet, he quickly pulls me back. “That dress is for my eyes only,” he says with a growl behind his words.

“Yes, sir.” While curling into his embrace, we are once again interrupted.

“Pop, let’s go. Time to get out here with your girl,” Oliver yells, his words rushing out quickly.

“The rest of us are waiting on you,” Finn yells.

We move quickly hand and hand out the door, but to keep up the act for Hannah, Henry adds, “Just had to get her blindfold on. All set. Here we go.”

Next, Finn goes in to relieve Mia with similar announcements about her eyes being covered when they really aren’t.

The four of us huddle at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Hannah and Oliver to arrive.

Silent smiles are exchanged as we watch Hannah with her blindfold on at the top of the staircase. Rather than taking their time, Oliver sweeps her up in his arms and carries her down. We all nod and signal that the cameras are hidden in position, and we all have our phones ready behind our backs.

Placing Hannah on her feet, he kneels beside her.

“What do I do now?” she asks.

He opens the ring box in her direction, clears his throat, and answers, “I’ll take the blindfold off now.” But it’s really Mia behind Hannah, gently pulling at the loose knot behind Hannah’s hair.

When she notices Oliver kneeling at her feet, Hannah’s face changes to stunned before she brings her hands to cover her nose and mouth. The quintessential proposal pose, according to Mia, who is currently shining a smug smile my way.

Oliver’s nerves are getting the best of him. “Hannah…I…I had a huge speech that I’ve spent days trying to memorize, but now I don’t remember any of it.”

Her sweet laugh physically eases him enough to continue. “You are my life and my better half. I never want to spend another day without you. I love you and will continue loving you for the rest of my life, if you’ll have me.” An anxious squeal escapes Hannah’s lips and he smiles up at her. “Hannah, Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” she screams as she throws her arms around him, almost knocking Oliver onto the floor.

He catches her and stands without letting her down. “I believe this belongs to you then.” He holds up the ring.

She slips down his arms and holds her hand out. After we all capture a photo of him placing the ring on her finger, Mia begins to shoo us away from the couple. “Privacy, the newly engaged couple needs their privacy.” We follow her lead to the lounge to sit and wait for their return.

When they come over to us, we all hug and congratulate them. Hannah is giddy as she shows off her new ring.

Mia has a tight schedule and insists they make all the necessary calls now. “Get your calls in now before everyone’s phones start blowing up with New Year’s wishes.

Turning on Henry and I, she directs us to start getting the dinner out while she preps the area where she wants to pose Hannah and Oliver for photos.

Hours fly by with all the celebration throughout the evening and before we know it, we are all crowded around the large clock that hangs above the fireplace.

Together we count down the final seconds of the year. “Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Happy New Year!”

Henry pulls me into his embrace but doesn’t kiss me immediately. He touches my forehead with his and whispers, “Happy New Year, darling,” before closing the distance between us. I stifle a groan as he deepens our kiss, remembering that we are not alone.

I’m so ready for us to be alone.

I quickly devise a plan and put it into action immediately. As we exchange Happy New Year’s with everyone, I yawn twice.

Then we all go to our phones to check the incoming messages from friends and family. I call my mom, even though she still has hours before the new year arrives for her. “Happy New Year, Mom,” I yell into the phone.

She laughs, “Happy almost New Year to you too, sweetie! Are you having a nice night?”

“I am, I’ll send you some photos from the proposal,” I offer.

“Yes, please send them over. ”

My phone beeps in my ear, and I pull it away and notice Ellie is calling.

“Mom, I gotta go. Ellie is calling, but call me tomorrow.”

“I will. Goodnight, Lucy.”

“Night, Mom.”

Swiping my finger across the phone, I can hear Ellie yelling before I bring it to my ear. “Happy New Year, Lucy! How’s the future?”

I laugh, “It’s exceptional, Ellie. The only thing missing is you.”

“That sounds about right,” she agrees. “All right, well, I’m in the middle of making our snacks for the family, so I gotta go, but Happy New Year !”

“Thanks, Ellie. Happy New Year to you too!”

And then, with an “Okay, bye ,” she hangs up.

As I return to the group, I feign a large yawn, covering my mouth for everyone to see. Henry picks up on it quickly and plays directly into my master plan. “Well, I’m sure you all plan to party for a few more hours, but I think it’s time for us to call it a night.” He squeezes my hand, but little does he know what’s waiting for him once we are alone.

We say our goodnights and head back to our room.

I close the door behind me and stalk up behind him as he strips out of his suit jacket. “Hello, there.”

He turns with a sharp inhale, “I thought you were tired…”

“Well, that’s what I wanted them to think. I just wanted to ring in the new year with you…alone…in the shower. ”

His eyes grow wide. “Who knew you were such a skilled actress?” He kneels in front of me and begins to pull down the zippers on my boots, guiding my legs free while his strong hands wrap around my calves. As he rises, he tucks his hands under my dress and pulls it up over my head. It’s my turn to even us out—he is still wearing far too much clothing…for a shower.

Once we have stripped each other bare, he takes my hand and walks me to the shower door. He walks in to start the water but instructs me to wait. The room begins to fill with steam as he tucks me against his body, with his arms behind my back. Following his lead, I nuzzle into him.

His touch creates an electric buzz throughout my body when he looks into my eyes and says, “I want you to know something, Lucy. You have changed me, so very completely, much more than I could have imagined the night we met in that coffee shop. Each moment in your presence, whether I knew it or not, altered who I am. No longer the content man who sought out companionship at arm’s length.” His brows furrow, and he looks away briefly, then smiles at me.

“Now, I want nothing but to be by your side each and every day. To live as those fictional men do from Jane Austen’s stories, breathing only for my one true love.” He grins. “Even before I got the director role, I stopped caring about this movie weeks ago. Suddenly, after years of wanting that film, I knew it meant nothing if I didn’t have you in my life.”

My breath catches as I have to fight back the tears that pool in my eyes at his confession. He holds my chin gently in his hand, rubbing his thumb across my cheek, “Lucy, I love you.” The words sound more like a promise than a statement.

If only I could come up with something half as romantic as his declaration, but all that comes out is, “I love you too, Henry,” I answer as my voice cracks.

His kiss is urgent and demanding. We move quickly into the shower, consumed by our love for each other…and the endless amounts of steam.