“August, it’s beautiful!” She turned in a circle, taking it all in. “I had no idea you’d gotten so far in the process.”
His arms wrapped around her waist from behind. “I wanted to surprise you, and look.”
He pulled her to the back of the greenhouse where a tiny bench sat with lattices behind it, covered in long, bright green strands of ivy. She glanced at the bench, noticing some engraving on the back and leaning closer. The words had her eyes misting.
Love grows where you plant it. MR + AP
“Do you know what ivy symbolizes?” He spoke into her ear, nodding to the ivy behind the bench.
She shook her head. Honestly, he told her so many plant and flower meanings she’d forgotten most of them or kept mixing them up. And they all had multiple meanings, anyway; how could anyone keep them straight?
“It means friendship, affection, fidelity.”
See? So many meanings. Someone should tell flora to stop being greedy and pick one.
He came around in front of her and dropped to one knee, pulling out a small wooden box. “And marriage.”
“Holy crap!” Her heart jumped up into her throat, beating a million miles a minute. They’d talked about the future before, but she hadn’t seen this coming. How had she not seen this coming?
“I honestly don’t care if we get married tomorrow or stay together forever and never get married like your parents. All I want is to be with you, every day of my life, because you make the days better simply by being in them. So, Moira Rossi, we can get married or just keep doing what we’re doing, but will you be mine? Will you let me be yours? Forever?”
He opened the box to reveal two wooden rings, one small and one larger. He hadn’t gotten the traditional engagement ring, but two rings. Symbolizing them both. Their journey. It fit, considering how untraditional they were. It was perfect. It was them.
She tried to speak, but the happy tears clogging her throat prevented her from getting any words out, so she simply nodded, throwing her arms around him. Bad idea. With his unsteady position, they both went crashing to the ground in a tumble of laughter.
“Oh no, did you hurt yourself?” he asked. “I don’t want Lilly to maim me. That woman scares me.”
Her friends might have given August a piece of their minds when they first met him, but then they lovingly embraced him into their circle.
“I’m fine.” She kissed him, pulling back with a bright smile. “Fantastic. Ecstatic. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
He smiled right back. “Me, too.”
“And yes, I do want to get married. I want to have a big party to celebrate our love and declare to the world that we’re soul mates.”
He shook his head with a small chuckle. “A year ago, I would have never believed such a thing was possible. But then I met you. So I’m in. Let’s get married, have a big party, invite the whole city. Whatever you want.”
He was giving her carte blanche. She should take advantage. With a mischievous grin, she asked, “Anything I want? Even pineapple pizza at the reception?”
August threw his head back with a booming laugh. “Sunshine, for you? I’d eat nothing but pineapple pizza for the rest of my life.”
She pulled him close and kissed him deeply. Yup. She’d found her soul mate for sure. Who would have thought opening her door all those months ago would have changed her life forever? Not her, but she was so very glad it had. And whether they had pineapple pizza or chicken breasts with zucchini slices, Mo knew they could handle anything as long as they were side by side.
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Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my father-in-law for allowing me to ask him a million questions about flowers and horticulture, any mistakes are mine alone.
A huge thanks to my agent Eva Scalzo and my editors Stacy Abrams and Judi Lauren for their help in making Mo and August’s story shine (and thanks for loving Mo as much as I do). A big thank you to all the staff at Entangled Publishing for all their support and dedication on this book.
And to you, the reader. Without readers, writers are just people way too into their imaginary friends. Thanks for bringing them to life in your minds and hearts.
About the Author
Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious daughters and loving husband who provides ample inspiration for her heart-stopping heroes.
Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books, visit her website, www.mariahankenman.com, follow her on social media, or sign up for her newsletter http://bit.ly/2XeKPZm
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