Guilt pulled at her. “Oh, I’m sorry, Lucas. I wanted to enjoy the party with you, but so much has been going on.”
Lucas leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the lips. “Don’t be sorry. I love watching you work. And I love whatever makes you happy. In fact, I just plain love you.”
Rick rolled his eyes. “Oy. Young love. That’s my cue to go pour the champagne, since you obviously will be otherwise detained now. We’ve only a few minutes before midnight anyway.”
Elena chuckled. “Thanks, Rick. You’re a real trouper.”
As soon as Rick turned away and headed to the bar, Lucas scooped Elena into his arms and pulled her to his chest. “That man deserves a raise,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “I’ve wanted to get you alone and do this all night.”
Her stomach curled from the delicious sensations of his mouth on her skin, and she sighed, wondering if she would ever get used to the emotions swelling inside her. “As soon as the party is over, we’ll have all night,” she reminded him.
Lucas had conveniently moved most of his belongings to Elena’s condo and worked out a schedule with Mr. Sundberg to commute to the office and stay in the city Tuesday through Thursday. The rest of the time Lucas worked remotely from Cape Harmony—sometimes using Kinsley’s office when she was home with the babies. Elena still did some freelance drawing when the time or project suited her. The schedule wasn’t perfect but seemed to be working for both of them.
Lucas was now even tinkering with the idea of opening his own marketing firm. He was still in the business-planning stage but had already scouted a few potential office buildings he could rent near the new Stockton University campus in Atlantic City.
Elena reluctantly pulled back when the band stopped playing. “Uh-oh, the countdown is going to start soon. I should help give out the champagne.”
Lucas’s arms tightened around her. “Not yet. I, uh, actually want to discuss another proposal with you.”
She blinked. “Now? Lucas, it’s New Year’s Eve,” she said with a half laugh. “Can’t your ad proposal wait a few more days?”
The worry in his eyes suddenly concerned her. “Actually, no, it can’t wait. I kind of need an answer now.” He checked his watch then visibly paled.
“Why?”
A drum roll began, and the lead singer announced the countdown to midnight was about to start.
“That’s why,” Lucas said, gesturing to the crowd forming in front of the band. “It’s almost midnight.”
“I don’t understand. Is the job that important?”
His mouth tilted into a crooked smile. “Honey, I don’t want to talk to you about an ad proposal. I want to talk to you about an actual proposal. A marriage proposal.” Lucas then pulled a black velvet box from his suit jacket pocket, snapped it open, and presented a ring to her.
She took a few unsettled breaths to calm her heart. She opened her mouth then closed it again. Oh my gosh, it was the largest diamond she’d ever seen flanked by two smaller diamonds. She’d never seen a more beautiful ring in her life. “Lucas…” she breathed.
His gaze was fixed on her face. “We’re not on top of the Empire State Building,” he said ruefully.
She looked at him and smiled. “No, we’re not.” But it’s so much better. Lucas could have chosen anywhere to propose and it would be better.
“However, it is still December,” he added. “A little under the wire, but I know how you are with dates. I figured marriage is all about compromise, right? So I thought I could at least give you that. But I want you to know that just because I’m not proposing like your dad proposed to your mom, it doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the deep-down core of my soul that we are meant to be together forever. I love you. I love you so much that I honestly want to spend the rest of my life proving that very thing to you so you won’t ever doubt it for a second. So, will you, Elena Mason, marry me?”
“Ten, nine, eight…”
In all her life she’d never known a feeling as great as this one. “I already don’t doubt it.”
“Five, four…”
“And I love you, too, Lucas. So very much.”
“So what’s your answer?” His gaze darted over her shoulder. “Elena, honey, you’re running out of—”
“Happy New Year!” Balloons and streamers went flying across the room as the band began to play “Auld Lang Syne.”
“Best proposal ever,” she told him, swatting at a balloon that bounced against her head.
Lucas’s gaze traveled back to her, and he frowned. “It’s not December anymore.”
Elena took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. Then she cupped his face between her hands and kissed him. “I know,” she whispered against his mouth. “I was purposefully waiting until January to say yes.”
“But I— Wait. You said yes?”
She gave out a choked laugh at his confused expression. “Not only am I saying yes, I’m saying double yes. I will definitely marry you, Lucas Albright the—”
He hauled her against him and hugged her tightly. “This is the best way to begin a new year,” he said hoarsely. “But why did you want to wait? I was giving you your December engagement opportunity; I know how important it is to you.”
“I know. Because you were willing to do that, it made me realize you’re the only thing I really need to make our engagement perfect. You make me happy whenever and wherever we are. I don’t need a date to confirm how I feel. And look at us,” she said, grinning up at him. “We didn’t expire. We’re still engaged.”
“Not for long.” His eyes darkened. “I want to get married as soon as possible.”
“Worried you’ll change your mind?”
“I’m worried you’ll change yours.”
“We’ll have to let Arden plan our wedding, you know.”
He gave a slow smile. “If she can plan it in a week, then we’re in agreement.”
Elena laughed. “It might take a bit longer than that, but I’ll see what I can do.” She stepped back and glanced around the ballroom. “In fact, let’s go tell Arden and Wade now. They’re here somewhere.”
“Not yet.” He took hold of her hand and pulled her back into his arms. “I just want to enjoy our engagement in private for a few more minutes,” he said, lowering his head and kissing her.
She kissed him back and felt all her thoughts except for Lucas fade to the far edges of her mind. After a few moments, she paused and eased her mouth away with difficulty. “You were right. Keeping our engagement between us for a little while is a good idea.”
“I knew you’d see it my way. See how well we work together?”
She leaned her head against Lucas’s shoulder and smiled. “Well, like you said, relationships are all about compromise.”
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Acknowledgments
Fun fact: I would be completely happy just writing Christmas books all year round. So you’re just going to have to give me a pass for putting out a Christmas romance after the holidays.
As usual, big thank yous and hugs to my super supportive critique group—The Passionate Critters. My editor thanks you too.
Of course, thank you to my favorite editor, Stacy Abrams and her trusty sidekick, Judi Lauren. They are unsung heroes! And thank you also to the entire Entangled Bliss team: Alycia Tornetta, Debbie Suzuki, Riki Cleveland, and Crystal Havens. Because of them, my books are always in good hands.
Lastly, thank you to all my romantic-at-heart readers and those who asked if Elena would get her own book. You kept me going.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy-which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations. She writes sweet romances (some ev
en funny!) and won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC’s Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, The Role of a Lifetime. Her novel Sunny Days for Sam won the 2013 Golden Quill Published Authors Contest for Best Traditional Romance. She’s a board member for Straight Ahead Ministries, an organization involved in helping spread the gospel and aiding medical and pharmacy students in Russia. She’s also a board member of the Ocean City Library Board of Trustees. She resides in a beach resort in NJ, and when she’s not involved in all the above, she’s taking care of her most treasured possessions: her husband, daughter, guinea pig (Rocco), puppy (Sox) and four hermit crabs.
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