One Funeral (No Weddings #2)(63)

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about them. They’ve got it covered. Want to be spontaneous and live in the moment tonight?”

Mischief glittered in his dark eyes, illuminated only by the red lanterns hanging from the eaves. The fun boy who’d grabbed my hand and dragged me down to a boathouse to steal a scull for an afternoon of fun had returned. Only this time it was night, and Cade’s mood seemed more intense.

Grinning, I nodded. “Yeah. Take me on an adventure, Cade Michaelson.”

He laughed and pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head.

“That’s my girl.”





We sped off into the darkness on Cade’s bike, and I closed my eyes, pressing my body flush against him. His warmth seeped into me, and I felt content holding him tight, lost in our own world, oblivious to the cold air currents and the sounds of other vehicles.

Soon, even the background sounds faded. We slowed, turning.

“Close your eyes, Maestro,” Cade shouted with a turned head.

“They already are.” I snuggled deeper into him.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his back. “Good. Keep ’em shut.”

We leaned slightly as he turned again. The bike bounced over a bump, and we slowed further. I gripped his body tighter as we came to a stop.

“No peeking.”

I laughed as he cut the engine. “I promise. Eyes shut ’til you say ‘open.’”

Graceful took on a whole new meaning as I tried to dismount the bike with my eyes shut. I flailed, even while he held me, pulling me off. Finding solid ground under my stilettos, I calmed a bit.

I obediently kept my eyes shut while he unfastened the strap under my chin and lifted the helmet off my head. As he straightened my hair a bit, I tried not to laugh. Then I remembered his sisters being noticeably absent from the restaurant the moment we began eating. “Please tell me this isn’t some surprise party. It’s not my birthday.”

With a low chuckle, he took my arm. “Nope. No party. Although it is a surprise. Hence the whole eyes-shut thing.”

I grunted, suspicious. But I was also excited, butterflies fluttering under my ribcage.

“Lift your feet as you walk. I don’t want you tripping and tumbling us both.”

Feeling ridiculous, yet trusting him when he promised we had no audience, I marched my legs a little higher as he led me across a soft surface. Scents around us were familiar, damp air, grass, or plants around. The breeze carried the occasional sweet fragrance of orange blossoms, which was unusual for the Northeast, although a neighbor of mine did have a couple of dwarf citrus in pots on her porch.

We rounded a bend, and the angle of the ground changed, leading us in a gentle downslope. After another dozen paces, Cade came to a halt.

“Ready, Maestro?”

I grinned. How would I know? I had no idea what to prepare for. “As I’ll ever be.”

“Open your eyes.”

Waiting another beat, I took a deep breath and opened them slowly. I blinked and looked around, trying to process the makeover done to my backyard.

A dozen white lanterns hung from low branches of the trees, their inner lights flickering. Another dozen or so Mason jars hung among them, fat beeswax candles burning inside the thick, clear glass. More candles in jars lined a path, leading down to the water.

I wandered forward to see candles floating on the edge of the water, evenly spaced apart as though they’d been tied together, buoyant on surfaces that resembled lily pads. When I turned back toward Cade, I gasped, my hand flying over my mouth.

A large tent had been erected on the lawn. The gauzy white mosquito netting was pulled back and tied on either side with braided silk cords. Varying-sized candles were lit outside the tent, mounted on rocks or bricks. Large colorful pillows were strewn about the ground on the outside of the tent. Inside, the floor looked like a fluffy cloud of material. A single small wooden table in the back corner held an illuminated gas lantern.

Other charming items were set up in small arrangements. Several three-section oriental screens were placed in key positions, shielding us from prying eyes. A bistro table and two chairs sat between the tent and the sparkling tree. Beside it was an ice bucket on a stand with a slender bottle chilling inside. On the ground, near one corner of the tent, lay a collection of potted flowers and votive candles.

Beyond it all, was my cottage-style house, the lights turned low inside, a few candles lit along the wooden railing of the deck.

“Wow, Cade. This is…”

He eased into my side, his warmth bolstering me. “You like your surprise, then?”

I turned fully to him, nodding. “I love it. It’s beautiful.”

Candlelight from every direction cast a dim glow on his features. His rugged good looks had turned fierce with the intensity of his gaze. “You’re the beautiful one. I wanted to bring you somewhere you felt comfortable. Happy.”

Confused by his seriousness, my brows drew together. Yet as I gazed up into his eyes, a steadying comfort washed over me that I’d not felt before. Protected by this man and cared for in a way I’d never experienced was only part of it. Trust pulled me the rest of the way there. I believed in more than just Cade. I’d come to believe in myself first, which made all the difference.

A smirk twisted his lips. “Ready for more adventure?”