No Ordinary Love (A Modern Vintage Romance #5)

32. Chapter 32

Amara

My home was alive .

Lucas had told me he wanted to live in the cottage. Jax was happy about his decision because he was going to move into the townhouse. He was sick of staying in a hotel suite.

I was secretly thrilled. As gorgeous as the townhouse was, the truth was that it made me uncomfortable. It was expensive, elaborate, and flashy. The cottage was within my budget on just my salary, and while we'd eventually need a bigger place when we had children, I wasn't in any rush. We had just gotten back together; we had time.

"The food was amazing, kiddo." Daddy put his arm around me as I stood in the kitchen.

We'd just finished the main course and cleaned up the remnants of turkey, stuffing, and all the trimmings that had been scattered across the table.

Laughter filled the air, mingling with the clinking of wine glasses and the scent of pumpkin spice. I couldn't remember the last time I felt so full of joy, love, and pure, unfiltered happiness. It wrapped around me like a warm blanket, making me feel safe and at peace.

I watched Basil tell a story about a disastrous Thanksgiving he'd had a few years back when he'd accidentally set his parents' kitchen on fire attempting to deep-fry a turkey. Gemma, sitting next to him, was laughing so hard she nearly spilled her wine while Jax shook his head, grinning.

"Thanks, Daddy." I leaned into him. "It's so good to have you here."

"Lucas and I talked," he said softly.

Lucas had told me he'd make nice with my father, explain himself, and hope that Daddy wouldn't hate him for the rest of his life. My father wasn't that man. He didn't hold grudges, so I wasn't worried, and I thought it was sweet that Lucas had been.

"And?" I prompted.

"He's been a jackass, apparently, but even I can see he's grown up." Daddy kissed the side of my head. "You know, no one is going to be ever good enough for my daughter, but a man who wants to earn your trust and respect and is ready to do the work, that man comes close."

"Yeah," I agreed.

"I didn't tell him that, though," Daddy continued. "Gave him a hard time. Treated him like he was a perp in the box."

I elbowed my father gently. "Don't be mean."

"I'm retired; I got to get my kicks somewhere." Daddy let out a big breath. "He's the one, yeah?"

"Yes, he is."

"Well, but for all that generational wealth bullshit, he's alright."

I laughed. Only my father would have a problem with Lucas coming from old money and lots of it.

"I feel you, Daddy. It would be easier if he had regular money. His kind of family wealth is…well, firstly, it's not earned, and secondly, it messes relationships up. Look at how his mother and sister have decided to tow the Georgia society line instead of family."

"Rena is not doing that. That's one tough broad."

Lucas's grandmother surprised us by showing up at my door earlier today with a smile on her face and a bottle of expensive wine in her hand. We thought she'd already left for Hawaii, but she said she'd go the following day as she wanted to spend Thanksgiving with her family, us. Her presence was the final touch that made this day perfect.

"How do you feel about Christmas in Hawaii?" I asked.

"I feel freaking awesome about it." Daddy grinned. "Rena said the Covington house was on the water. She showed me pictures, and it's a freaking mansion with a private beach and a chef. It's going to be like being at a resort. I'm good with that."

"She likes you," I murmured.

"She thinks you're the cat's ass, kiddo, and she's delighted to see Lucas and you together. She told me that a good woman can change the life of a man, and a good man can change that of a woman. She wished her son had married better—instead, Patsy happened!"

Daddy walked to a cabinet and pulled out a water glass. He filled it from the fridge.

"You think Lucas will regret the strain I'm causing his relationship with his mother and sister? Will he blame me for it?"

Daddy raised his eyebrows and his chin to let me know there was someone behind me. I smelled him and shook my head in amusement.

Lucas turned me around to face him. "There's nothing to regret, Tesoro . They made their choices, and my decision has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me . I could never blame you for their choices or mine. You're the love of my life, my joy."

"Christ! Next, he'll be writing poetry for you," Daddy said in mock disgust. "I'm going to go talk to people who don't talk funny."

"Not talking funny, sir. I'm just a man in love." Lucas dropped his lips to mine, and I heard my father tell him to watch it with the PDA because " she's still my daughter ."

But Daddy was joking. He was happy to see us back together because he knew how much I loved Lucas.

"It's been a lovely Thanksgiving, the best ever." Lucas hugged me closed. "Thank you for making it so special."

Lucas had been the perfect host all evening, keeping everyone's glasses filled, making sure the food kept coming, and somehow managing to look effortlessly handsome in the process. He was relaxed and charming, and at ease in a way that made me fall in love with him all over again.

"Time for dessert?" Lucas queried.

"Yeah, let's do that."

"No, let me. You go sit with Basil; he's been complaining he hasn't spent any time with you."

I did as Lucas suggested. Basil told me how he'd had a lot of fun at UCLA, but he missed home.

When Lucas returned, he was carrying a tray laden with slices of pumpkin pie. He started handing them out, one by one, each slice perfectly arranged with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

He set a slice in front of Basil, who immediately dug in. "Amara makes the best pies," he explained with his mouth full.

"You're going to choke on it if you don't chew, and I'm not doing the Heimlich," Gemma warned.

"I'll do it," Daddy piped in, "You just gobble gobble, Basil."

Lucas placed slices of pie in front of everyone.

Finally, he came to me, setting down the last one with a little flourish. "And for you, my love." His eyes twinkled in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

"Thank you." I smiled up at him. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head, and I grinned as I picked up my fork.

The first bite was perfect—the rich, spiced filling melting on my tongue, the buttery crust crumbling just right. But as I went to take a second bite, my fork hit something hard. I frowned, pulling the fork back to see what it was, and my breath caught in my throat.

There, nestled in the middle of my slice of pumpkin pie, was a ring—a beautiful, sparkling diamond freaking ring.

Before I could fully process what was happening, Lucas was on one knee in front of me. His eyes locked with mine, and they were filled with so much love that I wanted to burst into tears.

"Amara, the first time I asked you to marry me was perfect. Just to remind you, you said yes, even without a ring , even after everything I put you through."

He reached out and gently took the ring from the pie, wiping it clean with a napkin before holding it out to me. The diamond caught the light and sparkled brilliantly.

"But this time," he continued, his voice softer now, "I have the ring, Tesoro . Amara, marry me. Be my wife."

Tears blurred my vision, but I didn't care. I couldn't stop smiling, couldn't stop feeling like the luckiest woman in the world. This man—this incredible, flawed, wonderful man—was mine. And I was his.

"Yes," I whispered, my voice catching. "Yes, I will marry you. I will be your wife."

The room erupted in cheers and laughter. My father clapped loudly while Basil whooped and Gemma wiped tears from her eyes. Rena's smile was warm and knowing, as if she had been expecting this all along.

Lucas slid the ring onto my finger, and it fit perfectly as if it had always belonged there. He stood, pulled me up into his arms, and kissed me with all the love and passion we had fought so hard to reclaim.

As we broke apart, I looked around the room at the faces of the people I loved, the people who had become my family, and I felt like my heart would burst with happiness.

I showed off my ring to everyone, and they made all the appropriate sounds. Lucas wrapped his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder as we watched our friends and family celebrate around us.

"You liked your Thanksgiving surprise, Tesoro ?" he asked, his mouth brushing against my ear.

"Very much," I replied, leaning into him. "So, what surprise do you have planned for Christmas?"