BROKEN HOPE (Broken Redemption Book 2)

Chapter 27

Emilia

With tears in my eyes, I take in the breathtaking scene.

We're on the grounds of his childhood home, where we've been living for the past fifteen days. Just before the line of trees to the west of the property, several large blankets have been layered on the ground with pillows of various sizes in pastel colors framing the space. Wooden pallets are stacked and arranged elegantly, serving as makeshift tables. Various flower arrangements of all shapes and sizes decorate the space, and the mason jar candles further set the ambiance against the backdrop of the setting sun. There's a large wine bucket in the center and a delicious assortment of bite-size hors d'oeuvres displayed on silver trays.

"Do you like it?" That his words are laced with uncertainty makes me love him that much more.

"Oh my gosh, Lucas. This is amazing." With my fingers clinging to Daddy's locket, I smile from ear to ear, happy tears trailing down my face.

"I hoped you would." He moves behind me, pulling my back against his chest in an embrace that magnifies the heat coursing through me. "I know I promised you a proper date. I'm sorry this is the best we can do given the circumstances."

Turning around, I frame his face and look deep into his eyes. "This is perfect. You're perfect." His thumb wipes away a stray tear before he passes his lips tenderly over mine.

"Will you join me?"

"Yes!" I giggle, joy vibrating through every cell in my body.

Joining him on the blankets, we take a seat. He spends the next few minutes setting up the food and filling our wine glasses. When he settles beside me, he gives me one of his rare bright smiles.

"I love it when you smile like that," I sigh.

"Like what?"

"You know. Like you used to when we were kids. Like you're happy and not weighed down by life or adult responsibilities."

"Kind of how you're smiling at me right now? With your eyes lighting up your entire face in a way that steals my breath."

"I steal your breath?" It comes out all breathy like I'm still that lovesick schoolgirl, which thinking about it, I guess I am.

"Every day." He sweeps a finger over my face. "You always have." He leans in, taking my lips in a brief kiss that ends much too soon. "But as much as I'd love to keep kissing you, it's more important to me that I feed you first. Wait here." He kisses the tip of my nose and then moves to the makeshift tables at the edge of the blankets.

When he returns with two plates, we fall into a comfortable conversation. Like we're both ignoring the charged air around us, we keep to lighter topics as we feed each other bite-size morsels of stuffed mushrooms, mini flatbreads, sliders, and even oysters.

"This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."

Wincing, he says, "I'm sorry about this, Emb. You deserve so much more than a makeshift picnic in the sideyard of the house where you're being forced to live."

"Hey, don't do that." I take his hand and wait for him to look at me. "Don't downplay this for us, Luc. This is a big step, a fresh start, remember? Nothing else matters but us."

"You're right. Christ, you're right." He lifts my hand and brushes his lips against the back of it.

"Now, are you going to tell me how you pulled this off?" I ask, watching his eyes heat as I seductively suck on my fingers.

"Mmm..." Knowing exactly what I'm doing, his mouth pulls into a grin. "After you agreed to go on a date with me, I reached out to Henry and told him what I was looking to do. He shared that his wife is a former sous chef and would be happy to help me out."