Part 22 (1/2)

”I bought you this,” I tell him, holding it up so he can see it.

It's a platinum wedding band with eight small diamonds embedded on the front in two rows of four. I have it looped through a slim silver box chain necklace.

”I didn't think you would want to wear it on your finger,” I tell him, leaning in towards him to put it around his neck. ”Not until the wedding anyway.”

The carousel begins to slow down because my putting the necklace on Mason's neck was Faison's cue to bring it to a halt.

I take one of Mason's hands. ”Come on. Everyone is waiting to know what your answer is.”

”I feel confident they already knew what my answer would be,” Mason teases.

I smile. ”True. But, we'd disappoint them if we didn't say anything.”

Mason follows me and we stand on the edge of the platform. Everyone in attendance is waiting expectantly to be told Mason's answer.

”He said yes!” I tell them.

Everyone claps and you can hear well wishes all around.

Mason leaps off the platform and helps me down. We're immediately swallowed up by people telling us how happy they are for us and asking when the wedding is. I try to tell as many people as I can that we will just have a small wedding. They seem disappointed. After dragging them all into the arrangement for the proposal, I begin to feel bad.

Finally, I stand back up on the carousel platform and tell everyone gathered, ”Like I told most of you we just plan to have an intimate wedding but you're all invited to the reception afterwards. We haven't set a date but I will let you know when it is. It's not like we don't all know what goes on in this town anyway.”

This seems to placate everyone and I don't feel as bad.

Eventually, Mason pulls me back into the house for a private moment.

Holding me in his arms he asks, ”Considering what the first of your surprises was, will I be able to survive the second one.”

I realize it's a good question.

”Pretty sure,” I say, really having to think about it.

Mason lifts his eyebrows at me. ”Pretty sure? You don't sound too confident.”

”Worse case scenario you have to phase,” I say.

”Curiouser and curiouser,” Mason says. ”And when will I be able to have my second surprise?”

”Well, we have to be naked first.”

A slow grin spreads Mason's lips. ”I'm completely fine with that condition.”

I look out at the people milling about my backyard. ”I don't think they'll miss us while we go get matches do you?”

”No,” Mason says, ”I don't think they will. Do we have to go somewhere in particular for your surprise?”

”On the island where the beach house is. It's warm there.”

”Would you mind if we stopped by my villa on the way. I need to pick something up.”

”Sure.”

We phase into Mason's living room at the villa. He walks over to a decorative cabinet on the side wall and opens one of its doors. He pulls something out and walks back over to me.

”I bought this a while back because I thought it looked like something you would like,” he tells me. ”When you said you weren't sure if you wanted to get married or not, I put it here for safe keeping and hoped I would be able to give it to you one day.”

Mason bends down on one knee before me and opens the small brown velvet box in his hands. Inside is a beautifully simple pear shaped diamond solitaire ring. I say simple. The diamond was the size of a quarter, and if I had to guess, I would say it was at least 10 carats.

”You've already beat me to the punch but I thought maybe we should confirm things on both sides anyway. Jessica Mich.e.l.le Riley, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, to have and to hold on Earth and in Heaven?”

I smile. ”Yes I will, Mr. Collier. I most definitely will.”

Mason places the ring on my finger and I instantly feel its weight.

I look at the sparkling diamond. ”You couldn't find something bigger?”

Mason looks confused by my question until I start to giggle.

”If it's too big, I could always get you something smaller.”

”No. I'm just teasing. Now, as for your second surprise, can you think of somewhere on the island where we can be completely naked and alone and preferably high?”

”High?”

”Like on a mountain high.”

”Yes, I can think of a spot,” Mason says uncertainly.

”Then let's go.”

Mason phases up to the top of a gra.s.sy knoll overlooking the ocean. The warm sea breeze blows through the strings of my heart lifting my love for Mason like notes of a love song.

We take our coats off and toss them on the ground. Mason pulls me to him and slips his hands underneath my sweater sweeping it off in one quick motion over my head. He pulls me to him for a smothering kiss while using his wonderfully dexterous fingers to release the hooks on the back of my bra. He slips the straps down my arms and tosses the unneeded undergarment to the gra.s.s at our feet.

I push back from Mason.

”Get naked,” I order, making quick work of the rest of my clothing.

Mason smiles and does what I tell him without asking any questions.

Once we're completely devoid of clothing, I wrap my arms around Mason's shoulders.

”Hold onto me,” I tell him. ”Don't let go.”

I roll from the back of my heels to the tips of my toes and fly us into the air. Mason quickly wraps his arms around my waist. When we come to a stop, the bright full moon seems so close I feel like I can touch it. Mason chances a look down to where we started and smiles.