Standing By: A Knight's Tale #2 (32 page)

“I love you, Mitch,” I say as he hops on the bed and snuggles me next to his naked body. “Always.”

Hayley

T
he murky weather
lingers around the entire country—not only the East Coast-even California and Florida are facing cold temperatures, which isn’t good for anyone’s mood. It’s February, so thankfully we’re only a couple of weeks from Spring.

What did we say about exaggerating, Hayley?

Right, seven. Seven long gloomy, cold and certainly boring weeks.

On the plus side, everyone needs a coffee or a hot cocoa this time of year; hence, my café is usually packed. Still, I’m hoping that soon the sun will linger around for more than half an hour, and the needle of the thermometer will rise above freezing. It’s Sunday, lunchtime and though I’d rather stay and deal with the lunch rush by myself, I start bundling up to head to the Knight’s home. Rachel Knight wants to talk to me… about?

We have a nice relationship not like the one she has with Emma; we’re different. Em only has Jake’s parents, as opposed to me and already having one crazy family—which I love.

“Ready?” Mitch’s voice startles me.

“I didn’t notice you here,” I wave my fingers around the office and then realize he’s doing what I am, putting his winter gear on. “Where are you going?”

“With you, Muffin Girl.” He fixes his hat over his hair and the smirk he flashes me, makes me want to drop my no sex rule while at work. It’s a tug-of-war.

“You—stay.”

“Really, now I’m a dog? Would you at least throw a cookie my way, Hayes? Don’t I even get a treat and a pat for being a good boy?” He winks at me then shakes his head. “What’s going on? That head is working overtime on something and I’m worried?”

“No, I meant to say that you should stay there’s no point for you to come with me.” I slow down. “My head is wondering why your mom summoned me today. Do you know?” I ask, for the third time. “Tomorrow is my day off, I tried to convince her that it’ll be the best time, and she said it was important. What’s going on, Mitch?”

“Not sure,” he rubs his chin and then helps me with my scarf. He loves to do it because right after he’s done, he finds an excuse to kiss me everywhere I’m not covered. He claims his kisses protect me from the inclement weather. I love this silly man.

“I love you.” I say before we leave the office.

“I know,” he winks.

I slap him on his chest.

“Don’t deliver those Han Solo lines just because you’re trying to be funny. You’re a nerd, Mitchel Knight.”

“I’m hotter than Han Solo.” He kisses me. “We can always role-play, I’ll dress as him and you can wear that gold bikini. Star Wars, the x-rated version.”

“What’s with the gold bikini,” I lock the office and side-glance at him.

“I think it’s more like the fact that she’s tied up and barely dressed.” He automatically scans my body, then moves his head in affirmation. I lift an eyebrow waiting for whatever will follow the last sentence. “Yes definitely tied, we are going to try it. Write it down on that notepad of yours… or schedule it on the calendar.”

“I’m not discussing sex with you while heading to your parents’ house.”

“I love you,” he whispers in my ear. His hot breath makes me shiver, and I want to go back to the office and lock the door behind us while we do a thing or two to take off the edge I carry with me. “I love you, like no one has ever loved another person before.

“How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?” He asks as we walk towards his parent’s house.

“I… it’s complicated.” I think about his question, because while growing up during my teenage years I wanted to strangle every girl that told a sweet, romantic story because I was always single. I wished I had that special boy. Now? “I agree, the commercialization of the holiday is overrated. How many jewelers sell a bunch of junk just because it’s a false Hallmark holiday and how many propose on that day or marry on that day? Too many. I don’t think I want to be part of the group who makes such a big fuss but dinner or something romantic, like we do every other weekend will be a nice touch to make it up to that unloved teenager inside me.”

“Noted,” he says. We arrive at Dad’s old place, but I’m so into the conversation that I don’t say anything. “Cancel airplane, proposal and trip to Tuscany.”

“Were you going to propose on Valentine’s Day?”

“No, I learned from my brother not to use holidays to propose.” Mitch laughs, I believe at some kind of brotherly joke. “Jake proposed on each and every holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day. I don’t know how Emma finally said
yes
, but it wasn’t a holiday.”

“I presume he tried to save his ass by doing it on a day he’ll always remember.” Mitch nods and pushes the arrow up. “Did he use a plane to propose?”

“I don’t think so.” We step inside the elevator, and he pushes the button for the seventy-fourth floor, then pokes a pin on the keyboard and the elevator moves. “They met in an elevator, she claimed to have been claustrophobic and they had a moment. Two years and a very fucked up relationship later, they broke up. It took some time for them to realize that they were meant to be together.”

“You sound like they drove you crazy.” He twists his lips at my statement but doesn’t confirm. “High drama?”

“Yep, they were too… intense. When you know, you know.” His shoulders lift in a casual shrug. “Like with you, I know we’re meant to be together only, of course, I fucked…poor planning. However, it wasn’t a question of
is she the one
? It’s more like a question of how I’d take the next step. Like right now, we’re having a steady well drawn out plan. I don’t hold back because why should I? You know my intentions, my feelings and—”

The elevator doors are open right to the waiting room. I look to my left to be sure we’re on floor seventy-four.

“Why are we here?”

His eyes shine and the wide grin makes me think of something crazy, and I blurt it out.

“Did you buy Daddy’s place?”

“Of course, Hayley, I told you there’s a plan, Muffin Girl.” Mitch places his hand on the small of my back and directs me out of the elevator and into my old house. “After the tattoo parlor, I knew I loved you with all I have. I wanted to be your next step, the one… of course, I messed up during the execution. The next day I went to visit your dad, explained him what happened and told him my intentions, then visited Ben, who punched me in the gut.” Mitch touches his stomach. “He began the annulment process, I planned to talk to you… but had to detach a little because… I wanted much more. That more you offered me and knew I shouldn’t take until we talked. Your Dad called me a few days later about the penthouse; I told him that I’ll buy it if you wanted it. That’s why he went and asked you personally if you wanted it… you said
no
, but your face and your body language screamed,
yes please
. I signed the papers that same day, and it was perfect until… that same day, the fire destroyed your bakery… we know the rest.”

“But this place is expensive, Mitch.”

“It was a bargain.” We walk to the terrace. “Almost nothing in exchange for your beautiful smile.” He points at me. “The satisfaction of knowing that our children will grow up where their Mom did. I didn’t have a permanent place, Hayes. He could’ve charged me a billion, and it would still have been a bargain that I would have happily paid.”

“How do you do it?” I flutter around the house, moving through rooms, upstairs and down. The possibilities are infinite; this place will be perfect for family gatherings, holidays and… I come to a halt and finally pay attention to him. “How do you know what to say and do just the right thing?”

“Years of practice, learning and observing you, Muffet.” He smirks after saying the exact nickname that bothers me the most. No doubt, thinking most of those observations were to find a new way to tease me and make me cringe. “Mostly love.”

I’m waiting for him to drop on one knee, pull out ring I returned months ago, but… nothing happens.

“We have the day off tomorrow,” he turns me around. “Let’s start furnishing the place and move in together. What do you think?”

Hayley

T
he last employee
leaves, its seven thirty and the café is clean. I wait for Mitch, who told me he was taking me to some special event—to dress nicely. I went home and changed into a rusty-red cashmere knit sweater, a black skirt and boots. As I continue cleaning the decorating table, I spot Mitch, wearing a dark suit with a white crisp shirt and a dark grey tie.

“Hey, beautiful.” He walks towards me.

“Hi yourself, handsome.” I place my hands on the back of his neck as he hugs my waist and give him a kiss.

“Ready to go?”

I toss the washcloth I used to sanitize the surfaces inside the
to-be washed
bucket. My new private kitchen is clean; tomorrow is decorating day.

“Do you trust me?”

What a strange question. I rotate my neck a few times to loosen it from the days of work, then nod wondering what he has planned. “Turn around and close your eyes.”

Bossy pants. I do as he says, and he covers my eyes with what feels like a silky cloth. A scarf, a tie… I have no idea what it is but my body and mind start shaking with anticipation. A surprise of what kind?

“You’re tossing me in the Hudson River?” I fish for clues.

“Perhaps, I met a new hot chick and we’re planning to run away.”

“You couldn’t, Mitchel Alexander Knight,” I challenge him. “You won’t find anyone who’ll let you keep that crazy ego, let alone love it.”

“I know that, Hayes.” He slides his arms around my waist but stops too soon for my taste. “I’ll lead you to where we are going. I have a surprise that doesn’t involve the Hudson River.”

I wait for him before he starts leading me through the kitchen. He stops, releases me, and I hear the beeps that indicate he’s setting the security alarm of the bakery. After a couple of steps, street noise hits my ears: sporadic yelling from one person to another, the car engines and the honking. A light breeze of late March, cold yet not frigid, teases my arms. With one easy movement, I’m swept from the floor and into Mitch’s arms. In no time, we are inside a car, most definitely Mitch’s truck where the strong aroma of his aftershave attacks my nose. Hmm, he just bathed. The music is soft, instrumental jazz, his favorite.

“Are you taking me to Canada?”

“Stop guessing, Hayl.”

“Are we doing something kinky?”

“Ooh, like what?” His breathy tone tells me the idea entices him.

“Not sure, the last time we talked about doing something kinky was about a month ago. We said the next time when we visit Parks… we can get all erotic there; it’s the setting for some of those hot books I like to read.”

“Liar, I see what you’re doing, Muffet.” Wow, he’s throwing around the forbidden nickname. “You’re trying to exchange sex for information.”

He got me there. I was going to say, well if you want it tonight, you had better tell me.

“What if I hold sex forever?”

“Oh, Hayes, when I take that scarf from those eyes, I think you’re going to offer me not a fifty, but a thousand shades of grey experience.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“I’m your idiot,” he says in that low, dark, husky voice as he turns off the ignition. “That’s why you love me.” His closeness makes me squirm, wanting a little more than words. “Ready for the surprise?”

The lust is gone. Damn, I’m sweating. What can he possibly give me that will make me want to do whatever he asks and more? Now I need to re-read
Fifty Shades
.

“I’m going to take it off now but please, don’t open your eyes, not just yet, Hayl.”

I nod and rub my sweaty hands on my skirt. We get out of the car and go into a building, where the street smell is gone replaced by a flowery aroma of lavender, vanilla and many other different scents lingering in the air that make me want to open my eyes the moment we stop. I don’t, instead I follow his instructions as they’re supposed to be followed.

“Hayl,” he says with a croaky sound, then clears his voice and this time he holds the tips of my fingers with his. “Hayl, even when you promised me the first time, with Elvis as our witness, to be with me for better or for worse, to cherish me, put up with me and be with me forever—” I flutter my eyes open as he continues saying those words. I find him on one knee holding my hand with one of his and his grandmother’s ring with the other. The one I returned when I left for Seattle. “Now I want this to mean something for the two of us and remember each moment. I promise that if you say
yes
, I swear I’ll be your best friend, I’ll love you, cherish you, protect you, and make you happy.” As he pauses, I suck in a shaky breath. “Please, be my wife, my companion, the mother of my children and the one that anchors me, the one that guides me, the other half of my yang. Hayl, will you marry me?”

My vision is blurry, and it must be my imagination creating the tears coming from his bright green eyes.

“I, of course, yes, yes, I do.” I say as my heart rate speeds up, and I try to remember each detail of this moment. I then wiggle my fingers as he slides the ring where it used to be, where it belongs.

“For a minute there I thought you were going to say
try again
.” I shake my head, and before I put my lip between my teeth, he rises from the floor and traps it, nibbling with a long sweet kiss. “I love you, Hayley Mae Roth-Welsh soon to be Knight.”

“I love you too.” My wobbly upper limbs finally wake from the amazing shock, and I wrap my arms around his neck entwining my fingers through his hair while his demanding kiss melts my insides. I want to be with this perfectly crazy man who loves me for who I am, warts, and all.

Once I recover from the kiss, the perfect proposal and the sobbing-laughing attack, I try to take in the place where one of the best days of my life happened. That’s when I realize I’m inside of my old bakery. The place where my dream first started, where I fought with this man and where we fell in love. He’s filled it with twinkling lights, a few candles and tons of different flowers—the color purple predominates among them. The moment is picture perfect, and when I think that nothing can make it better I truly take in the entire place: Tables, chairs, counter, bookshelves, an opened second floor; this looks like my café. The logo on the window confirms it,
Pieces of Heaven Café
.