Chapter 82

It took us a while to checkout, what with two full baskets of food. Finally, we stashed everything in the back of Chuck’s SUV and put away the shopping carts.

Before I could get into the passenger seat, however, Chuck grabbed my hand. “I love you.”

I smiled at him gently. “I know, honey. I love you, too.” To my shock, he got down on one knee in the parking lot. “Chuckie, what…”

“Marry me, Evie. Make me the happiest man alive. We already live together and share our lives in every other way possible. Make an honest man of me, please?” He kissed the inside of my wrist, and my heart turned over.

“Oh, sweetheart, of course I’ll marry you. I’m just giving you a hard time.” I pulled him up and kissed him passionately.

“Thank God,” he said fervently and picked me up in his arms, spinning me around in a circle.

Laughing, I said, “Put me down, you nut!”

After one last kiss, he set me down and opened the passenger door for me.

“Thank you, husband-to-be,” I said, and winked at him.