An Extra Special Birthday
"You and your family have already given me a kitchen, all the equipment that could ever stock it, and all the cookbooks I could ever use in my lifetime. What could you possibly give me this year?" Vicki’s question was asked as her fingers slid along the silk scarf Xavier had tied around her eyes so he could lead her to the kitchen.
By all rights it was her kitchen. Nate never used it and Blair and Chuck had had it renovated a while back so that it was laid out perfectly for any and all baking she might be doing for the family or for herself. Everything in the kitchen had been bought in her favorite color. It even had a not-so-mini library of books, including ones that she wrote herself.
Though tonight it held smells of a home made dinner. Xavier smiled as she inhaled and gave a soft groan, head turning to where she knew he was. "That smells so good."
"I'm really glad. Lots of work went into tonight." Xavier chuckled as he led her to a chair and helped her carefully sit down. He didn't push the chair in though, instead he knelt in front of her. "Why don't you remove the blind fold now."
Vicki's brow arched, though she tugged it off slowly. "You'd think those fingers would be able to," her breath, words, caught in her throat when she looked down at him. "Xavier..."
He smiled up at her, ring box in hand. "You have been so good to me, Vicki. And you mean the world to me. I don't want to ever go through life without you." He opened the box, revealing an elegant, tasteful engagement ring. "Will you marry me?"
Vicki blinked back tears before she launched herself at him, a move that toppled both of them to the floor. "Yes! Xavier, yes." She kissed him deeply as she smiled brightly.
He laughed as he hugged her to him and kissed her back just as deeply. "Perfect answer," he murmured against her mouth. He shifted just enough to slide her ring onto her finger. Once it was in place, he dipped to kiss her fingers gently. "I love you, Vicki."
She smiled, hand held out to look at the ring and how lovely it looked on her hand. "I love you too, Xavier." She turned to kiss him again. "This...is perfect. So perfect."
"I'm glad love. Now, dinner, which I cooked for us tonight." He offered a hand to help her up, though she'll tug him up once she's on her feet.
He'll lead her back to her chair and settle her. He dipped to kiss her happily. "I have reservations this weekend at a B&B to celebrate you saying yes."
She grinned as she watched him take his own chair. "Keeps getting better the longer we talk."
He chuckled, raising his glass of wine. "To my birthday girl. And to our engagement."
She smiled, raising her own glass. "Here, here."