A Man for All Seasons (18 page)

“What?”

He squinted at her bracelet as he worked the pliers. “I quit.”

“Your job?”

“Yes.”

Marlie stared at him. “Why?”

He glanced at her and then back at the bracelet. “They wanted to transfer me to Azerbaijan.”

“Oh.”

“I said no. They thought I was holding out for more money.” He finished attaching one charm and started on another. “But I told them I was holding out for you, and you're living in your dream house, and I wanted to live in it with you.”

“You quit your job for me?”

“Well, for us. And the house.” He stopped working to look at her. “Are you impressed?”

“Impressed isn't the right word.” Horrified was the right word. Ty didn't need to hear the right word.

“You don't look impressed,” he said.

“You're unemployed. I'm worried about the rent.” And another thought occurred to her. “What about your house?”

“Ah. There has been a development on that front, as well.”

Marlie braced herself.

“After we discussed Axelle and the fixtures, I realized you were lacking a crucial piece of information.” He carefully closed the charm's jump ring. “The reason Axelle is selecting everything is because she's buying the house.”

“You sold her your house?” Marlie's jaw dropped.

“Not immediately. She'll rent for a few months until she's confident the restaurant is on its feet.” Ty studied her. “Still not impressed, I see.”

“Impressed that you're unemployed
and
homeless?”

“I was hoping you'd get past the facts and admire the gestures, but in case you didn't…” He spun his finger in a circle, indicating that she should turn around.

Marlie looked over her shoulder and there was the tree, all seventeen feet of it covered in tinsel. No clumps, all strands hanging straight, except for the ones waving in the air from the vents.

Her heart started thudding. He was serious. He'd quit his job and sold his house, but nothing said “I love you” like a seventeen foot Christmas tree covered in tinsel.

She turned back to him. “I am very impressed,” she said. Later, she'd tell him she didn't care about tinsel one way or another and that she'd only bought it to use as stuffing in gift bags for her clients.

“Good.” He took her wrist and fastened the bracelet around it. “Although if that hadn't made my point, I figured this would.”

“Yes, buying me twelve dates was very impressive,” she said. Twelve men and not one of them touched her heart like he did. Marlie moved the bracelet so she could admire all the charms, but noticed that the spacing was crowded near the clasp. She started to say something about it to Ty, and that's when she saw the thirteenth charm. A heart. A heart with engraving on it. She tilted it to the light in order to read the words:
True Love.

In her mind, she heard the carol…
my true love gave to me…
She caught her breath and looked up to find Ty watching her.

“I love you, Marlie. And I want you to know that you've got my heart and you'll always have it, whether you want it or not.”

She squeezed the bracelet. “I want it. I've always wanted it.”

Ty kissed her until her own heart beat against its restraints.
Oh, go ahead,
she told it and set it free.
Fall in love with him.

Marlie kissed him until she was dizzy and breathless, and then dragged in a lungful of air and kissed him some more. “I love that you quit your job, sold your house, and gave me your heart, but the tinsel clinched the deal.”

“Is the deal marriage?” he asked, breathing heavily. “Because I want to marry you, Marlie. I want to be everything on your list.”

Marlie said, “Since we talked, I've added passion to my list.”

“I added that,” Ty said. “Want me to add it again?”

“In a minute.”

“You're killing me.” Ty touched his forehead to hers. “What now?”

“Ty…I can't believe I'm saying this, but however corny, ‘home
is
where the heart is', so while I appreciate you quitting your job more than I can say, maybe you can get it back. If I have to sell my house to follow you, then I will.” If she had to
give
it away in order to follow him, she would. He would never leave her. He never had.

He lifted his head, his eyes dark with emotion. “You said you'd never do that again.”

“I know, I know. But I'd rather be with you than stay in this house.”

“But this is your dream house.”

“It's not about the house,” Marlie told him. “It's about building a life with you.”

He smiled. “So that's a ‘yes' to the marriage question.”

“There was no question.”

“Are you going to call your mom and tell her about us?”

Marlie nodded. “As soon as she gets back from the cruise.”

“Then we're officially engaged.” He exhaled and closed his eyes. “Let me just enjoy this moment.”

“It would be more enjoyable if we were kissing,” Marlie pointed out.

He held up a finger and then opened his eyes. “You know how you just agreed to sell your house and marry a homeless, heartless, unemployed person?”

“I may be rethinking that.”

He grinned. “I'm technically only unemployed until I start work in a different division after Christmas. I'm just changing floors.”

She pushed at his shoulder. “You let me believe you quit your job!”

“I did quit. And then I walked upstairs and got another one.”

“But still!”

“This is good news, Marlie.” He reached for her. “I've got a couple of weeks off. We can scout wedding venues.”

“That's a blatant bribe.”

“Yes.”

“And I'll take that bribe.” Marlie leaned into him and unbuttoned his shirt. Putting her palm over his chest, she said, “But right now, you're going to show me where you're planning to keep my heart.”