Under the Stars

I met Mark there.

“Are you okay?” Mark sits beside me on the bench, pulling me to him.

I’m not sure I’ll ever get enough of his love, his strong arms protecting me.

“I didn’t expect to react that way.” I rest my chin on his chest and look up at the cathedral spires stretching tall, slate gray in the misty blue sky.

His hand is on my back, smoothing the anxiety, helping me let go of the past.

“My uncle was the reason I moved here…”

Pulling away, I meet his eyes. “Your uncle who died?”

“Rick.” His lips press together a moment. “I was here less than five days when I found him shot to death.”

“Oh, Mark!” I cup his cheek. “I’m so sorry… You didn’t tell me—”

“I didn’t really know the guy. I didn’t even like him much. Still, I was pretty upset to find him dead like that.”

Frowning, I study his handsome face, trying to understand. “You were so young. You’d probably never seen a dead body before.”

“I’d seen a dead body. But even when something in your life is ugly or you don’t care about it, if it’s part of your story, losing it hurts.”

My chin drops, and I think about what he’s saying. I think about this part of him I never knew.

“Did you ever find out who did it?”

“No. I probably never will, but he was the catalyst.” I frown, but he smiles. “Without him, I’d never have met you.”

Leaning forward, I wrap my arms around him. I do my best to give back to him the strength he’s always given to me.

“I love you,” I say, kissing his cheek.

His large hand cups my jaw. His thumb caresses my cheek, and he kisses the bridge of my nose. My heart expands, and I lift my chin to find his lips. Our mouths open briefly, and our tongues lightly touch. It always sends a shimmer of happiness laced with desire through my stomach.

“Let’s go look at rings.” He reaches out, and I put my hand in his.

Joyeaux Bijoux is just across the square, and the storefront, the display case, all of it provokes a wave of nostalgia. “The last time I was here…”

“You were pawning your mother’s pen for shoes.”

Blue eyes meet mine, and I don’t know what to say. “It was like a different life.”

A different time.

A different girl.

“Let’s see if Gerard remembers us.”

The little bell rings when we enter the store, and I hang back, looking in the assorted cases. I never shopped in this store. It was only a means to an end for me.

“Good morning! Bonjour! May I help you find something today? A beautiful diamond for a beautiful lady, perhaps?”

Mark gives me a wink. “I think that sounds perfect. We’re looking for an engagement ring. Something unique and beautiful, like my angel.”

Shaking my head, I wrinkle my nose. Too far…

“Ah, an angel, indeed! Does the miss, the mademoiselle, prefer gold, rose gold, or platinum?”