“They’re better.”
“What about him and Francine?”
“Apparently they’ve been having problems for about a year. He’s going to Atlanta tonight to end things. I can’t say he and I settled all our differences, but we agreed to be less competitive going forward.”
A little of her heartache eased. “And you’re going to talk to each other? Think of how much could have been avoided if you’d just told him what was going on from the beginning.”
“But then Francine would never have come over to my condo, and I never would have told her you were my fiancée.”
“And I never would have come here and made such a mess of things with your family.”
He picked up her left hand and stroked his thumb over the bare spot on her ring finger. She noticed the dent where the engagement ring had rested, marveling that something she’d worn for such a short time could have left such a lasting impression.
“Mom gave me this today.” Reaching into his pocket, he brought out a ring. “It’s my grandmother’s ring. She thought I should give it to you.”
The diamond sparkled enticingly on Simon’s palm. Caroline tried to wrap her mind around what it meant. “I can’t accept that. It looks like an engagement ring.”
“It is. I want you to marry me.”
“You do?” Of all the things she’d thought might happen today, this wasn’t even on her list.
“I’ve gotten rather used to the idea of having you beside me for the rest of my life.”
Her breath lodged in her chest. “That’s what I want too. More than anything, but how can I ever face your family again after what I did?”
“I love you. And I love my family. But you have to know that if you force me to choose between them, I’ll choose you.”
“What? Are you crazy? They mean everything to you.” Despite her protests, warmth flowed through her, dispelling some of the chill from her heart. “And I’d never make you choose.”
“I’ll have to if you don’t accept that they’ve come to love you and want you in their lives.”
“But yesterday…” She trailed off with a shudder. “What I did was so awful.”
“Look, they’ve put up with Francine’s bad behavior all these years. I’m sure they won’t hold a little thing like you spilling everyone’s deepest, darkest secrets against you for too long.”
“This isn’t funny,” she complained, tugging at the hand he still held.
“It is a little. Thanks to you, Dad confessed that at his last doctor’s appointment he found out his cholesterol is h
igh. He’s supposed to be on a special diet. Mom is furious that he didn’t tell her.”
Caroline felt her lips twitch despite the serious nature of her situation. “You are making fun of me.”
“You’re going to join this family, so you’d better get used to it.”
When he smiled at her like that, how could she resist him? Hope burst free. Her love for Simon unfolded like a sail, catching the wind and propelling her toward her future.
“And you should know Mom’s holding your shoes for ransom. She said she’ll give them back to you only when you promise to marry me.”
“Oh, really?” Caroline cracked a small smile. She stuck out her left hand. “Then I guess I’d better say yes. I really like those shoes.”
Simon took her left hand and slid the engagement ring onto her finger. He turned her palm up and kissed the base of her ring finger as he had so many times before. She trembled as she had each time he had placed his lips there. Abruptly the gesture took on a greater significance. When had he first meant it?
She burrowed her fingers into his hair and pulled his lips to hers. Her soul flooded with pure, sweet joy as she met the thrust of his tongue and opened herself to his every caress. He drank from her sighs and feasted on her mouth. When he let her come up for air, his wide grin looked as foolish as hers felt.
“Now what about our new house on Charlton Street? Are you comfortable living five blocks away from my parents?”
“You want to live here?”