“Sorry for not telling you about Beanie right after coming home from the doctor.” I only have half a block to walk to the hotel when I stop and head for the small park on the adjacent street instead. I don’t want to go back into the stuffy hotel bedroom just yet. “I got all wound up because I remembered that conversation when I first visited the apartment when you said how you weren’t even thinking about starting your own family, and—”
“And I wasn’t. I was happy being everyone’s favorite uncle. But falling in love with the right woman changed that.”
Swoon level dangerously high!
I sit on a bench in the almost empty park, the wood backrest a little too hard under my skin. It’s a fine end of August evening. Blake continues, as if he didn’t just make my insides melt.
“But your search for someone ‘safe’ and ‘non-argumentative’ didn’t pan out, huh?”
I wave my hand dismissively, even though he can’t see me. “Oh, about that. I was dead wrong. Apparently I want a man who doesn’t back down from an argument when he thinks I’m standing in my own way. You make pushy sexy as all get-out. And if it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be here, so thank you. That was my second point.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. And Blake? You do make me feel safe with your reckless, furniture-breaking-sex style of approaching life.”
“Is that your long-winded way of asking me to fly out to Boston?”
I grin. “Nope. Not at all.”
***
When Blake said he could do better than flowers but was starting small, I assumed he was talking about cutesy stuff like more flowers and ginger cures. Boy, was I wrong. He pulls out the big guns the next morning when the receptionist hands me a small rectangular package. Inside, I find a key to his apartment, and no note. But I don’t need more words.
I just need him.
The day after, I receive yet another package, just as small. Inside it, I find another package, and my heart skips a beat. It’s a jewelry box with the Bennett Enterprises logo on it. My palms instantly become sweaty, and excitement bubbles in my throat. I swear even Beanie gives a tiny leap behind my navel. On second thought, maybe it was just my stomach.
“Beanie,” I whisper, hand on belly, “I don’t know if you realize the momentousness of this, but your dad is proposing to your mom. Just thought I’d spell it out for you.” And for myself. I stare at the lovely box, admiring the delicate and classic velvet, the craftsmanship of the logo, working up the courage to open it.
It takes me so long to gather my wits that it’s almost time to head out to training when I finally take off the lid.
There is nothing inside. It’s absolutely empty.
Confused and apprehensive, I call the culprit.
“Blake Bennett, you do not play with the emotions of a pregnant woman this way. What is the meaning of this?”
“Hey, not my fault. Not the best idea to send jewelry through delivery services, because it could get stolen. I’m going to have to bring the ring in person.”
I break into a fit of laughter. Genius. Pure genius.
“You’re taking sneaky to a whole new level, Blake.”
“What was that? Reception’s not good. Sounded like you were asking me to fly out to Boston.”
“On the next plane, please.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Clara
Six hours—length of the flight from San Francisco to Boston.
Twenty minutes—driving time from the airport to the hotel.
By my calculations, Blake arrived at the hotel about five hours ago, which is how long I’ve been glancing at the clock on my computer every ten minutes or so. Only two hours to go. I’m as jittery as can be, completing every task, taking the instructor’s feedback in stride, applying it dutifully. Twice I stop myself from blurting out some excuse to leave early.
When the day is over, I practically fly out the door. Run down that one block. There’s a commotion in front of the elevators, so I take the stairs. My room is on the second floor. The climb doesn’t do anything to wear out my energy. On the contrary; by the time I enter my room, I worked myself into a frenzy.