“What? So… you’re taking the Broken Hill one, right?”
She scrunches up her face and my heart begins to race for a whole new reason. “I don’t know,” she cringes. “I…”
“What is it, babe?”
“I’m torn,” she sighs. “I really want to start my own firm, but my gut is telling me to accept the offer at Davies and Knight and gain the experience first.”
“What’s the chance of advancement there? Could you make partner one day?”
She presses her lips together as she considers my question. “I mean, it’s definitely a possibility, considering I kick ass on every case and bring in new clients,” she says. “What would you do?”
“I’d take the offer, gain the experience, and get your name out there. Once people know you’re the best, then build up your own firm. There’s no need to rush into it. Do it when you’re ready and when you have the contacts behind you.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, babe,” I say. “I know.”
“So, I’m accepting their offer?”
“I mean, you don’t have to. You could stay home all day and have a million children.”
She laughs a beautiful laugh that wraps right around me, fusing itself to my soul and becoming one, nearly paralyzing me in the process. If only she knew just how much she affected me. “Yeah…. Not going to happen. At least, not yet any anyway.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Just putting the idea out there.”
She rolls her eyes and takes a sip of her champagne. “I’ll call them tomorrow.”
I smile back at her, raising my glass, knowing there’s no way in hell she’ll remember to do that tomorrow, not if everything goes to plan. I’ll have to remind her at some point.
We finish up dinner and before I know it, I’m leading her back to the car.
Chapter 4
“Where are we going?” she asks as I take a turn that leads away from our home.
“I’m not ready for the night to be over,” I tell her, squeezing her hand. “I thought we could stay somewhere special. Make the most of it.”
“In the city?”
“If you want.”
Her face lights up. “You know, this is one of the best dates you’ve ever taken me on.”
I look across at her with a sly grin. “And don’t you forget it.”
She rolls her eyes and looks back out the window, waiting to see where I’m taking her. She doesn’t have to wait long as I pull up at the best hotel in Broken Hill. It’s a huge high-rise and has the best views of Broken Hill and Haven Falls, showcasing the ocean that surrounds a lot of Haven Falls.
I bring my car to a stop and the valet instantly reaches for my door as another walks around to help Tora out. He takes her hand and leads her around to me before the first guy gets in and drives my car to the secure underground parking lot, leaving me to walk my girl inside this fancy hotel.
I walk up to the front desk and go about booking a room when both me and the lady sitting here know it was booked months ago. Tora keeps her hand in mine as I go about ‘business’ and looks out at the fancy hotel. I doubt she’s ever been here before. She’s never had a reason to and I don’t doubt she’s taking it all in for the first time.
The place is magnificent. There’s a massive indoor water fountain, marble floors, and chandeliers. Anything you can think of, this place has got it.
Once I’m done, I lead her towards the elevator and wait patiently for it to arrive on the ground floor. As we step in, I swipe a key tag and press the button for the top floor. Tora gasps with wide eyes. “The penthouse?”
I can’t help but grin.
“Why the hell not?” I ask. “You deserve the best.”
“Are you sure?” she questions. “You know I’d be happy sleeping out on a park bench as long as it was with you.”
“I’m sure,” I tell her, putting my arm over her shoulder and pulling her in.
The elevator arrives on the top floor and opens up into a dark room that I have no doubt is bigger than the houses we each grew up in.
Tora walks forward, clutching my hand, and starts searching the walls with what little light is coming in from the open elevator. “Shit, where are the lights?”
“I’ve got it,” I tell her, releasing her hand and watching as she walks forward into the room. I wait until she’s in the center of the living space before flicking a switch.
The room comes alight, but not from the lights in the ceiling.
Big block letters, each standing nearly ten feet tall and taking up one whole corner of the room, light up, spelling out the words ‘Marry Me.’
The light coming from the letters is enough to showcase the balloons covering the whole ceiling as pink and white roses take up every available surface.