“Well? What do you say? You want to marry me?”
Very slowly, she turned back and stepped against him, wrapped her arms around his back. She said against his neck, “For such a guy, that wasn’t a bad proposal at all. I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough. Then I’ll tell you I love you if you’ll say it at the same time. On three?”
“I’m counting,” she said, and clicked off her fingers. They were both laughing when they shouted out at the same time, “I love you!”
Later, when they were sitting on the sofa, Callie on his lap, leaning against his shoulder, Ben said, “I know you’re grieving for your stepfather, but I was wondering if there was something else, Callie.”
“What do you mean—?”
He talked right over her. “Sometimes you look a million miles away, like you’re thinking about something that’s taking you elsewhere.”
She was silent.
“I hope you feel you can tell me anything, Callie.”
She raised her head and looked him squarely in the eyes. “What happened, Ben—Günter dying like he did—it was for the best. I know that.”
He nodded, waited.
“I guess I mean that it’s over. All of it, and there’s only the aftermath to deal with and I’m doing that.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Did I tell you that I am very happy you’re in my life?”
She watched his expression lighten, saw humor come back into his eyes. He was grinning as he said, “Tell me every day, okay. You want to know something?”
“Since I’m maybe even practically engaged to you, I guess I can handle anything you want to tell me.”
“I think you’re a natural too.”
Blowout Page 33
