“I was going to argue, Billie, but you’re right. I have been miserable. I know I messed up by running that report, but please don’t think that I don’t appreciate everything you did for me. I know it was hard for you to go to your grandfather for a favor, but you did it for me.”
“Baby, we have to let all that go. Both of us. I love you. I’ve missed you, but you wouldn’t give me a chance to tell you that.” He looked deeply into her eyes while he held her hand in his. “Pansy, will you marry me? I had planned to ask you on our trip, but I didn’t get a chance before all hell broke loose.”
“Can you forgive me for what I did?”
“Of course, if you can forgive me. I bought this ring months ago.” He grinned. “Guess who helped me pick it out.” He reached into his pocket and brought out a small, sage-green velvet box.
He laughed as her eyes widened to saucers when he opened the box and she saw the three-carat, cushion-cut diamond surrounded by a halo setting of canary-yellow diamonds set in platinum. He took the ring out of the box and put it on the third finger of her left hand. “What do you say? Are you going to make me a very happy man?”
“I say yes, Billie Crockett. I want to make you a very happy man.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
When he could breathe again, he said, “What more can I ask than that? I love you outrageously, Pansy Nicholas. What do you think about a fall wedding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with a reception at the Plaza? I’m not going to let this drag on and give you a chance to change that stubborn mind of yours.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and deep. When they came up for air, the carriage had stopped back in front of Tavern on the Green. “Let’s tell everyone tomorrow. This is Melodie and Logan’s night.”
“What if she notices the ring?”
“Well, then you can tell her privately.” Billie helped her out of the carriage and told the driver to take his horse back to the stables. When they walked inside the restaurant, Logan was watching for him. He gave him the thumbs-up signal. Billie could see the wide smile break across Logan’s face when he realized that Billie had popped the question and gotten the answer he was hoping for.
When the champagne toast was poured, Billie grabbed two flutes, handed Pansy one, and said, “To us, baby. We’ll have many happy years and many more arguments, but we’ll never let something come between us like this again. Promise me that.”
“I promise.” She lifted her glass in return. “To us, Billie Crockett.” She reached inside the bodice of her dress and pulled out her day collar. “Help me put this back on please, Sir. I haven’t worn it since Florida, but I always have it with me.”
“Oh, baby. I didn’t know.” He reached around and fastened the gold-and-diamond necklace around her neck. Now everything was perfect.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was born in New Jersey and grew up an only child on a small farm in the “Garden State.” My father grew acres and acres of flowers for commercial florists and various produce, such as tomatoes. My high school years were spent at Wayne Hills High School, where I was not one of the popular, preppy kids, or one of the hoods—which kind of left me in limbo as I wasn’t one of the brainiacs either. Weekends were spent going into “the City” and Greenwich Village with my friends and doing a lot of things I probably shouldn’t have—don’t tell my grandkids!
After attending Katharine Gibbs School in Montclair, New Jersey, I began a career as a legal secretary and then a paralegal. I moved to Florida and currently live in Davie, Florida, with my dog, Snickerdoodles, aka The Dude. I was married for eight years but have been single for many years. My major addiction is jewelry, but any kind of shopping will do for a fix!
After my longtime job as a paralegal was ended by the economic downturn, I decided to turn lemons into lemonade and finally write the stories I’d had in my head for many years. I had always wanted to write romance novels, but my family and job kept me too busy.
My major interest aside from my family and friends is horses. I enjoy putting an animal character into my stories if possible. I am extremely “low-tech” and probably should have been born in the 1800s, as I enjoy driving a horse and buggy for fun. I also enjoy horseback riding, but the ground has gotten harder and farther away over the years.
I have a small farm and vacation home in Ocala, Florida, which is my favorite place in the world. There’s nothing as wonderful as swinging in the hammock in the shade and listening to the music of the wind in the pines while cuddled under a quilt reading a good book.
Books have always been my escape into love and adventure, and through reading I have been able to be many people, do many things, and go to many wonderful places I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to be, do, or see.
I hope that all hardworking women who have a moment to put up their tired feet and relax with a cup of coffee—or a glass of wine—will feel like they have had the opportunity to enjoy a trip to beautiful South Florida, my own backyard. I hope they also enjoy getting to meet my fantasy friends and experiencing something new and different with a touch of hot romance thrown in for good measure!
New adventures with old and new friends will continue with this new Black Dahlia Hotel Series.
For all titles by Skye Michaels, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/skye-michaels
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Pansy's Passion [The Black Dahlia Hotel 5] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 13
