“I’m going to undo us. For now.”
She blinked and her forehead tightened, then she nodded.
He slid the key in and released the cuffs. “Please, get in.” Sean held the door open for her and shut it once she was inside. He ran around, as fast as he could, to the driver’s side and turned the ignition before he lost the nerve.
“It’s just a short drive.”
“Do we really have time for this? Sean, what happened at the lawyer’s this afternoon? You’re acting funny.”
He felt her eyes on his profile but didn’t look over at her. If he did, he’d lose the necessary courage. They say that with money comes confidence, but maybe he hadn’t had it long enough. He didn’t remember being this timid ever before.
“Just trust me, Sara. I will explain everything.”
The drive went in silence. He didn’t know what she was thinking, but from her energy, he read confusion and intrigue. He took that as a good sign.
He, on the other hand, was coaxing his heart rate to slow down before he knocked off with a heart attack.
He parallel parked. “All right, we’re here.”
“The capital building?”
He swallowed roughly. He figured there was one movie he could mirror. This might not be the Empire State Building, but they had waited a long time to be together, and it was a gorgeous architectural sight.
“Sean?”
He squeezed her hand and then got out of the car.
She waited until he came around to open the door for her.
Her eyes were moist as he leaned over to her level and reached for her hand. “Come with me, please.”
She wet her lips. “On one condition.”
“Anything.”
“No more handcuffs.” She laughed, a normally soothing sound, but this time it carried hesitation and tension.
He smiled. “Agreed.”
He led her, by the hand, trudging through the few inches of snow, to the spot under the maple tree, where they had first met. He turned to face her, holding both of her hands, summoning the ability to peer into her eyes as he spoke.
“I figured out a way we can be together.”
“Sean, you know we’ve been through this.” She averted her eyes.
He placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face. “I love you, and I know you love me.”
“I can’t deny that. Please tell me what all this is about.”
“Mr. Quinn left me everything he had.”
“But you said he didn’t have much, that he’s lived in the same house all his life.”
“Turns out, by choice. Sara, he was a billionaire, a multi-billionaire.”
Her hands filtered out of his.
“Guess you won’t have any problem getting women now.” She smiled, a half-born expression. Her eyes were still wet.
“Sara, there is a problem with that.”
She looked up at him, her voice shaky as she spoke. “And what is that?”
“I told you before. I already found the woman I want, and my eyes, my soul, my heart only wants her, and that’s you.”
A stray tear rolled down her cheek and he brushed it away with a soft caress of his fingertip. He traced out from her cheek and up to her brow, then, as she closed her eyes, he took her mouth.
She surrendered and they melted as one and it was hard to tell where one of them ended and the other began. They fit perfectly, as if meant to be. The search was over, his dream was about to become reality. It took everything to pull back from her embrace, her taste lingered on his lips as he bent to one knee.
The spongy, wet ground soaked through his pant leg and chilled his skin. He didn’t care.
He opened the small silver box, exposing the white-gold band that held a sparkling five-carat oval-cut diamond.
“Sara Cain, will you marry me?”
Her chin quivered and her hand snapped to cover her mouth. She dropped it an instant later. “But we’ve only had one date, and that was two years ago.”
He remained there, vulnerable, his heart fracturing in his chest. “That’s all it took, Sara. I knew then. I know now. We’re meant to be together. You know it too.”
Her eyes connected with his. “What about our jobs?”
“What about them? We don’t have to work another day in our life if we don’t want to.”
“You would quit for me?”
“I would do anything for you.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. His other continued to hold the box extended.
Her eyes went from him to the ring, back to him.
“Yes, Sean, I will marry you.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and he was certain he had some fall as well.
He slid the ring on her finger.
“Perfect fit,” they said in unison and then smiled.
“The ring is beautiful.” A new batch of tears fell.
He reached into his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief, and dabbed her eyes.
“Darling, what are we going to do with all our free time?” she asked.
He smiled and bobbed his brows. “I’m sure we could figure out something.”
She batted a hand and laughed. “Sean.”
“Oh, you mean when we’re not making love?”
She nodded, a mischievous grin piercing her lips. “We might get bored of spending money.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. “Bored of spending money? Is that even possible? By the way, Happy Birthday.”
“My best ever.” She burrowed her head into his chest before straightening and seeking out his mouth. Her warmth flowed through him, encasing him in her love.
In that moment, he knew everything had changed. The day job had been murder, but it had brought him Sara.
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Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 01 - The Day Job is Murder Page 5
