“You and Smithers in the same town, under the same roof? What happened?”
“We’ve managed to reach a truce. He’d always held Norah in high esteem and was mortified to learn that she’d jumped the gun about my cheating. It’s made him a humbler man.”
“Speaking of the Larkins, how did the revered Allan get passed over for this expansion?”
“A little matter of his arthritis, being so intolerable to midwestern climate. If it was a lie to get himself to Vegas, it’s come back to nip him hard!”
She smiled wistfully, pressing her cheek against his. “I can hardly believe you’re here. A large part of me thought I’d never see you again. After the runaround we Mattsons gave you, I’d have understood.”
He pulled her flush against him. “Don’t think I could have stayed away for long, even if you were exactly who you pretended to be. You quickly proved addictive and very necessary. As it happens, though, your aunts gave me the sales pitch of the century back in Vegas, after confessing to be Simona themselves. Explained that in reality you were nothing more than a plain, boring workaholic.”
“Plain! Boring!”
“Krista, the very idea that I could find love with a levelheaded professional like myself is a dream come true. And we both know you’re neither plain nor boring.”
“No?” she said breathlessly.
“You’re a firecracker by day. And oh, by night, you transform into a sexy and sassy goddess that makes Simona look like an amateur.”
“I do?”
“You know you do, Ms. Big.” He smiled as she blushed. “With that in mind, I have a gift.” Positioning her back in her chair, he grabbed the box off the desk and dropped to one knee beside her. Inside the box, nestled in tissue paper, lay the pale-green glittery shoes she’d pretended to prefer back in Vegas.
“I thought you were still dreaming when you claimed to have those shoes!”
“I had ’em all the time.”
“But you hated them!”
“No, I hated the idea of anyone else seeing you in them.” Very gently he slipped off her right pump. Dipping into the box he took the right sandal and slipped it on her foot.
“What does this mean, Michael?”
“Will you marry me, Krista? Wear these shoes in my bedroom, bear me beautiful, well-behaved children, help me run an empire?”
She looked out into space as if weighing the options. “All those challenges do sound very exciting, especially the marriage proposal. As for the job offer, I do have my work here, too.”
“Oh. I suppose you could turn Gerald down.”
“Hey, don’t be so hasty. I can juggle both jobs if I hire on an assistant for Judy.”
Their eyes met in an understanding twinkle, making the solid love connection unique to a pair of hopeless workaholics.
Deftly, he slipped off her left shoe and prepared to replace it, too, with a sandal.
Krista moaned softly as his hands stroked her leg. “I’m sure arrangements can be made to satisfy…both companies.”
“I love you with all my heart. To me, you are the most fascinating woman in…the whole tristate area.”
At that moment, Courtney burst into the office followed by Judy. They stopped short at the sight of Michael on bended knee.
“Oops!” Judy halted apologetically. “Courtney thought you’d cried out my name. I didn’t know you were here, Michael.”
“Would you look at those crazy shoes!” Courtney exclaimed, scooting closer to the desk. “Are those the shoes you called me from Las Vegas about?”
Krista smiled firmly. “Get out.”
“Yes, Ms. Big.” Judy gave them a wink and a thumbs-up before hustling Courtney back out the door.
Securing her new shoes, Michael eased her chair forward and kissed her lips. “Can I call you Ms. Big, too?”
She smiled against his lips. “Why, Michael…what have you in mind?”
“Creating a fantasy that would make Simona blush, that’s what.”
“Then, please, carry on…”
ISBN: 978-1-4603-6861-9
WEDDING ROULETTE
Copyright © 2003 by Mary Schultz.
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