“I would have said something if I saw it,” Grace said.
Dameon put the paper back on Carson’s desk. “So this idiot steals Grace’s phone, screenshots a private conversation, and makes up a story about me bribing Grace. And then money falls into her account.”
“Bingo.”
“Don’t banks have cameras on deposit boxes?”
Carson nodded. “Which we will subpoena if we need to.”
“Who knows about the money in the account?” Grace asked.
“Right now, just us. Michelle found it. But if this ends up in front of a judge . . .”
“So we have Michelle dig up who put it there,” Dameon said.
“Exactly.”
“In the meantime, we need to answer the complaint and at the same time toss in a lawsuit of our own.”
“Against the city?”
“No, against Sokolov. Libel, slander, theft, assault.”
“He didn’t touch me,” Grace said.
“Assault is verbal and intent, not physical. And considering how far he’s taking this . . .”
“Oh, I’m game. You don’t have to say it twice,” Grace said.
Carson sat back in his chair and folded his hands on his desk. “Now would be a good time for your relationship to become public.”
“It’s not like we’re keeping it a secret,” Dameon said.
“Nothing flashy, just a simple something in the local newspaper. Santa Clarita is a small enough town that the rich new land developer falling for a hometown girl could make the fourth page. That makes pedicures and flirty texting completely believable and might even lead Sokolov to drop his case. It can’t hurt.”
Grace stood in her mom’s kitchen chopping up the makings of a salad. It was family dinner night, something they did twice a month on average. “I’ve known Dameon less than two months. How is it possible I feel like I’ve known him for years?” she asked her mother.
Right now it was just the two of them in the kitchen. Dameon was on his way from picking up his mother so she could get to know Grace’s family.
“That’s what happened with your father and I. We dated for three months before we were walking down the aisle.” Nora offered a wistful sigh.
“You were pregnant,” Grace said, deadpan.
“Colin was early,” Nora said with a wink. “I knew your dad was the one.”
Grace dumped the cut-up carrots into the bowl and moved on to the tomatoes. “How do you know? Is there some kind of divine sign? A flashing light with arrows pointing?”
“You’re watching too much television.”
She laughed. “Seriously, Mom.”
Nora went to the fridge and removed a bottle of wine.
“What’s this?” Grace asked when she took a glass from her mother.
“Truth serum.”
They both sipped.
“Do you love him?”
That had Grace taking another sip. “I’ve never felt so connected to anyone the way I do to Dameon.”
Her mom smiled and quietly drank her wine.
“He’s smart and funny. He treats me like an equal and values my opinion.”
“He’s good-looking,” her mom said.
“Right! Like how did I land that?”
“You’re beautiful.”
“You’re biased,” she told her mom.
“How is the sex?” Nora asked.
Grace wanted to pretend shock, but that wasn’t how their family rolled. “It’s off the charts, Mom. I never have to fake anything. Even if I’m tired he makes it happen for me.”
“I knew I liked that boy.”
Grace went back to cutting tomatoes. “Does Dad like him?”
“Your dad’s a hard sell. As long as Dameon asks him for your hand first, your dad will ignore the fact he wears a suit.”
She shook her head. “Oh, we’re not there. No one is getting on one knee anytime soon.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that. I know a man in love when I see one, and your Dameon is all of that and more.”
“Mom, don’t start the marriage talk or you’ll scare him away.”
Nora laughed. “You don’t have to worry about me. It’s your dad that will take that too far.”
“He should get on Matt. What’s taking him so long?” Grace asked.
Nora just smiled.
“What do you know?”
“You know Matt and Erin were just in Chicago visiting her sister.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m pretty sure he asked Erin’s father for his blessing.”
Grace stopped slicing. “You’re kidding. Erin isn’t close with her dad.”
Her mom shook her head. “That isn’t going to stop Matt from doing the right thing. And since everything that happened with Erin, I think her father is really trying.”
“It’s going to take some time to make up for being a bad parent all those years.”
Erin’s father had money to give, but not love, to his daughters. But as the man grew older, he started to realize what he missed out on.
“People make mistakes, honey.”
“I guess.”
Noise from the front room drifted in as the house began to fill. “We’re here,” Colin’s voice called out.
Dameon hadn’t seen his mom laugh this much since before his father died. Well, except when she was high on Christmas.
Here in the Hudson home, she sat beside Grace’s parents, and they all chatted as if they’d known each other for years.
Every once in a while, Grace would look at him silently and just smile.
In those moments, he smiled back and reached for her.
A hand on his thigh, a whisper in his ear of some private thought . . . he wasn’t sure how this had happened, but somehow she’d wedged herself into his world and he never wanted her to leave.
Sometime after dinner, Dameon was on the back porch with Matt and Colin. Matt had dragged them out there saying he needed help with something. Once they were out there, he stood on the side of the house and pulled out a cigar. “I’m going to ask Erin to marry me on Sunday.”
Colin pulled his brother in for a hug. “That’s huge. I’m so happy for you.”
Dameon felt honored to be a part of the conversation. “Congrats,” he said with a handshake.
Matt lifted the cigar to his brother with a laugh. “This is a new tradition,” Matt explained to Dameon. “Colin lit up a cigar when he told me he was asking Parker.”
Dameon didn’t smoke, but he had no problem taking a puff or two for brotherhood.
“Does she know?” Colin asked.
“I don’t think so.”
They both looked at Dameon. “Grace hasn’t said anything.”
“Good.”
“So, did you ask her dad?” Colin said.
“Of course. Dad would be pissed if I didn’t.”
Dameon took the stogie when it was offered. “You asked her dad if you could marry her?”
Matt nodded. “Our dad lives by the man code. If she’s pregnant . . .”
“You marry her,” Colin finished for him.
“If you want to marry her . . .”
“You ask her father first.” Colin gave his brother a fist bump.
Dameon laughed. “My dad would have liked your dad.”
Colin cupped Dameon’s shoulder. “That’s tough.”
“Thanks.”
Colin twisted quickly to Matt. “Wait, is Erin pregnant?”
Matt missed one beat.
One!
Colin tossed his hands in the air and pulled them both in for a hug.
“Holy shit.”
“Shhh. You don’t know this yet.” But Matt was all smiles.
Colin raised both his hands. “We need whiskey.”
“Hello, Captain Obvious.” Matt looked around the corner, then back.
Their smiles were contagious. Dameon felt himself laughing right along with them.
“We talked about kids, a lot.” Matt looked
to Dameon. “Erin didn’t care about getting married again. She’s so excited.”
“Why hasn’t she said anything?”
“I asked her to hold off. Told her you and Parker needed the spotlight for a little while after the wedding.” Matt tapped Dameon’s shoulder. “Then you come along and suddenly Grace is the center of attention.”
“You’re welcome?” Dameon said with a laugh.
“Thanks.” Matt took a puff of the cigar. “So, Sunday . . .”
Colin just kept shaking his head. “Damn . . .”
“I need your help . . .”
Ten minutes later, straight faces in place, the three of them walked back in the house.
Dameon’s mom was talking about something and laughing while Nora and Emmitt laughed with her. Grace was sitting beside Erin.
Parker slid up next to Colin.
She sniffed a few times and asked, “Have you guys been smoking?”
Dameon couldn’t help but laugh.
Colin looked guilty, and Matt shrugged.
“Smoking?” Emmitt asked as his eyes narrowed to all three of them.
“Oh, you don’t have to smoke that stuff anymore,” Dameon’s mom said. “It comes in cookies.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Dameon found the way to get Grace and him into the local paper.
All he had to do was sweet-talk a reporter to show up at a certain fire station on a certain Sunday when a certain someone might be popping the question to his girlfriend. And with Valentine’s Day but a couple of weeks away, who could resist?
“Where are you taking me?” Grace sat in the passenger seat wearing a classic little black dress and high heels.
“It’s a surprise.”
He’d told her they were going to catch the sunset somewhere special and they needed to get an early start.
Dameon had the easy job. Get Grace to the fire station by five.
Colin had to manage Parker and Erin.
“Have I told you I don’t like surprises?”
He glanced at her. “Everyone likes a surprise.”
“Are we going to the beach? Sunset over the ocean?”
Dameon drove east on a back road. “I’m not telling.”
“Fine.”
He laughed.
She moaned. “Whatever.”
He stopped at a light, looked at the time. They were cutting it a little close.
“Isn’t he cute?” Grace was peering out the window at a black and white husky that had its head sticking out the window.
“Adorable.”
“Have you ever had a dog?”
What was up with the traffic light? They had five minutes.
“Dameon?”
“What?” Oh, the dog. “Yeah. My dad was partial to German shepherds.”
Finally the light turned green.
Dameon tapped the steering wheel with his thumbs.
“I love dogs. But I never thought it was right for a dog to be cooped up in a condo.”
He made it through the light on the yellow. Only a few more blocks.
“. . . don’t you think?”
“What?” Something about dogs.
“You haven’t heard a thing I’ve said.”
He glanced over, smiled. “We were talking about dogs.”
Grace shook her head.
He sighed when the fire station was in sight. “Isn’t that the station your brother works in?”
“Yeah.”
“Would you mind if we took a little side trip? I’ve never been in an actual fire station before.” He moved into the turn lane.
“I don’t know if Matt is even working today.”
“Isn’t that his truck?”
Grace leaned forward. “Okay, what’s going on?” She pointed out the window. “That’s my parents’ car.”
“Huh . . .”
“Dameon?”
He pulled in and put the truck in park. He cut the engine and unbuckled his belt. “C’mon.”
They both got out, and he rounded the truck to take Grace’s hand.
On the side of the station, Nora and Emmitt stood next to three firefighters and a woman with a camera.
“Oh my God.” Grace squeezed his hand. “Matt’s going to pop the question.”
Dameon smiled and placed a finger over his lips. “Shhh.”
Grace kept squeezing his hand. “Eeekkk!”
When they stopped in front of Grace’s parents, Dameon shook Emmitt’s hand. “Fancy meeting you here,” Emmitt said with a grin.
Grace and her mom hugged. “This is awesome.”
“Where is Matt?”
“He’s inside sweating,” one of the firefighters said.
The woman Dameon assumed was the reporter walked up to them and introduced herself. She barely finished her introduction when Colin’s car pulled into the driveway.
One of the firefighters spoke into a radio. “She’s here.”
Colin, Parker, and Erin piled out of the car right as the garage doors of the station started to open.
Dameon stood behind Grace and wrapped his arms around her as they watched.
The photographer snapped pictures as Erin’s eyes took it all in.
Matt stood in full uniform holding at least two dozen red roses. Draped across the fire engines was a massive banner in red and white and dozens of heart-shaped balloons with the question Erin, will you marry me?
Grace shivered in Dameon’s arms.
He looked at her and saw a single tear fall off her cheek.
Dameon kissed the side of her head.
Matt walked straight up to Erin, who stood with her hands over her face. He dropped to one knee and opened a small box.
“Erin. I have loved you from the minute I set eyes on you. I want to wake up to you every day for the rest of my life. I want all the good times and the bad times with you by my side. I want to dance in the kitchen with you until we’re both using walkers and remembering when we were both young and crazy.”
Dameon felt a lump forming in his throat when Matt choked on his words.
“Erin, my love, my life, my everything . . . will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Erin was a mess of tears as she nodded and reached for him.
Matt set the roses on the ground, got to his feet, and pulled her in for a kiss.
Dameon looked around to see Grace’s family all smiling and crying. One of the firefighters had a cell phone camera pointed at the happy couple.
When Matt let Erin up for air, everyone started clapping. Matt whispered something in Erin’s ear as he slid a ring onto her finger.
Dameon never considered himself much of a romantic, but he had to admit he was pretty impressed with how Matt handled the whole thing.
There were hugs and cheers. When it was Dameon’s turn to congratulate the happy couple, he hugged them both. “Way to set the bar high, Matt,” Dameon said with a laugh.
“Let’s see you beat that,” Matt challenged.
Dameon looked over to Grace and saw her blushing.
The reporter snapped pictures and then interviewed Matt and Erin. She took down everyone’s names in the family, including Dameon’s. He was fairly certain a picture with him and Grace in it would make its way into the paper.
The bell inside the fire station went off, and Matt’s colleagues moved into action.
Colin and Matt scrambled to take the sign down.
“Do you have to go?” Erin asked over the noise.
“Nope. I’m not on today.”
They backed out of the way when the engine pulled out of the garage.
With the noise of the siren fading as it left the station, Dameon turned to the crowd. “If it’s okay with you, I booked the private room at The Backwoods to celebrate.”
Matt shook his hand. “Let me change real quick, and Erin and I will meet you there.”
The two of them slipped into the station while everyone else watched them go.
“Anyone wanna la
y bets on how late they’ll be?” Colin asked.
“Leave the lovebirds alone,” Grace scolded.
Emmitt walked up to Dameon and patted him on the back. “I hope you took notes, son.”
“Dad!” Grace yelled.
Instead of feeling the pressure, Dameon smiled.
They made the second page, not the fourth.
Grace woke at Dameon’s canyon home the next morning to text messages from both family and friends.
“Your phone is buzzing off the hook,” Dameon said as he brought her a cup of coffee in bed.
She pushed into a seated position and accepted the coffee with a kiss. “Good morning.”
Dameon was already showered and dressed. “Good morning.” He sat on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on her leg over the blankets covering her.
“What time is it?”
“Almost seven. I have to get out of here if I’m going to beat traffic.”
“You’re not beating anything if it’s seven,” she told him.
He kissed her again. “Maybe I’ll just stay.”
“Someone has to work.” Grace sipped the coffee before setting it aside. “Thank you.”
He brushed the hair out of her face. “This is a great look.”
She knew she was a mess. They’d gotten back relatively early but spent the evening exploring each other’s bodies in very satisfying ways.
Her phone buzzed again. “What’s going on?”
Dameon pulled his phone out of the breast pocket of his suit. “The local paper.”
Grace rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took his phone. She expanded the pictures and the memories of the previous day came back.
Erin was emotional, Matt was teary-eyed.
Then there was a picture of Dameon holding her from behind and saying something in her ear. The caption was “Love is in the air.”
“Slow news day,” Grace said.
“This should do the trick.” Dameon took his phone back and put it away. “I hate to run.”
She started to get out of bed. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“No. Don’t rush. Stay as long as you like.”
She relaxed. “I’m starting to get lazy.”
Dameon shook his head. “I’ve seen the drawings and site plans. There isn’t a lazy bone in your body.”
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