by Eden Proctor
She wished she could say she was surprised when she saw Daniel on the other side. She wished she could say she wasn’t happy.
She couldn’t say either.
“Daniel,” she said flatly.
“Can I come in?” he said.
“At least you asked this time,” she said bitterly. “Did you close the deal? Did you want to come here to celebrate?”
“No. I didn’t close the deal,” he said.
“What happened?”
“I came clean to Charlie. Told him that it was all a lie.”
“And he pulled out,” she said.
“To my surprise he did not.”
“What do you mean?”
“I told him the truth, and he still wanted to sign.”
“So why didn’t the deal close?”
“Because I had to talk to you.”
“Daniel, you’re not making any sense,” she said.
“Can I come in?” he asked again.
She nodded and then let him in, closed, and locked the door. Then, she turned to face him.
“You were right,” he said. “I was focused on getting ahead, trying to get away with what I did, but talking to Charlie made me realize that the only thing that matters is you.”
“What are you saying?” she said.
“What I’m saying, Emily, is that I love you. I thought this was about a deal, but it wasn’t. All I care for, all that matters is you, and I hope you will let me prove that to you.”
“Why? Why would you do such a thing? You fought so hard for the deal,” she said, her eyes blinking rapidly with her shock.
“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I never even thought I could. But from that first day, you touched something in me, Emily. Your temper, your brain, your ambition. Your beauty,” he said, letting his gaze drop down her body before he met her eyes again.
“All of those things. You,” he finally said.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“I don’t know that I understand either, but I know I can’t imagine another day without you. I don’t want to imagine another day without you.”
“What are you saying, Daniel?”
“I’m saying that I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
She looked at him, saw how honest he looked, how vulnerable he was making himself.
Minutes ago, this had seemed impossible, but there was a calm that came over her now. Part of her thought it was unbelievable, but another part knew that this was something more. Maybe destiny. But whatever it was, she couldn’t imagine her life without Daniel.
“Daniel, you’re arrogant, pushy, ruthless.”
“Hey!”
She ignored him and continued, “You’re also warm and kind and funny, even though you like to hide it. You’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever met, and I have something I want to say to you,” she said.
“Yeah, what’s that?” he said.
“I love you, Daniel. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
He dropped down to one knee, held her hand with his. “Will you marry me, Emily?”
She stared down at him, tears beginning to fill her eyes. “Yes.” He stood and then pulled her into a crushing embrace, one that she returned.
“Every day I’m going to show you that you made the right choice.”
“You don’t have to show me. I already know.”
Then she sealed her words with a kiss.
* * *
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