Fate on Fire

by E. L. Todd

  “Kingston wants a copy too. You’ll have to sign it for us.”

  He was still quiet.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I just…didn’t want you to see the book that way.”

  “I just wanted to buy a few copies to show our support. We’re so proud of you.”

  “I know, baby. But do me a favor and don’t open it until you get home.”

  “Okay…”

  “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  I hung up and put the phone back in my pocket. Now I was more curious to open it, to see what he didn’t want me to see. But since it was important to him, I left it alone. “Let’s pay for these and go.”

  We checked out, got into the car, and drove home.

  We had a nice two-story estate protected by a gate and a wall. It was a dream house, the type of home I’d never imagined living in. We drove up the pathway then parked in the garage.

  “Is Dad home?” Kingston asked.

  “Yep. We’ll see him in a bit.” I got him out of the car seat, grabbed the bag, and then entered the house.

  Neil was in the kitchen, standing at the large island, his laptop in front of him. When he realized we were home, he came to me and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a nice kiss. He loved my stomach and always touched it, appreciating it because he didn’t have the luxury last time. “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey.” I melted at his touch, always.

  He turned to Kingston next and kneeled down. “How’s my boy?”

  “Good.” He hugged his father. “We got your book.”

  “Yeah, I heard.”

  “Why can’t we open it?” Kingston asked.

  Neil squeezed his arms then rose to his feet. “Because I have a surprise for your mother.” He opened the drawer and pulled out his own copy. “I’ve been anxious to give this to you, but the release date kept getting pushed back…so it’s been a long time coming.” He handed the book to me. “And this isn’t how I planned on giving it to you, but I know the curiosity is going to kill you.”

  I held the book in my hands, feeling the glossy cover with my thumbs. “Can I open it now?”

  He nodded.

  I opened the first page, seeing the description on the dust jacket and the title page. Then I turned the page again, seeing the dedication.

  Charlotte, the love of my life, will you marry me?

  There’d been a square cavity carved into the pages, and the diamond sat there, just beneath it.

  I was so stunned by what I saw that I didn’t know what to do. I almost dropped the book because I was overwhelmed. I’d thought he might have dedicated the book to me…but I never expected this. “Oh my god…Neil.”

  He took the ring out of the box then moved to one knee.

  I dropped the book altogether.

  He grinned, like that was the reaction he’d been hoping for. He held out the ring to me.

  Tears fell down my cheeks because I was so touched, so touched that he asked me to marry him…in front of the whole world. Millions of people would read this, but instead of making it about himself, he made it about me.

  “Marry me.”

  I wiped my tears away, knowing my makeup looked terrible now. “Yes…”

  He got to his feet and slid the ring onto my left hand.

  Now I knew why he’d waited so long to ask me. I’d been waiting for almost a year, but I knew he wasn’t dragging his feet, not when he wanted to have another baby, when he put my name on the deed to the house. He was just waiting for the perfect moment.

  And this was the perfect moment.

  “I planned on doing it tonight…with a nice dinner.”

  “It was perfect anyway. So perfect.”

  He wiped away my tears, his own eyes softening. “I love you.”

  “Neil…I love you too.”

  He cupped my face and brought our foreheads together, holding me in the kitchen while our eldest son stood there and watched us. Neil inhaled a deep breath then brought me closer. “This adventure with you…is the best adventure of my life.”

  I sniffed. “It’s not Mars…or the moon?”

  He shook his head. “It’s you…and this.”

  Also by E. L. Todd

  A real man.

  FINALLY.

  Chiseled eight pack? Yep, he's got it.

  That shadow on a sharp jawline? Yep, two for two.

  So charming you want to scream? Definitely.

  Not all intimidated by my success? Check.

  Pretty much perfect? Ooooh yeaaahhh.

  All that man...just for me.

  But I'm an investigative reporter for the biggest newspaper in the country, so it's my job to pick up on details, to see the signs that other people miss. I'm not afraid of danger. Not even afraid of dying.

  And there's definitely something about this man that I'm missing...

  I've got a caboose that doesn't quit, so I will get to the bottom of this.

  Every man has two faces. I've seen one side...but what about the other?

  * * *

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