A Friendly Engagement

by Christine Warner

  They clapped as they guided her, and she joined in, sashaying through the lobby with the Spider-Man flash mob. Out of nowhere, several more groups of guys dressed in Spider-Man costumes crowded the lobby. All danced, sang, and moved her across the lobby.

  Movement from suites of offices above caught her attention, and she glanced up at the floors of balconies. Various superheroes leaned across the railing and clapped in rhythm.

  And then she saw him…

  Her belly swooped and her pulse not only raced but pounded in her ears.

  With his head aiming straight for the ground—just like in her favorite scene from the movie—Omar, dressed in his own amazing Spider-Man costume, lowered himself on some type of cable past the floors above, his feet above his head to keep his balance as he brushed against the wall, scaling lower and lower…closer and closer.

  She’d recognize him anywhere, even with a mask. His broad shoulders, the swell of his muscular thighs pressing against the nylon of his Spider-Man costume, and his eyes. His gorgeous blue eyes.

  Staring directly at her.

  She melted just a little, and her knees shook.

  The music faded, and all the imposter Spider-Men around her, all the superheroes above, faded into the background as they stepped back. Their claps growing softer until all she could hear was a soft pulse.

  Devi stepped forward as the cable lowered Omar and stopped. He dangled upside down only inches from her. So close she could feel his warm exhale, almost taste the peppermint of his breath, and definitely smell his spicy cologne.

  She wanted to rush toward him, but uncertainty rooted her to the spot.

  “Dev. Dev, I’m sorry.” Pain and sorrow laced his words.

  Gawd, she’d missed the sound of his voice. His smile. His eyes. Her gaze scanned over him, devouring every inch.

  Then she saw all she needed to know. He didn’t have to apologize, because his eyes mirrored his own uncertainty and regret, and something else she couldn’t quite believe but knew to be true. He loved her. And the fact that even though he hated heights, he’d hung upside down and had scaled several floors to be her Spider-Man was all the proof she needed.

  She closed the bit of distance between them.

  “Is this the part where I’m supposed to kiss you?” she whispered.

  “A wise man once said, that with great power—”

  “Shut up.” Her fingers tingled as she pulled down the light nylon of his mask to reveal his perfect, kissable lips. She’d let him off the hook for now, only so she could claim his mouth. Feel him.

  Gawd, she’d missed him. But as soon as she could think straight, they needed to have a conversation. She may love him, he may love her, but a few things needed to be aired out.

  She ran her thumb over his mouth, and he snaked out his tongue. Devi jumped and laughed before he grabbed the tip with his teeth and nipped her. That’s all it took for her body to warm and desire to fill her core.

  Devi cupped each side of his face. He looked so damn adorable hanging upside down with his parted lips waiting for her to take the lead. Not to mention that awesome nylon suit that clung to him in all the right places. She took his mouth slowly, getting reacquainted with his feel, making his lips her own in a way that sent the blood pounding in her ears. Her fingers curled into the nylon of the mask and slid it off his head. It hit the floor in a whisper.

  His moan slid free from between his lips and warmed her mouth.

  She’d kissed him so many times, but tonight felt like the first time. New, unrushed, to be savored and enjoyed.

  His tongue met hers timidly, and then they circled each other in a lazy dance. Her skin burned, knowing that all eyes were on them, but she couldn’t stop herself. She’d missed him so much, and if his response said anything, he felt the same.

  Now she knew how Spider-Man’s love interest had felt in the movie. There was something sexy about a man hanging upside down with the only point of contact being his mouth against yours, and your hands splayed across his cheeks, his ears, his hair. She was on fire.

  Devi groaned. This kiss set her blood boiling red hot. All consuming. Intense. Combustible.

  “I bet I know what you’re thinking,” she whispered against his lips, and then rubbed her nose playfully against his chin.

  “I hope not, or it’ll take all the romance away from this moment.”

  “Okay, now you have to tell me.”

  He chuckled and closed his eyes. “I’m thinking all the blood is rushing to my head and I’m going to pass out.”

  Omar kicked himself off the wall and did some amazing twisting motion with his body until he stood upright, then grabbed her in his arms and kissed her hard.

  “I’ve missed you so much, Dev. You have no idea.”

  “I do.”

  “Can you forgive me for being such an ass?”

  “I already have.”

  He kissed her again, and when they came up for air the silence deafened her. She glanced around and all the superheroes were gone.

  “How’d you do all of this? I love it, but how’d you manage it?”

  “A superhero can’t reveal all his secrets and powers.”

  “But you’re afraid of heights.”

  “A wise woman once said she’d do anything once, so I thought I’d try it, too. Especially if it could help me win the heart of the woman I love.”

  “You won. But please remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Don’t hurt my heart again. I don’t think I can take it.”

  “Never.” He claimed her lips in a soft, tender kiss.

  She leaned her forehead against his chin. “Before you whisk me away to some island retreat to make love to me on a mattress covered with rose petals, what brought you to your senses, Super O?”

  He grazed her cheek with his knuckles. “Another wise man. One who not only set me straight about a misunderstanding but shared all his regrets about his past. What he’d given up, lost, and now found.”

  “My dad. Oh, Omar. I can’t believe he… When? I just left him yesterday morning.” She kissed him square on the lips.

  “He was here the night before. All full of protective-dad testosterone, ready to kick my ass until I listened to him. And I can’t believe I didn’t listen to you when you asked.”

  She caressed his cheek. “Doesn’t matter. You know now. I’m so happy you talked. I knew once you learned…”

  Devi swallowed the tears of happiness invading her throat.

  “Dev, I promise to never make you cry again. Never. I’m so sorry for the last week. I’ve gone through hell, and I know you have, too.” His voice was raw, and she touched her lips to his.

  “We’re good. It’s all good. I can’t believe this is happening. I’d hoped we could eventually talk and you’d understand, and all could be forgiven on both sides, but part of me doubted it’d ever happen. After my mom and dad—”

  “Devi, you really have changed my world. I do see things in a different way. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. So much.”

  “For a woman who said love and relationships weren’t in her future, what happened?”

  “You happened.”

  “Ditto.” He pulled their fake engagement ring from a little hidden pocket on his hip, knelt down on one knee, and grabbed her hand. “I want to give you all the bells and whistles, Devi.”

  Her free hand splayed across her throat, and a rush of excitement danced up her spine. She refused to pass out because she didn’t want to miss this moment.

  “I love you with all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile, laugh, and seeing you happy. Will you marry me?”

  “There’s nothing in the world that’d make me any happier.”

  He slid the ring over her finger. “This ring is only temporary until we can talk to Roth and have him design something special. Unique. Like you.”

  Her heart swelled. “You’re going to ask Roth to design our engagement ring?”

 
; He nodded and kissed the inside of her wrist. “My unique, unfake—”

  She tilted her head to the side and grinned. “Unfake isn’t a word.”

  “I’m the one doing the proposing here. I can make up any word I want to make this memorable and funner.”

  “Funner? Are you stealing my words?”

  He stood and pressed one finger to her mouth. “My unique, unfake fiancée deserves a proposal and a ring that are truly one of a kind. Like her. Like our love.”

  She tossed her head back and laughed, then reached up to brush her mouth over his. “You got me.”

  “Then my life is complete.”

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  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to say a very special thank you to my wonderful editor, Karen Grove, who always makes my work shine. Thank you as well to Entangled Publishing and all the people behind the scenes for helping make my dreams come true.

  Another round of thanks for all the people in my real world who let me borrow their names for my imaginary world. Josue Rigueiro, who always made me laugh when we worked together and who is now a famous racecar driver. I can hear you laughing now Joe Sue; Cass Warner, for being the amazing daughter she is; Trevor Atkinson, for being the awesome man in my amazing daughter’s life; and my wonderful niece Cassandra Devi Rianna Singh-Suwal, for having a cool middle name that inspired me to write my heroine Devi.

  About the Author

  Christine Warner is living her dream in Michigan, along with her family, one laptop, and a much-loved assortment of furry friends.

  Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing, but no arithmetic. A confessed people-watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities. She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.

  A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on Facebook, Twitter, Tsu, and her website at christine-warner.com.

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