by Unknown
Orlando picked her up in a big bear hug. “I said I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Regan?”
She answered without hesitation and with elation and excitement in her voice. “Yes, yes I will marry you.”
She held on tight as he swung her around. “She said yes! This beautiful woman has agreed to marry me!”
“Orlando put me down! My dress is too short for this.” He put her on her feet. Regan pulled her dress down and held his hands. “You are crazy you know that?”
He couldn’t stop the smile from widening across his face. “I’m crazy in love with you but it won’t be rushed this time. I don’t want a Las Vegas wedding I won’t remember. I want to do this right, Regan. We can wait until you find your footing in life, but, baby, I cannot live without you in my life.”
“I got my foot in the door. You are looking at ABC’s newest weekend correspondent. I’ll have to work my way up from the bottom, but this job will not take precedence over you or our marriage. I promise you that, Orlando.”
He smiled boyishly. “We have a lot to celebrate tonight.” He signaled to the DJ. The music changed to Latin fare. He took Regan in his arms and began to swing her around to the fast-paced music.
Her head dropped back with laughter as she fell in step with his beat. Orlando looked up to see Sergio and Marcella dancing along with them. Soon Lincoln and Anthony, and those that knew how to salsa or just didn’t care they were messing up the sexy dance joined them on the dance floor.
Orlando pulled Regan close to his body, drowning out the music as he looked into her eyes. “What’s wrong?” She asked.
Emotions clogged his throat. “I can’t believe this is real, Regan. I didn’t think I would ever experience such overwhelming love with a woman. My work as a firefighter has been the center of my world and for the first time in my life, I’m putting something else before it.”
She cupped his face. “We’re going to make this work, baby. Second chances don’t come around for everyone and we’re lucky it found us. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep us together. I will be there when you need me and wherever you need me. Except…”
He frowned. “What exceptions are you talking about?”
“Except for rock climbing and those twenty-mile bike rides. I will stick to spinning if you don’t mind.”
He laughed. “I can accept that. I love you, Regan Richards.”
“I love you too, Lieutenant Torres,” she said gyrating her hips to the music.
He put his arms around her waist. “Let’s show them how it’s done,” he said leading her into the middle of the dance floor.
The music filled the roomy space as the dancing got underway. Orlando let himself bask in the happiness running through his body. Tonight they would drink and dance. Later he would hold her close as they slept and, in the morning, they would go shopping for the perfect engagement ring.