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Her eyelids lower, and she takes a shuddering breath. “So?”
“So the million-dollar hunt was a ruse. The only scheme I could think of to flush you out.”
“I knew it was a lie.”
“It’s not. I’ve got a check in my pocket.”
“Give it to the writing foundation so they can award more scholarships.”
“I already bought the mansion. I’ll donate it to them.”
Her eyes widen. “You will?”
“Tomorrow. I have other plans for the rest of the day.”
“How did you find me?”
“Your sister called.”
“Traitor.”
“She was thinking of you.”
“Me and the million dollars.”
“I don’t think so.”
She looks down. “I see you’re giving me your traditional greeting,” she looks around, “or are you always that way in front of a crowd?”
“You’re magnificent.”
She shakes her head. “You’re unbelievable.” I see the first crack of a smile, but she straightens it out.
“So,” I tell her, “it turns out I’m hopelessly in love with you.”
Her voice catches. “And?”
“Since I met you, since you crashed into what was supposed to be the most important moment of my life, I haven’t been able to think about anything else but you.” The room has fallen silent. Normally I would shout and make them all go away. Now, I’m glad to have them hear me. I’m happy for all the students and professors to be a part of this moment, to hear the most important thing I will ever say.
“Your eyes, your laugh, your smile, the way you taunt me like nobody else would dare to do, has captured my heart. It makes no sense, but it’s the truest thing I ever knew. I’m in love with your body and your mind. I love your voice and the smell of your hair, I love your walk and the way you tilt your chin like a weapon. I love how you look, I love how you feel, I love how you smell, I love everything I know about you. And I want to know all of the rest. Everything about you has taken me prisoner. I belong to you now. You shine a light on me and inside me. I want you. I want all of you. I want you now and I want you forever.”
I came prepared, but I still can’t believe I’m doing it.
“You came out of nowhere and crashed the most important event in my life. You T-boned it and made it a million times more important, and much better than I could ever have imagined.”
As I drop down to one knee, I pull the little box from my pocket and hold it out to her in both hands.
“More than anything else in the world, I need to have you with me. I need you to have my babies. From now and for ever. From this day forward. Till death us do part. I need you to marry me. You’ll make me the happiest man in the world and the most complete. Tell me what I have to do, what it will take to make you say, ‘yes.’”
She’s silent. I pop open the little box, although I know, if she didn’t crack for a million dollars, a six carat diamond worth half that won’t sway her, either. I am burning up inside.
Chapter Thirteen
Ram
Nobody in the room makes a sound. The students, the professors, everyone looks at Ella. Watching. Waiting.
She blinks, slowly. “You’re an ass, Dickie. And an arrogant ass at that.”
