Epilogue
Five Months Later
“Can I ask what we are doing in the park on a Saturday afternoon?” Elias asked five months later.
Mid-September was beautiful, but it was not like Phoebe to want to be downtown in front of people.
The park, no less, where there were many sitting around and talking. Plenty of them waving to Elias on top of it.
They were sitting on a bench talking. Elias hadn’t asked her once why they were here and she wasn’t so sure she could go through with this but then reminded herself what she’d told him before.
That even if things were uncomfortable, if he was with her, she’d be fine.
She believed it all. Like she believed in them.
“Hi, Phoebe,” Cassidy said, walking by her with her young son. A client from a few months ago. A divorce that she ended up handing off to a new attorney that started in her firm two months ago.
“How are you doing, Cassidy?” she asked.
“Much better now,” Cassidy said. “Enjoy your day.”
Phoebe nodded and looked at the smirk on Elias’s face. “What has you smiling?”
“You,” he said. “Just as many people are waving and saying hi to you as they are to me.”
“That is happening,” she said. She had a sense of pride in that. “Isn’t it?”
“And it doesn’t bother you anymore, does it?” he asked.
“Not as much,” she said. “We know I enjoy controlling the narrative.”
“Redirecting,” he said. “Get it right.”
“Since I’m the pro at it, I can get it right,” she said, grinning.
“So can I ask why we are here?” he asked. “Not that I ever complain about spending time with you, but it’s not like you to come here and sit to people watch.”
“I’m not people watching. I’m setting it up for people to watch us ,” she said, laughing.
She turned to look and noticed a lot of eyes on them like always.
“And what is it they are supposed to be watching?” he asked.
“Do you know that I first met you at the traffic light over there?” she asked, pointing to the corner.
“I’ll never forget, Ms. Redirect.”
“I’m getting to my point,” she said, laughing.
“Go at it,” he said, tapping her on the nose.
She picked his hand up and threaded their fingers together. “I was so embarrassed and so thankful no one was around to witness it.”
“No one but me,” he said.
“You’ve seen a lot of my embarrassing things, along with my frustration in the beginning,” she said. “I’m even fine with everyone wanting to know our business now...somewhat.”
“Because you give out very little of it,” he said.
“I’m going to give a lot right now,” she said.
“You are?” he asked. “I can’t wait.”
“You’re adorable with that smirk on your face,” she said. He lifted an eyebrow. “I’m not dragging my feet or avoiding getting to the point. I’m trying to work up the courage.”
“Courage for what?” he asked, frowning.
“Courage I always had, but it’s been hidden.” She tightened her grip on his fingers for support. He did the same back to her. “You’ve let me see my potential.”
“No,” he said. “You’ve had it all along.”
“I have,” she said. “But you helped me see it. Hone in on it and make it work for me.”
“Could be you’ve done a lot of those things for me too,” he said.
She nodded her head. “And that is why, though I’m not getting on my knee, I’m still going to ask you to marry me.”
He laughed at her. It wasn’t the reaction she was expecting and her heart tumbled to her toes.
He leaned against her for a kiss. “Don’t look sad.
Or upset. I’m laughing because maybe I’ve had something similar planned but not in public like this.
Not even sure when I was going to do it, but the damn ring is burning a hole in my pocket with me carrying it everywhere waiting for the time to ask. ”
“You’re joking,” she said, leaning back fast to look at his face.
“Your jaw is open and there are a lot of people watching and we might as well give them one hell of a show so they have something to talk about.” Before she could say another word, Elias got up and went down on one knee, then produced a large diamond ring that was in his pocket.
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” he said. “Now I’ll ask you the same question. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she said, jumping forward and knocking him back. He lost his balance and then tried to catch himself before they both went down.
“Now that was more than the tap you gave me nine months ago when you slid into me.”
She was still laughing and trying to right herself from where Elias stopped them both from falling to the ground.
A crowd was gathering.
Phoebe put her hand out. “Put that ring on so I can let them all know my answer loudly.”
He slid it on her finger and stood up to hug her, then shouted, “She said yes!”
There was applause and people moving closer to them. Even a few phones aimed in their direction.
“It wasn’t quite how I had it planned, but it all worked out in the end.”
“When you love someone,” he said, “it always does!”
The End!
Check out the next in the Looking For Love series. Burning Love with Talia Carlisle!
Not all fires are meant to be put out.
Fireman Jace Rigby is a pro at navigating fiery situations, but a call to a wealthy neighborhood leaves him with more than he can handle.
After a long flight, Talia Carlisle wants a shower and cookies. What she gets is a kitchen full of firemen staring at her in a towel after she races to see the commotion.
Can Talia and Jace battle the flames when their relationship takes an unexpected turn?