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That admission struck a chord. She caught her full lower lip between her teeth. He stepped closer, ignoring the hitch in his stride. Grinning, he accepted the pain as a reminder of everything she’d taught him in such a short time.
“I was wrong, I admit it. And I’m sorry that me being wrong hurt you. You probably don’t want to spend your life with a coward like me.” He went down on one knee to a collective gasp from their audience. “What would it take to convince you to give me a chance?” He popped open the ring box, held it out and waited.
Tears glistened in her eyes, tears he knew she’d never allow to roll down her cheeks. “The right words,” she whispered, but it was obvious she didn’t believe he had those words to give. Why would she? He’d done everything but swear a vow of silence regarding anything related to emotions or the expressions of them.
It amazed him how well she knew him after such a short time. And it had taken him too long to realize how well he understood her.
He had her full attention and it made him want to do a victory dance, but it was too soon. When he danced again, it would be at their wedding. And as often as possible in the lifetime he intended to share with her.
He snapped the box shut over the sparkling diamond solitaire and hauled himself back to his feet. The charged atmosphere seemed to deflate and Ruth took a step closer to Heather.
“The right words.” He stared at her. “You’re my heart,” he said quietly. “My only happiness.”
She shook her head, but he saw the spark of hope, the tenderness, in her brown eyes.
“No?” He took another step away from her.
She held her ground, neither following nor retreating. “No.”
Aha! Her reply was loaded with steely resolve. He almost gave in. “You’re too young?”
She glared daggers at him. “Last chance, Mr. FBI.”
He believed her. There wasn’t a more perfect woman for him. And there wasn’t a more perfect deadline. He pushed open the front door and snapped his fingers. Daisy barked once, and darted inside. It hadn’t been easy to adopt her—the sheriff’s department had wanted to keep her as a mascot, but Dale was determined to make his new life the right way. With Heather.
“Sit,” he said gently to the dog.
Daisy obeyed. He smothered a grin when he heard Heather whisper a “good girl”.
“Take this to Heather.” He held out the ring box and Daisy gently took it in her mouth, carrying it past the stunned diners and presenting it to Heather.
Dale followed slowly in the dog’s wake, praying she didn’t deliver the ring box to the wrong woman. It was one part of the process they hadn’t been able to practice. He shouldn’t have worried. Daisy didn’t have any doubts about who was right for Dale either.
Daisy dropped the ring box at Heather’s feet, but Heather was staring at Dale waiting for the right words. “I love you, Heather.”
“You do?” She dashed at a tear that managed to spill over her lashes against her will. “Say it again.”
“I love you.” He picked up the ring box and popped it open once more. “I love you,” he repeated softly. “And I won’t ever let you forget it.”
“Oh, Dale.” She stretched over Daisy and threw her arms around him. “I love you too,” she said, peppering kisses all over his face.
An eruption of applause and cheers surrounded them, but all he heard was her sweet voice filling his head and heart with her devotion, the words sinking into his soul, making him feel like a hero.
“Does this mean you’ll marry me?”
“Tonight?” She gave him her real smile and he felt like he’d won the lottery. In a way he had. “For real?” Her hands clutched at his shoulders.
He laughed, remembering how different things had been when he’d walked in here two weeks ago and invited her to dinner. “Tonight works for me, if that’s what you want.” He’d take her any way he could get her, but he wanted their wedding to be her dream come true as she was his.
“I’m sure it could be arranged,” she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. “And I hesitate to give you time to get cold feet, but I’d rather wait and do it the old-fashioned way.”
Her answer was perfect. “Then that’s what we’ll do.” He shifted to take a vacated counter stool and slid the engagement ring onto her finger.
Her eyes met his, the sparkle there no less than that of the brilliant diamond nestled in the platinum setting. “It’s beautiful.”
“And original.” He grinned at her. “For a truly original woman.”
She beamed that genuine smile he loved so much. “And the correct size.”
“You would’ve been disappointed if I’d slacked off and offered you any old ring.”
“No.” She admired the ring on her finger another moment, then looked up and met his gaze. “It’s not about the ring. The words… those mattered more.”
“I know.” He drew her close for another kiss, not giving a damn about the jeers and catcalls surrounding them. She was his entire world and it was only fitting that her entire world share in their happiness.
***
