She braced her arms on his chest. Her pretty brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I have an appointment this afternoon to see my lawyer about the divorce papers Evangelina brought. Seth wants to see her, but it’ll have to be under my conditions. I want to be a free man and I have to protect my boy.”
“I fully agree.”
“Now, for the best part.”
“What?”
Reaching over to the nightstand, he fished out a small box.
He opened it to the ring he’d had made for her. Its band was gold, with a big diamond-shaped jade stone.
Her eyes widened.
“I want to marry you. As soon as my divorce is final. We’ll be able to live together, then.”
“I—I wasn’t expecting this.”
His eyes narrowed. “Did I read our situation wrong?”
She cupped his cheek. “No, no, you didn’t. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. But what about yours and Seth’s safety? We aren’t even supposed to be seeing each other.”
He blew out a heavy breath. “Whew! For a minute there I thought you didn’t want to marry me. I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Finn’s married. Oliver’s married. Why not us? We can be guarded together.”
“I’m flabbergasted.”
A cocky grin. “Don’t be. I’m sick of not having what I want. The FBI is not on the brink of solving who’s after the collective. How long do we wait, Scarlet?”
“Until they arrest somebody?”
“And how long is that?”
“I don’t know.”
“So you’re going to stay away from us for you don’t know how long? And let me remind you that separation from each other hasn’t worked out so far.”
“I want to be with you. And Seth.”
“Then while I go to the lawyer, think about being my wife and Seth’s mother.”
Her eyes were moistened. “I don’t have to think about it. Yes, I’ll marry you. I know in my heart I want you both.”
“Then take the ring.”
“It’s beautiful, Joe.”
“Fitting for a beauty like you.”
* * *
The collective parking lot was full of cars. Scarlet arrived with Oliver and Finn and they walked in together. The mid-September wind blew from behind them messing up Scarlet’s hair.
“This is getting old,” Oliver said as they approached the front.
“It is,” both Scarlet and Finn said together.
As they reached Scarlet’s studio she stopped in front of it. “Do you guys have a minute before your sessions? I want to ask you something.”
