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“I’m just not really caring about New Year’s Eve. I’m sorry.”
“Listen to me. The champagne isn’t for New Year’s. It’s for Glubs and Blubs.” The mention of their names makes my throat tighten, and I can’t see how toasting with champagne right now is anything that will help. “They’re alive.”
“What?” I squeeze my eyes shut, then look back to see a smile curving Damon’s lips.
“Not only are they alive, they are currently flying here from New York in a private chartered jet. Then my helicopter will deliver them to the island. They’ll be here in about three hours.”
“What!” I jump up and throw my arms around his neck. “Tell me this isn’t a dream. I didn’t die out there and this is all just…I don’t know. A coma or something.”
His arms tug me into him, tightening around my waist until I can barely breathe. “If it is a dream, or a coma, we’re in it together.”
“I’m not even going to ask you how. You can tell me tomorrow. Right now, I just want to be happy.”
“That’s all I ever wanted, Songbird, for you to be happy. But, I promise you, from now on you will always have a say in whatever decisions are made. That’s my New Year’s resolution to you. I’m sorry I did what I did. But, I did whatever I could to make it right. I have a Pitbull of my own, her name is Margaret and when I told her what was going on with the dogs, she kicked some ass. Also paid off some folks to get them out of the kennel. I told her to spare no expense. Still, what I did, getting you here…I thought it was for the best, for you, but I know now, you get to be the captain of your own ship.”
I lean back, making sure he’s looking into my eyes. “Our ship. I want us both to be captains, together.”
“If that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll get.” He takes a step back, his hand moving down into his pocket as he rubs his eye with the other, then drops to one knee. “Doralee. I never imagined I would have a moment like this in my life. I never imagined I’d have someone like you in my life. But now that you’re here, I can’t imagine a life without you. The Captain is ready, he can marry us out here.”
He flips open a black leather box and the ring inside catches the light from the thousands that are strung all over the boat. The round diamond is as big as a nickel, surrounded with a ring of smaller diamonds that glint and glitter like stars.
Damon slips it from the box as my mouth drops open and he holds the ring to my finger.
“You belong to me already. I belong to you. Marry me, Doralee. Right now, tonight.”
As I choke out the yes, nodding like one of those bobble head dogs, he slips the ring on my finger and the ship’s horn sounds, a brilliant ball of lights flashing above us and slowly descending down a pole.
“You want a big ceremony? Or you want to be married before that ball drops?”
I look up to see the Captain of the ship emerge from the glass doors of the salon, looking to me for approval.
I nod. “Yes. Hurry!” I wave to the Captain who moves toward us, confetti bursting from above and raining down in pink and gold as we hold hands, reciting the short vows just as the ball is nearly down.
From above, on the upper level, party horns sound and we look up to see the rest of the crew. They start the countdown.
“Ten.”
“Nine.”
“Eight.”
We listen as they count down, looking around at the twinkling lights, still unsure this is real.
When they get to one, then zero, the ships horn sounds again. The crew starts to sing, party horns blowing, and the captain leans in, looking at Damon, then at me.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Damon pulls me against him, dips me down, and crushes his lips to mine.
“Happy New Year, my Songbird. My wife. My forever.”
Chapter Thirteen
Doralee
ONE YEAR LATER
“Baby, hang up.”
I hold up a finger, trying to stall him while I listen to the investor on the other end of the phone.
“I mean it.” His voice hardens as he holds Evangeline on his shoulder, bouncing her softly as he sways back and forth.
I nod but keep listening, and he shakes his head as he strides forward, taking the phone from my hand. I glare, throwing my hands up as I lean back in my office chair.
“Hey, this is Damon. She’ll call you back in a few days. It’s New Year’s Eve. Go have a drink.” He clicks off and sets the phone down on the top of the mahogany desktop.
