Hardwired For Ecstasy (13 page)

Chapter
Eighteen

Emma
woke Saturday morning to more clues left in the apartment by Atticus. She loved
that he was doing this, because they’d stayed up talking late last night about
the video call the day before. He knew how worried she was that their half-assed
plans would go wrong and they’d all end up hurt, or in trouble with some
government agency.

Atticus
had done his best to reassure her that when Viggo and Blaine set up an
operation like this, they didn’t do it half-assed, and they would plan for every
contingency. He reminded her that they’d been the ones to set up the stealing
of Rob Marin’s laptop, and to this day, no one knew who had really done that.

She’d
asked what had happened to Rob, and Atticus said as far as they knew, he was
still posting on the same message boards and oblivious to the fact that the
Weathermen had discovered his friend, Dante Herrera, was one of the hackers.

“Will
Viggo’s and Blaine’s associates pick up Rob, too?”

Atticus
told her they’d discussed that and were still debating whether he’d be of any further
use to them.

The
clues Atticus had left her were even easier this time. They were having an
early dinner, and then she was to join him in the fake park on the top floor of
his apartment. She teased him all through their meal, trying everything she
could think of, including flashing her boobs, to get him to tell her what the
surprise was, but he wouldn’t do it.

She
had dressed up for dinner, just in case whatever he had planned later called
for it, and once they finished eating, he asked her to give him ten minutes
before she came up to the park.

Emma
gasped when she entered the park. It was lit up with multi-colored lights, and
he had soft, slow dance music playing from the speakers in the wall. The scent
that filled the room was lavender and vanilla combined—her favorite. He’d
changed into a tux, so she was glad she’d worn a dress and heels.

“What’s
the occasion?” she asked.

He
held out his arms. “Can’t I dance with the woman I love simply because I want
to?”

She
took his hands, and he twirled her around the space in a perfect waltz. She was
not the least bit surprised. “Of course you can. This is wonderful. Thank you,
Atticus.”

“I
thought it would be fun to come up here again, since this is where we had our
first official date.”

“Yes,
it is. What a perfect idea.”

After
they’d danced a couple of songs, Atticus led her to the picnic table and then
poured them each a glass of wine. He held his up. “To us, and to whatever the
future brings, as long as we’re together in it.”

“I’ll
drink to that.” He drained his, and it was then she noticed his hands trembling
slightly. “Is everything okay?”

He
put his glass on the table. “It will be. I think. In a moment or two, anyway.”

“Did
something else happen with the hackers or your plans?”

“No.
They’ve been set in motion. With any luck, we won’t have to wait too long, but
you know how Viggo and Blaine are. Everything has to be perfect so nothing is
left to chance.”

“Then
why do you look like you’re about to jump out of your skin?”

He
took her glass, placed it next to his, and then grasped her hands. “Emma, I
love you.”

“I
love you, too.”

“I
love you and I want you with me always. I don’t know what’s going to happen
with the hackers and the others who were involved. I don’t know what’s going to
happen with Dave or Bonnie. I don’t know if one day Leland will show up, but if
he does, I’ll take care of it for you.”

“No
one knows the future, Atticus. All we can do is live in the moment.”

The
tender look he gave her took her breath away. He kissed the back of her hands.
“Exactly. Yes. You’re absolutely right. I know we’ve never talked about this,
but … what I mean is, I know you were hurt. Badly. And I can understand if
you’re reluctant…”

He
released her hands and reached behind the ice bucket holding the wine bottle to
remove a small box she hadn’t noticed before. Then he looked at her for long
moments while her heart pounded. If that contained what she thought it did, she
had not been expecting it at all.

Atticus
moved off the seat and knelt down. Emma bit her lip and tried not to cry. He
looked so unsure it nearly killed her. He opened the box, and she gasped again
at the ring inside. It was a chocolate diamond surrounded by what she believed
were dark jasper stones. It was absolutely gorgeous, and she’d never seen
anything so exquisite.

“Addison’s
teams found it. As soon as he sent me the picture, I knew it had to be yours.
It reminds me of your hair and your dark, sexy eyes.”

“It’s
incredible,” she whispered.

“Will
you marry me, Emma? I know I can make you happy. I know it. I’ll die trying.
Whatever happens with everything that’s coming, I can’t face it unless I know
I’ll be with you forever. I love you so much.”

“Oh,
Atticus. I love you, too. I don’t want to face the future without you, either.
Yes. Yes, I will marry you. Of course I will.”

The
smile on his face was so filled with relief and love that Emma couldn’t stop
the tears. He slipped the ring on her finger, and of course it fit. She’d have
expected nothing less. Then he stood, and she did, too. He took her hands again
and danced with her, humming the tunes this time, and Emma was sure she’d die
of happiness.

She
had no clue what the future would hold, but now it didn’t matter because she’d
weather it with the man she loved. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of, and
she vowed to spend the rest of her life making sure he knew how very, very much
she loved him.

The End

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