Home Before Midnight (47 page)

BOOK: Home Before Midnight

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“That’s wonderful,” Bailey said, ignoring the slight pang she felt at his news. Steve deserved this job. If it was what he wanted. . . . “You must be very happy.”

He looked at her, his face serious. “I haven’t said yes yet.”

Her mouth went dry. Her heart pounded in her chest. “Why not?”

“I’ve had another offer.”

She moistened her lips. “Another . . .”

“My old captain called from D.C.,” he explained. “There’s an opening in Homicide. They want me back.”

“Oh,” Bailey said faintly. “Wow.”

She sat there, absorbing the news. Good news, she thought. Steve was too good of a cop to devote his days to chasing vandals at the high school and writing barking dog citations. She didn’t worry his job would take him away from her. After the past five months, there was no question in her mind she would continue to see him. But how often? And would she visit D.C. as his girlfriend? Or as something more?

Was it too soon to expect something more?

Steve wasn’t like Paul, she reminded herself. He wouldn’t ask her to leave her life behind and offer her nothing in return.

And she had changed, too. It wasn’t as if she was sitting around waiting for a marriage proposal. She had a book contract now, and a deadline. Not to mention her family’s support.

You can have anything you want,
Steve had said.

Maybe,
she thought. But her dreams this year wouldn’t quite fit into a Christmas stocking.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

He reached for the plate of cookies. She smiled. Typical guy move, going for the food when the talk turned emotional.

“That depends,” he said.

She nestled into the space created by his outstretched arm. “On what?”

He shifted her to reach into his pocket and then handed her the cookie plate. Tucked between a gingerbread man and a coconut macaroon sat a black velvet ring box. “On you.”

Bailey’s vision blurred. She blinked.

The box was still there.

“Here.” He opened it, revealing a delicate gold basket setting supporting a flashing diamond. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. “The setting was my grandmother’s. Do you like it?”

Emotion flooded her chest and filled her eyes. “I love it.” The words escaped on a sob.

I love you
.

Steve cupped her face and kissed her, with sweetness and heat. They kissed for a very long time while the fire burned and her future glowed as bright and weighted with promise as the Christmas tree.

“So,” he drawled at last. “Are you going to wear it?”

Bailey drew back a little and scowled at him. “Oh, no, you don’t. You have to say it. You have to say the words.”

He smiled crookedly and gave her everything she wanted. “I love you, Bailey. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. For richer or poorer, in sickness and health, the whole damn deal. Gabrielle loves you. My mother loves you.
I
love you.” He exhaled. “Did I say that?”

She smiled at him through her tears, her heart more full than she would have believed possible. “You mentioned it, yes.”

“Good. So.” He took her hands. His were warm and strong and not particularly steady. “Will you marry me?”

The resolution in his gaze, the slight trembling of his hands, shook her heart and steadied her nerves.

“Yes,” she said. “Absolutely. I love you, too.”

He slid the ring onto her finger. It fit. Naturally. Steve was a detail man. With a sigh, she settled her head on his shoulder, feeling his heart beat under her palm.

In the hall, the clock chimed midnight.

Bailey closed her eyes, smiling.
Home at last
.