Page 53 of Mail Order Splash

“You just happen to have a diamond ring in your purse?” I smirked. “You knew this is what it would take.”

“Yes, I did, but it needed to come from your heart, not from me.”

“Why? Why put me through the work if this was your plan? Kellan paced.

“Because he had to be pushed and you needed to see how strongly he feels about this. It would only work this way.”

“So, you played us both,” Kellan demanded.

“One hundred percent. I didn’t get to where I am pushing papers around, dotting I’s and crossing T’s. Sometimes you have to think outside the box, boys.”

“Um, guys, she’s getting away.” Josh spoke from the doorway. “I saw her get in the elevator.”

“Thank you, Josh.”

I ran out the door and down the stairs with Josh on my heels. She was stepping out of the elevator into a crowded lobby. It wasn’t the scenario I would have planned, as it would be in the tabloids and embarrassing, but if I let her out those doors and gave her time to think, it wouldn’t happen. She was too emotional about it.

“Kleine,” I ran up to her. “I’m asking again, right here in front of all of these people.”

“Stop, Dalton, please. Stop.” She pushed past me into Josh.

“I can’t; I won’t. Don’t leave me down here like this for too long,” I begged, hoping she would turn around to see me on one knee.

“Leave you down where?” She was turned around by Josh.

“Kleine Schaffer, will you marry me?”

I felt sweat rolling down my back, soaking through my shirt, and more than fifty pairs of eyes getting closer, taking pictures. If she said no, not only would I be the laughing stock but she would, in fact, lose everything. I stared at her, pleading with my eyes to walk toward me and say yes. Time passed that felt like hours when it had been no more than seconds. When she didn’t answer, I put my head down with a heavy sigh.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” She knelt in front of me. “You feel this strongly about it that you would marry me to save my legacy?”

“Yes. Believe me, it didn’t just come to me today. I’ve been thinking about it.” I reached for her hands in mine. “I’m not so difficult to be around. You like my company and I like yours.”

“Kleine, what are you waiting for? This man is practically begging you.” Josh knelt down on one knee next to her.

“Are all three of us doing this?” I asked Josh.

“Oh. Sorry. Carry on.” He backed away.

“Say it again,” she smiled, “please.”

“Kleine Schaffer, will you marry me?” I held the ring box open.

“Yes, I will marry you.” She put her hand out for me to put the ring on.

“She said yes!” I stood, lifting her in my arms, spinning us around.

Josh grabbed us in a group hug, laughing, until we realized people were moving in on us to the point of crushing. I nodded for Josh to grab the elevator then lifted her back into my arms to push through the crowd and into safety.

“What did we do?” She looked at her ring finger. “Dalton, what did you do?”

“I asked a really cool girl to be my wife and I’m not mad about it.” I grabbed her hand in mine.

“This is awesome,” Josh laughed. “Unexpected and right out of a romance novel, but awesome.”

The elevator opened into the private floor of offices. Aunt Victoria and Kellan clapped in unison.

“You saw the whole thing, didn’t you?” I looked to Aunt Victoria first.

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