“I was pushed,” I corrected him.

“Either way, you’re not getting out of it again. You promised dessert with me another time, and this is another time.”

I sipped my green monkey. “It’s very sweet, but don’t you think you’re taking this event re-creation thing a little too far?”

“I want the karma to be right, and to get a different outcome than that night.”

I knew when we got back to the room, things would end a lot different than that night had. “I think it’s worked out pretty well since then.”

He nodded. “This time I want your yes to be a real yes, and notanother time.”

Diego returned with our dessert, but it was covered with a paper tent.

It had writing on it. The silly poem was pure Josh.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

It was here that I fell

In love with you.

My eyes misted up. “You’re still a goofball.”

His gaze locked with mine. “I love you, Nicole Marie Rossi. Please say yes.”

Diego reached in to pull the paper off our plate.

My heart stopped as I took in the ring set into the top of the dessert.

It was a gorgeous diamond solitaire—the kind of ring every little girl dreams of getting from her man. It was the kind of ring I’d hoped to one day get from my man—and that day had come.

I sniffed and blinked back happy tears. Decisive, snap decisions is what Josh had taught me.

“Yes,” I told him. “Hell, yes.”

In a moment, we were on our feet and clamped together in a kiss.

Applause broke out behind me, but my eyes were closed as I reveled in the arms of the man who’d delivered on every promise he’d made me, and was now promising to be mine forever.

“Hey, get a room.” The voice was Sandy’s.

“How come you didn’t get down on one knee?” Serena yelled.

We broke the kiss, and I realized the huge group that had been clapping their approval wasn’t fellow diners. It was Josh’s entire family, pouring into the restaurant area.

We accepted congratulations from the crowd in a never-ending series of hugs.

Everybody was here. All Josh’s brothers, sisters, and significant others, his parents, Sandy, Lara, my aunt Rossella, and even Constance, Winston, and Dee.

“What is this?” I asked Josh breathlessly between hugs.

“Your engagement party,” Robin answered for him.

“You knew about this and didn’t warn me?” I asked Sandy.

She nodded. “Josh promised to line up a date for me if I kept my mouth shut.” She pulled herself closer to Winston. “And he came through.”