Page 103 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

“I understand that, but”—he studied the structure—“a house? I realize you make fifty times more than I do, but?—”

“This isn’t about the house or money.” She was losing him. “You’ve given me more happiness than any money has ever brought me.” She stroked her hand down his chest. “I want to show you I’m here. I want to build something new with you. Please look at it. I had Xavier walk through to make sure I wasn’t missing anything in the pictures. I want to repaint the bathroom; otherwise, it’s ready to move in tomorrow. I was waiting for you to see it in person with me for the first time.”

“I don’t know how it will work with us living in Charleston.” He took her by the hand and started to walk up the driveway. “What about your job?”

“I’m done with Atlanta.”

He stopped walking. “Done? So you’ll work remotely?”

“No.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ll work at Cager. I restructured CS to run without me for the most part.” When he stood there in shock, she stepped ahead of him, dragging him up to the front door quickly. “And if we don’t get going, we’ll be late for my first shift back.”

Halting at the front door, he crossed his arms, seeming to still be in disbelief. “You can’t be serious. You’re walking away from everything. Your hometown. Your career. The company. For what? To work at a bar?”

“No.” The word shot from her mouth. “I’m changing my life to make myself happy, and you are a massive part of that dream.I want you, Damon. And everything else. I still own Cassin Systems. And, if we’re lucky enough to have a child, they’ll have a chance to own it and run it, too.”

“Okay. Well, I need to handle my side of the bargain.”

“I don’t understand?” She caught a glimpse of Xavier striding up the driveway.

Damon held his hand out behind him, and Xavier passed him something.

“What?”

He stepped back. “This must be why Xavier told me I better be ready to open this box.” He dropped down to one knee.

The tears started before he could even ask the question. “Yes.”

With a laugh, he took her by the hand. “Ella, baby, you have to let me ask first.”

“Then hurry up.”

“Will you marry me?”

“Absolutely.” She let him slip the ring on her finger. “I love you!” She hugged him.

Xavier held up his phone, taking a picture. “Congrats, you two.”

“You could’ve warned me,” she called out to him.

“No way I’d have messed this up. The double surprise was too perfect.” He motioned to the house. “Go check it out. You own it, so you can break in every room in the house.” He winked before turning to walk down the driveway. “Don’t worry, I’m leaving. I don’t need to be around to hear that again.”

Damon kissed her temple. “Show me what you bought.”

“If you don’t like it?—”

He silenced her with a kiss. “If it’s what you want, it’s what we’ll have. I love you.”

She walked backward into the house. “You know, Xavier had a good idea.”

Damon bent down and hauled her over his shoulder, laughing. “I think it’s customary to carry you into the house.”

She happily let him haul her into their new home as she admired her ring. “You can carry me anywhere.”

EPILOGUE

FIVE MONTHS LATER

“She wants to meet.” Ryker sat down hard at the bar at Cager, eyes wide and a little in shock. “She just texted my phone. Myphone.”

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