Page 171 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“By dancing?” I wrinkle my brow, his palms clammy against my skin.

“Not at all, but I had to get you out onto the floor.” He pauses, grasping my hands, and I notice the music has stopped and everyone—and I meaneveryone—is watching us.

“Owen, what’s going on?”

Instead of answering, he sinks to one knee, while mine threaten to give out. He releases a sigh, offering me a shaky smile. “I’m terrified right now.”

“Oh, my God,” I whisper, my entire body trembling.

“I know tonight is celebrating the training center, but I want to celebrate something else. I didn’t believe in true love. I thought it was a series of compromises, a business transaction. Then I met you, and I felt everything I never knew I could feel, all in a matter of minutes. I messed up a lot, but you stayed. Now,” his hands cup my belly, “we’re having a baby and I’m so excited for this chapter of sleepless nights and unconditional love. But I have one request.”

He pulls out a small box, revealing a gigantic pink diamond nestled against the velvet. The tears stream down my face, there’s no holding them back now.

“Will you marry me, Tallulah Knowles? Marry me tomorrow, or the next day, but be my wife. I want to spend my life loving you. What do you say?”

My makeup is a mess, but I don’t give a damn. The man of my dreams asked me to marry him. I manage a nod, laughing as Owen slides the ring onto my finger and sweeps me into his arms.

Even I have to admit, for an upscale crowd, there is no shortage of catcalls and applause.

“I love you, Tally.”

“I love you.” I look at my hand, heavy under the weight of the enormous rock. “It’s pink.”

“You love pink.”

“I thought when you didn’t mention anything about the phone proposal, that you were drunk or regretting your words.”

He thumbs away my tears, peppering my face with kisses. “I’ve wanted to spend my life with you since that first night.”

“Now you can,” I murmur, claiming his lips and forgetting that anything beyond the two of us exists.

Happy times are so often short-lived.

“I see congratulations are in order. Let’s have another round of applause for Dr. Stevens and his future wife, Tallulah Knowles.” Charlotte’s voice is even on the portable microphone, but I hear the undercurrent of emotion.

I feel a slight pang of regret that Owen proposed in front of her, but it can’t come close to the euphoria skipping through my veins. Besides, if the woman really loved him, she wouldn’t have cheated on him. She would have proven her love, instead of spreading it around the globe.

“As you all know,” Charlotte continues, drawing attention back to the front of the room and her elegant ensemble, “the training center will open in January. Christmas throws a bit of a kink in the wheel, but it looks like Dr. Stevens has his hands full with nuptials and babies. So, we’ll grant him a temporary reprieve. A round of applause for the illustrious doctor and all his hard work. Now, for the exciting news.”

I catch Owen’s gaze, my hands stilling at the look on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t believe she’s doing it here,” he mutters, the color draining from his face. “Just promise me you’ll let me explain.”

You know that feeling when you’re about to get into a car accident? The second before impact, when you see everything in slow motion and a million thoughts flood your brain, but you can’t cling to one?

I’m living that moment.

Right now.

The buzz from Owen’s proposal nosedives onto the carpet, as I try to gauge what news is about to befall me.

“Promise me, Tally. I love you more than anything in the world.”

I cup his cheek, pressing my lips against that delicious mouth. “I promise.”

Charlotte clears her throat, pointing at a middle-aged gentleman seated to one side. “It is my pleasure to announce the new coordinator for our training facility. After much discussion, Dr. Stevens and I decided to install our current San Francisco coordinator into this role. He has an illustrious resume, with over twenty years in the device industry and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins.”

I scoff as Charlotte gets the last laugh once again. Can’t say I didn’t see that one coming.

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