Page 161 of Sin With Me

“Only if you promise me to have your cupcake later.” Eyes wild with lust, he gently bit into my shoulder.

I laughed at his grammar as I had so many times before, saying, “I promise. Pretty please?”

“I don’t know how you make your please pretty, but it sounds good on your lips. Is that what would make you happy?”

“Yes, that’s what would make me very happy, David.”

We rushed to the house to change. Knowing how much he meant to me, my parents had allowed David to use our guest house where I had some of my belongings already. I’d sort of moved in there, waiting patiently to find a place of our own when David would be able to make money at his bakery. I had just changed into a simple peach dress cut a little above the knees when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, David stood there in his white shirt that accentuated the tone of his naturally bronzed skin, sleeves half rolled up, and khaki pants. He held a single orange rose in hishand.

“I hope your mother doesn’t mind, but I got this from her garden.”

“Of course she won’t. Let me put it in water.”

I hurried into the kitchen and kissed my mother good night. We drove to New Jersey’s Liberty Landing Marina where I’d made a last-minute reservation. I hadn’t used my last name a lot to pull strings, but tonight was special, and I wanted nothing but the best for the two of us. And what could be better than the beautiful view of Manhattan at night? The sleek, modern restaurant held a friendly vibe, and my brothers had dined here frequently. I ordered the most tender rosemary lamb roast with spinach and sautéed vegetables.

When our waiter brought us a bottle of wine, I noted that his hand was shaking.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m just a little nervous. I’m about to propose to my girl after my shiftends.”

“Is that her at the bar?” I regarded the girl with a funky hair cut who kept sneaking a peak at our waiter.

“Yes, that’s my Grace.” Undeniable love beamed from hiseyes.

“For what it’s worth, I think she’ll sayyes.”

His eyes widened in response, and I continued, “I don’t think you should wait. I think you should go over there right now, and askher.”

“But…”

“Your boss will understand. If you love someone” – I gazed back at David – “nothing should keep you apart. No distance or family or any barrier you may think is between you. The only thing standing in your way is the ten feet you need to cross.”

“All right. Thank you, ma’am.”

I gave him an encouraging smile, and he set our wine bottle at the table and headed for thebar.

“True words,” David whispered as I watched the waiter get down on one knee and propose, feeling an elation in my heart. The entire restaurant clapped and cheered as he lifted the girl up in the air and yelled out happily, “She saidyes!”

“With your instincts, you should be a matchmaker,” Davidsaid.

Little did I know, my future work at Cross Enterprises would lead me to tear couples apart instead of unitingthem.

While our waiter chatted with his fiancée by the bar, his co-worker cleaned our table.

“Emma, this dinner was exclusive.”

“Exquisite?”

“Yes, exquisite.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now for the best part of ourmeal…”

With perfect timing, our waiter rolled up a cart of desserts to our table.

“Emma, this is too much. I’ll be spoiled.”

“You mean that I’m spoilingyou.”

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