Page 117 of Off the Wall

Between you and me, Yvette’s had a crush on Ben for years, and she’s hoping our building might spin a little magic for them. I told her workplace romances can be risky. But she’s not giving up.

I told her I applaud that choice too.

“Hey,” a deep voice rumbles above me. “I think you dropped this.” I turn to find Cash standing just behind my chair. He’s got a cloth napkin crumpled in his fist.

“Ha, ha.” I chuckle at his callback to the night we first met. “If you’ve got a snail in there, I swear …”

“I don’t have a snail in here.” His eyes meet mine, and the depths I see reflected there are anything but a joke. “I wasn’t actually at a scrimmage either,” he adds. “But this is the absolute last time I’ll ever keep a secret from you.”

A violinist emerges from the swinging doors to the kitchen playing “Someone to Watch Over Me.” My heart leaps into my throat, and I suck in air as Cash extends his free hand between us. He’s got his fingers up. Palm out, facing me. “You’re my whole hand, Nori. My whole heart. My whole future.”

I swallow hard and reach up to press my palm against his. All five of our fingers are touching, trading warmth. Spreading love.

“Is this really happening?” My lips begin to tremble. “Are you actually here?”

He nods.

“You’re absolutely sure I’m not just imagining thismoment in some mirror back at the building?” Tears well in my eyes, and my lashes flutter.

Then Cash Briggs drops to a knee.

“I’m sure I’m here,” he says. “For you. Always.”

He gently unfolds the napkin, and inside the cloth, sparkling up at me, is the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen.

“Cash,” I gasp.

“Nori Sinclair,” he says, his gray eyes shining. “The moment I met you, I felt a spark between us I couldn’t explain. And that connection just kept bringing us together. I knew something big was about to happen. Call it instinct. Or intuition. Call it …I don’t know …” He gives a small shake of his head.

“Magic?”

“Yes. Exactly.” He clears his throat, and his Adam’s apple dips. “And as it turns out, one year later …” His voice catches. “One year later, I can’t live without you. I can’t evenbreatheunless you’re breathing with me.”

A single tear breaks free to dribble down my cheek, and he catches it with the tip of his thumb. “So here I am now, with my heart on my sleeve and a ring in a napkin, asking if you’ll breathe with me. Forever.”

My chin quivers. “Are you sure you want to do this with me?”

He puffs out a laugh. “Ionlywant to do this with you. Just us, on a great big adventure. One day at a time. One week. One month. One year. We’ll just keep collecting the moments as they come, until they add up to a lifetime.”

“Then, yes,” I whisper. “YES!”

He makes a move to slide the ring on me, but he stops just before he reaches my knuckle. “Hold on. I almost forgot something.”

“What?” I blink twice. “I’ll do anything. Name it.”

“I promise you’ll never have to eat escargot again, ifyoupromise to bring the underwear I saw that day in the laundry room on our honeymoon.”

“The red thong?” A laugh slips out of me. “That’s quite the ask, future husband.”

“Marriage is compromise.” He arches a brow. “So. What do you say? Will you be my wife?”

I grin at him. “Deal.”

THE END