“For ruining the moment, he will pay dearly.”Glenn left the table, his speed just a tad faster than a human should be able to move, beelining for his target.His vampiric speed was in check, but only just.
Uh-oh.The Master had spoken and was about to mete out some punishment.Ross thought about calling out a warning not to kill the guy, but surely Glenn had better sense than that.
Probably.
Maybe?
Glenn could move like a panther on the prowl when he was of the mind to.He flitted between upturned tables, dodging people crouched on the floor, angling so that the thief’s back was turned to him as he approached.
The poor thief had no chance.Glenn was on him before he even knew what happened, hitting him smartly in the back of the neck, stunning him long enough that the vampire had ample time to wrest both arms behind the man’s back and force him down to the ground, face making love with the tile.
In unison, the entire restaurant let out a sigh of relief.
The thief squawked out a protest.Glenn leaned in and said something in a low tone that Ross was too far away to hear.After that, the thief was more still than a stone statue.
Yeah, Glenn was super pissed.Ross couldn’t blame him, he was mad, too.Sighing, he dialed 911 and waited as it rang through.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“Hi, have you received a report that a thief has broken into Benemaru on 5thAvenue?”
“Let me check.Yes, sir, we have.Squad cars are on their way.How is the situation there?Are you in a safe location?”
“Oh, no danger.My totally pissed off boyfriend has the guy locked against the floor.We’re safe.”
And hey, no bloodshed.
Ross was really not sure if that was a perk or not.
Glenn was grumpy on the way back to the house.Maybe because they’d lost two hours since they’d all had to give witness statements, and nothing about the law was apparently fast.They did learn during the interviews that the thief had tried to steal from Benemaru three other times.Talk about stupidity.Or stubbornness, whatever it was.
The staff at the Benemaru were so thankful for Glenn’s interception, they packed up enough food to feed an army, free of charge.So at least Ross would get dinner.He wasn’t sure how he’d get Glenn back into a better mood, though.His vampire was seriously not a happy camper right now.
Ross thought about suggesting still going to the hotel, but…the mood wasn’t right for romance anymore.Maybe tomorrow, they could get the right perspective to laugh about it and try again.
They pulled into the neighborhood.Instead of the usual quiet (and Ross used that word with very loose interpretation), the street was completely lit up.Everyone seemed to be outside in their front lawns, lining the drive, and as Ross watched, others scrambled to do the same, joining the line.
“What in god’s name…?”he muttered, perplexed.After seven years with the clan, you’d think he’d seen everything by now.But they seemed determined to constantly surprise him.
“Oh god,” Glenn groaned, slumping in his seat even further.“I told them NOT to do this.”
“Do what?”Ross blinked, confused, then turned to look again.“And why is your mother here?And mine?”
“I really told them NOT to do this,” Glenn muttered again, sounding resigned now.“Shit.Beloved, you’ll have to forgive me.I swear I had a better plan than this, I just keep getting foiled.”
Ross looked at him suspiciously.Right, Glenn had news that topped his.Ross had forgotten that, what with the craziness at the restaurant.“Just what have you been planning?”
Glenn stopped the car right there, dead in the middle of the street, and unbuckled, turning in the seat enough to face Ross head on.He once again reached into his suit coat pocket, but this time, he finished the motion by pulling out a simple black box.
Ross’s eyes went wide looking at that box.He felt robbed of all breath.No.Surely not.He’d never once suspected Glenn would—
Glenn popped open the ring box to reveal a white gold ring, lightly engraved and beautifully crafted.“Ross Beaumont Young, I’ve never known a man like you.In my very long years, I’ve never had a love as true and deep as the one you give to me on a daily basis.I now thank any god you care to name that I was turned, as it gave me the chance to meet you.To court you.To love you.And because of this long life, I have the hope of living the rest of my days with you.But only if you’ll agree to be my husband.Will you marry me?”
Ross couldn’t see properly through his tears.His heart shuddered in his chest.He’d never expected Glenn to propose.He’d fantasized, from time to time, having that commitment between them.But Glenn hadn’t given any indication of needing or wanting it.Ross had kind of given up hope on marriage ever happening.
It meant the world to him that Glenn wanted this, too.Those vows binding them.He had to swallow, twice, past a restricted throat before he could get words out.“Yes.Absolutely,yes.”
Glenn lit up, not just with joy, but also relief.
