“I’m sorry. I panicked,” he whispered into her hair.
“It still doesn’t make it right.”
“No, the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. That seems to be all I ever do.”
Fiona looked up at him. She could see the hurt in his eyes from causing her pain. She had to remind herself this was a learning curve for both of them. She couldn’t expect him to get it right the first time. “You make me happy a lot too.”
“Do you forgive me?”
Fiona hesitated. She didn’t want to give in too easily and give him the impression he could walk all over her.
Vincesuddenly released her and dropped to one knee. Fiona stared down atVince, unable to utter a word. What the hell was he doing? He couldn’t be proposing, so what the hell was he doing? “Fiona Delarosa Garza Ortiz, will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend? I promise to love you, respect you, protect you, and always listen to what you have to say, and never make a decision that involves us alone again.”
Fiona’s first thought was how didVinceknow her full name. Next was, that was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to her. It wasn’t just words, but a vow. One that touched her deeply.
“Fi,” he prodded when she continued to just stand there staring down at him.
“Yes, yes, I will.”
Vincesmiled up at her, though she couldn’t see it fully through watery eyes. He stood up, pulling her to his chest, raining kisses on her face. “I can’t promise I won’t do or say something that pisses you off, but I promise to make up for it.”
“Just promise, if it gets to the point you’ve had enough, tell me. I could never handle you cheating on me.”
Vincestroked his thumb across her cheek, wiping the tear off her. “That’s never going to happen,” he said confidently.
“Just promise,” she insisted. She trusted him, but the assurance helped appease her fears.
“If you insist, but know there is no one else in this world for me. So, you’re stuck with me forever.”
“We’ll see if you’re still saying that when my family finds out.”
Vincegroaned in pain. “We have time before I go against the firing squad, don’t we?”
“My family is not that bad.” Fiona playfully swatted him. Actually, her family would probably be worse than a firing squad. She was the baby, and everyone would insist she was too young to make a decision like this on her own, but nothing would change her mind. She wantedVince; her family would just have to accept it. “I’ll break it to them first, before you meet them.”
“Deal,” Fiona grinned which Vince returned.
Vince’s eyes brightened and a dimple formed in his cheek when he smiled. The look melted her insides. She knew exactly what he was thinking. As they leaned toward each other, his phone started ringing. Both pulled apart, grumbling.
“It’s Squeaker,” he said before answering and putting the phone on speaker. “What have you found?”
“Well hello to you too.”
“Squeaker,”Vincegrumbled, showing he wasn’t in the mood for her snark.
“I can’t find anything. This person is a ghost.”
Fiona stepped back, feeling her knees weaken. She felt the bed behind her and sank down. “It’s hopeless then. There’s no way to find this person.”
“No one is infallible,”Vincecontradicted.
Fiona didn’t agree. If his guru computer lady couldn’t find her stalker, what hope did they have?
“Wait a minute.”Vincetapped his index finger against his chin. “You said this all started shortly after that night in the bar.”
“Yeah.”
“What was the bar named?”
