“Did I win that contest three years ago?”
“Does a bear poop in the woods?”
He laughed out loud at her unexpected quip.
Valene flashed a grin and a few people looked over at them. The grin faded. She liked to be unnoticed. Before long, she cleared her throat and straightened, but he wouldn’t release her hand. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket, signaling a text message. He refused to turn his attention from Valene, and hoped it wasn’t an official call from the station.
Time to change the subject. “Did the park area get cleaned up after I left?”
Valene frowned. “It looked much better than when you were there.”
“Am I going to get an angry call from the bride when she gets to the park tomorrow for her outdoor reception?”
“How should I know? It’s a public park. If the bride wanted a pristine space she should have booked an inside venue. I mean, there was bird poo scattered around the place, too. Is the bride expecting all the birds to be constipated during her event?”
Wyatt grinned. “Well, can’t argue with that.” He tucked Valene’s “inside venue” argument away for use if and when the angry bride called him.
Valene tried to pull her hand from his. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
Another buzz from his pocket distracted him. He glanced at his hip and the subtle noise.
“Answer your phone, Wyatt.”
“No. I want to ask you something.” Wyatt put his focus back on Valene, where it belonged. He reached into his other pocket with his free hand to retrieve the surprise. He’d planned on waiting a bit before proceeding with his plan, but found he couldn’t wait to hear what she’d say.
One handed, he opened the ring box below the level of the table so she couldn’t see it.
“I love you, Valene.”
“I love you, too.”
“Will you marry me, Vee? I don’t ever want to be without you.” Wyatt lifted the opened ring box into her view. Her eyes went straight to the ring. She sucked in a deep breath of shock. Her eyes widened, but he saw the joy, too. She liked the ring. Wyatt mentally exhaled in relief.
Beside their table, someone else drew in a surprised breath, but he ignored it. The phone buzzed in his pocket and he ignored that, too. Someone really had a bee in their bonnet, but Wyatt didn’t care. He wanted Valene. He wanted to marry her. He wanted her to say yes. He wasn’t letting anything distract him until he had her affirmative answer.
Before Valene could say a word, a familiar voice almost shrieked, “You want to marryher? What about me?”
As one, Wyatt and Valene turned to gape at Daphne Charlene Dumont as she virtually crashed into their table. Her incredulous, outraged expression said louder than her demand that their secret love affair had been busted.
This was really bad. Somewhere nearby, Wyatt had no doubt a bear was pooping in the woods to confirm that fact.
Chapter Four
Valene nearly swallowed her tongue when she saw Daphne Charlene looming over their booth, wailing about her nonexistent relationship with Wyatt.
The ring in the box he’d surprised her with was so beautiful and so perfect. But she couldn’t have it. Could she? No. Never. But she wanted it with a desire born of crazed love and affection for a man she could never have unless unreasonable sacrifices were made in the name of keeping Alpha-Prime’s most successful way station a secret from the earthlings.
If they married, Wyatt’s family would suffer, her family would suffer, he would probably grow to resent her and the strict stipulations of their wedded bliss. How long before he chose to have a dangerous mind wipe to erase her from his head for good? This relationship was impossible no matter how much they loved each other.
“I’m sorry. I can’t marry you, Wyatt,” she said, hating every word.
He slumped. “But you love me.”
“I do.” Tears welled up in her eyes, threating to spill over and give Daphne Charlene a truly good show.
“Tell me the real reason.”
