Page 66 of Only If You Dare

“Well, whenever I was around her, my world would stop and tilt on its axis,” he said. “Her smile would make me dizzy, and I showed her public affection forgetting where we were most times. Whatever she needed I made sure she had it without hesitation because I felt an obligation toward her to meet those needs. I pictured her in every area of my life and never second guessed it.”

My heart was knocking harder now. I almost broke out into a sweat. Why was I nervous? Was I second guessing?

“What’s her name, son?”

I blinked snapping out of my haze. “Desiree.”

“Her name sounds familiar have I met her?”

“She just so happens to be Claudia’s sister.”

“Ah, I see, is she there with you now?”

“Not at this very moment, she’s back at the hotel.”

“And, where are you?”

I peered up at Damas. “At a jewelry store.”

When my father spoke again, I heard a smile in his voice. “I’m happy for you son. Go with your heart.”

“That’s just it,” I said, “I think I’m second guessing. My nerves are on edge. I have felt all those things with her, but I only want one wife, forever. How do I know for sure?”

“Picture your life without her. Can you move forward without being around her again? That’s a rhetorical question, you can keep the answer to yourself,” he paused. “Now picture her with someone else.”

Without disinclination, I saw red.

“No…” I said moving again. The bell chimed as I entered Damas a second time. Cynthia was still waiting for me by a glass case of diamonds as if she knew I would return. “Engagement rings,” I said.

“This way.”

I followed Cynthia with my father still on the line.

“You have to bring her over for a family dinner,” Christopher said. “I know we met at your brother’s engagement party, but this makes for a special occasion.”

Cynthia pulled out a few diamond rings that were on exhibition and set them on the glass case in front of me.

“Desiree’s moving back to Chicago, but first she’s wrapping up a story for the Houston Report. I’ll make sure you meet her as soon as she’s free.”

“That’s my boy,” my father said. My eyes landed on a simple band that held on to an extraordinary diamond.

“That one,” I said pointing to the beauty.

“That’s our eighteen-carat white gold trilogy ring designed with Forevermark. An excellent way to make a lasting impression.”

It was possible my eyes held a spark. “That’s the one,” I said. “She’s the one.”

My dad and I spoke as I made my purchase and drove back to Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The diamond in my pocket held promises of a lifetime together, and I wanted to go straight to Desiree and ask her to be my wife. It was around eleven pm when I returned, but instead of going to her I went to my suite to have a moment to myself. This had to be perfect. If I could, I’d propose to Desiree on the moon. At the same time, I wanted it to happen so fast that planning would have to wait.

Strolling to the bar, I poured a glass of scotch and leaned against the table top in deep thought. What if I scared her to death? What if she said no? I hadn’t stopped to think about how asking this monumental question would impact Desiree’s life. Maybe that was selfish on my part. Did I expect her to be as happy as me? I did not doubt that our connection went past the physical. But I’d yet to tell her how I truly felt. But here I was about to pop the ultimate question. As far as Desiree was concerned, she could think I only wanted her for sexual pleasures.

“Tomorrow,” I confirmed. I would tell her first thing in the morning.

There was a knock on my door. I blinked rising at the sound of the urgent tapping. I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night since my mind was in a continuous state of wonder. I opened the door without checking the peephole.

“Lila,” I leaned against the door jam. “What’s so urgent that you’re knocking this early?”

“Early?” she posed, “I thought you were used to getting up at five?”