Page 129 of Indiscretion

“Would you mind if we made a stop at the office?” Dawson asked after we’d finished a delicious dinner. “We’re only a few blocks away, and I need a file for the morning. It’ll save me the trip before court. We can take an Uber. Those shoes don’t look too comfortable to walk in.”

“They’re not bad, actually. I think I’m finally used to heels on concrete. Let’s walk. It’s such a nice night, and the cold weather is coming soon enough.”

“Alright.”

We walked hand in hand from the restaurant to the office. Dawson was quieter than usual. I looked over and saw some tension in his face, probably about the hearing he had in the morning. I smiled to myself. I couldn’t wait to help him get rid of that when we got home. Never in a million years would I have imagined the man I’d assaulted in that cabin at Ben and Lily’s wedding could morph into the considerate, loving soul who stood next to me today. Life isn’t perfect. But each year had gotten better and better since Dawson stormed into my world.

Three years ago, he’d gone to visit Bailey’s grave, and things had taken a turn after that. The next time I went to his apartment, her photo that had always been on the shelf was gone. I found it in a box a few weeks after I moved in, right next to theassholebracelet he no longer wears. And he started writing me letters a few times a year. He still mails them to me, even though we live together. He says he does it because he has a difficult time expressing things he feels aloud, but none of that is important, because heshows mehow much he loves me every day.

We arrived at the office and made our way up to the fourteenth floor. Dawson unlocked the door but didn’t turn the lights on in the lobby when we walked in. Instead, he gathered me in his arms. “I have a surprise for you.”

“The last time you said that we were at Frannie’s new boyfriend’s house and you dragged me into the bathroom and tried to get me to have sex.”

“That wasn’t my fault. He had coconut-scented hand soap. You know how I love my cococunt.”

I chuckled. Dawson planted a kiss on my lips and stepped back. “Are you ready for your surprise?”

“I’m a little afraid to say yes, but yes.”

He flicked the lights on. I looked around, trying to figure out what the surprise was. There wasn’t anything or anyone unusual in the lobby. But then I saw the wall. TheReed & Associatessign had been replaced.

“Reed & Reed?”

I was confused. At least until I turned back to find my beautiful man down on one knee, holding a ring box. I gasped. Dawson flipped the velvet case open and revealed a sparkling, princess-cut diamond ring.

He took my hand. “Naomi Heart, from the moment I met you, I wanted nothing more than to be near you—not only because you’re beautiful and smart, but because I like who I am when I’m around you. You make me a better man, each and every day, and for that I’m so thankful. I want to spend the rest of my days making you happy, and I want you to be my partner in all ways—in law and in life. So will you please be my wife?”

I dropped to my knees and crushed my lips to his, happy tears streaming down my face.“Yes! Yes!”

When our kiss broke, I pressed my forehead against Dawson’s. “NaomiReed. It has a nice ring to it.”

He smiled. “It does.”

I looked over at the wall, at the gold letters that spelled outReed & Reed. “I can’t believe you had the sign made already. You must’ve been pretty sure of yourself.”

“Sweetheart, you are the only thing I’ve ever been sure of in my entire life.”

THE END