“Where’s the nurse? She has my clothes.”
“Your clothes?” Tara asked.
“They’re right here,” the nurse answered, handing over a clear plastic bag. Grant’s ultraexpensive suit was crammed in there.
He struggled to open it, so Tara helped. “What could possibly be so important that you need to get it out of there?”
“Hold on one minute.” He pulled out his suit coat and rummaged around until he found the pocket. He fished a small black box out of it.
Tara’s hand flew to her mouth. “No.”
“This is not the way I wanted to do this. I was on my way to your presentation when I ducked into the street. The cab came out of nowhere. I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to surprise you.”
She pointed at the box. “You were going to give me that afterward?”
“It was so clear on Sunday that you needed convincing. I thought this might help.” He popped the box open. Inside was a glimmering diamond solitaire on a slender platinum band. “This isn’t the way I planned this. At all. But I’m tired of waiting. Will you marry me?”
Don’t wait to be happy. Her dad’s words rang through her head like church bells. “Yes, Grant. God, yes. Of course I will.” She lowered her head and placed a careful kiss on his lips. She didn’t want to hurt him. Not now. Not ever.
He surprised her by gripping her arm and he pulled her closer, then kissed her with such passion that it made her dizzy. When he pulled back, Tara rested her forehead against his.
“That kiss hurt, but it was totally worth it,” Grant said.
Grant stayed in the hospital for three days, which as far as he was concerned was three days too long. He still couldn’t believe his big plan to propose to Tara had been ruined in that way, although he had to admit that it paralleled their entire history—rocky, but ultimately solid. She made him so happy by saying yes. It was the sweetest word he’d ever heard, and he’d been waiting an awfully long time to hear it.
Tara brought him back to his house, where he would work from bed for a week until he could return to the office. He wasn’t eager to get back to business; he was more eager to feel well enough to make love to Tara and take full advantage of their new status as engaged couple.
“Hey there. How’s my handsome patient?” Tara padded into his bedroom with an armful of stuff—a bottle of water, an orange and his laptop. “I figured you would probably want to check email. The whole world has been so worried about you.”
Grant took the computer from her and set it aside on the bed. Tara placed the other things on the bedside table. He scooted over and patted the mattress. “Come. Sit. I want to talk.”
She delivered a sly grin. “You sure that’s all you want to do?”
“I’m working up to that. For now, yes, a conversation.”
Tara planted herself on the edge of the bed and pulled up one leg, intently focused on his face. “Okay. Go.”
He laughed and took her hand, bringing her fingers to his lips. “You need to stay at Sterling. I know you said you aren’t sure about that part, but if you want to stay, you should. We need you. I need you.”
“We haven’t heard back from the city yet. They’re supposed to announce who made it to the next round today. I keep checking my phone for an answer.”
She was missing the point. “I don’t care about the city. I mean, I do, because I want this for you, but long term, it doesn’t matter. You were always meant to be a driving force at the company and it’s my job to make that happen. To restore things to the way they were supposed to be.”
“We’d have to figure out how that’s going to work. What my real responsibilities would be.”
“I think we should be co-CEOs. Run the company together. As equals.”
True shock crossed her face. “Oh wow. Do you really think that will work? Won’t that ruin your dream of running the ship?”
“Tara. Darling. You are the love of my life. You are my dream. Everything with Sterling is gravy. Seriously.”
Tara drew in a deep breath, nodding, seeming to process everything he’d said. “I’d get to have the office next to yours?”
“That goes without saying. Whatever you want. You can start picking out furniture as soon as possible.”
“And you won’t get sick of me? Being with me at work all day and then having to see me at night, too?”
A deep and hearty laugh left his throat. “You have got to be kidding. That sounds amazing.”
She smiled and leaned closer, then kissed him softly on the lips. “I love you, Grant Singleton.”
“I love you, too.” It felt so good to be able to say that. To let the words flow freely from his lips. It felt like he’d waited a lifetime to do that.
Tara’s phone beeped with a text. She pulled it out of her pants pocket, then her eyes eagerly scanned it. Her hand flew to her mouth. “It’s from Astrid. We made it to the second round.” Tara turned her phone around to show him the message.
The happiness he felt for her was so pure, he could hardly stand it. He’d been opposed to the project and now it seemed like the greatest thing in the whole world. Well, maybe after having Tara in his life for real. “That’s amazing. I knew you would do it. I knew it.”
Tara tapped out an answer. “Astrid will be excited to be working with Clay some more. I think there might be a love connection going on there.”
“Oh, geez. I think one office romance is plenty to think about.”
“You know...” Tara set down her phone. “We wouldn’t even need to get approval from the other shareholders for you and I to be co-CEOs. Between
