It’s been three months since I quit my job at the IT company to work for Heath at his restaurant. Stephanie was sad to see me go, but she understood. He needed a fulltime secretary he could trust, and the pay is amazing. Also, I just love being near him.

Unfortunately, the place stays so busy that often time we are like ships passing in the night. It’s hectic, and though we work within close proximity of each other, we hardly ever get to spend any quality time until we meet up at the end of the night. Not that I’m complaining, because it’s usually explosive.

Tonight is no exception. It’s a packed house. Only standing room in the bar, and the line of people waiting to get in snakes around the building. That’s why it surprises me to hear my name called over the loudspeaker. I’m in the office—still my favorite place in the building for obvious reasons.

I put away the receipts I’d been working on and go out to the front of the house to find out what’s so important that someone couldn’t just walk to the back to the building to get me.

That’s when I see Heath sitting at one of the tables. He’s wearing a suit that’s tailored perfectly to fit his body. He looks powerful and important, and sexier than I’ve ever seen him before.

There are two deserts on the table. A waiter stands beside him with a towel over his arm and a bottle of champagne on display. No expense has been spared.         

“What is this?” I ask. I’m terribly under dressed for a date like this. I’m in slacks and a button up blouse, my usual work attire.

He motions for me to take the seat in front of him. Once I do, the waiter pours me a glass of champagne into a flute.

Heath says, “I feel like we haven’t really had the chance to spend any quality time together. You’ve been working so hard, I just want you to know I appreciate you.”

I reach across the table, taking his hand in mine. “I know you do. This is all so beautiful. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

The desert in front of me is more like a sculptural art piece than food. I don’t know what it is. It’s nothing I’ve ever seen on the menu before. Some kind of small white cake on the bottom of the plate dusted in powdered sugar. On top is a mass of delicate pulled sugar in loops and spikes that looks both delicious and dangerous at the same time. Hanging from one of the spirals is a platinum and diamond solitaire. Where it sits, the sugar has been thickened and built up to hold the ring’s weight.

I stare at it a while, to make sure it’s actually a ring and not just a decoration for show.

“Is that …” I start to say when I notice Heath taking a knee.

My heart leaps into my throat and I start to shake uncontrollably. I can’t believe this is actually happening. I mean, I’ve pictured it in my head a million times since things started getting serious with us, but I never imagined it would happen so soon. I wasn’t sure if he was there yet.

“Callista Walker, I love you more than anything in this world. You make me want all the things in life I never imagined for myself before I met you.” The blood rushing in my ears is so loud I can barely make out the words he’s saying. Tears stream down my cheeks. “I want to share my life, my wealth, my heart with you, and only you. Will you be my wife?”

I cover my mouth with my hands to hide my wobbling chin and twitching mouth. No words will come and so all I can do is vigorously nod.

“Is that a yes?” he says, laughing at my reaction.

I finally find my voice and word bursts from my lips. “Yes. Oh my god, yes!”

People around us start to clap. I hadn’t even noticed others were watching. It was like everyone had disappeared and we were the only ones in the room.

I throw myself into his arms, nearly toppling us both to the floor. “You and me, my office. Now.”

His smile is so eager. It’s adorable. “Yes ma’am.”

* * *