Sally’s heels clicked as she walked into Lulu’s Coffee Shop. The place had already closed for the night, but Nate had something special planned. Sally smiled as she took in the tea candles flickering on every available flat surface. The darkened room was made magical in the candlelit glow.

It was a far cry from where she’d been just weeks ago, curled up in a damp room listening to the Cotton brothers fight. Jamie Cotton had been charged with kidnapping and was awaiting trial. If he was found guilty, he’d probably be put away for five to ten years. A small part of Sally hoped for a lighter sentence. She didn’t fear him, because Jamie didn’t seem to have a vindictive bone in his body. As scary as Sally’s entire ordeal had been, August was the one who had petrified her. He’d had a darkness inside of him, no doubt born from a terrible upbringing.

Sally found out he and Jamie had been taken from their abusive mother when they were eleven years old and put into foster care. Nate couldn’t give too many details, but he did say they ran away from foster care when they were fifteen and had been stealing to survive. Getting busted for armed robbery broke the brothers apart and for safety, they went their separate ways. Jamie fell in love with Mila, got his heart shattered by Vern, and had struggled to move on. According to his confession, he’d been a nomad ever since, but doing his best to live an honest life. He owed August for taking the fall, though, and couldn’t turn his back on the debt.

Kellan had told Nate that Jamie fell apart in the interview room, weeping out his confession like a broken man. He’d never meant for August to end up so twisted. After leaving prison, August had remade himself, trying to hit the big-time by targeting rich women and taking on different personas to con what he could from them.

He’d done a damn good job with the Richmond family. But he’d gone too far and would never hurt anyone again.

Sally shuddered and tried to shake the thought of his dead body from her mind. This was her special birthday dinner, Nate’s chance to make up for the last one, and she didn’t want the Cotton brothers spoiling it.

Laying her handbag on an empty table by the door, she walked forward to inspect the table for two.

Cutlery had been set out perfectly, and a large candle burned bright between the plates.

“Nate, this looks amazing,” she called out, turning for the kitchen, expecting to find him.

Instead she found Blaine.

“Oh, hi.”

“Hey.” He gave her a sad smile. “Nate’s been called away. He’s really sorry. He wanted me to let you know that he’ll be here as soon as he can.”

“Oh.” Sally nodded, disappointment searing her.

This was supposed to be her birthday make-up dinner. Nate had promised not to miss it, and the way he’d been acting since that harrowing incident, she didn’t even think to doubt him.

He’d been sweet, attentive, leaving work when he was supposed to. He’d had one instance where he was on call and really had to go, but it was obvious how much of an effort he was making. They’d moved back in together and things were looking up. They had forward motion for the first time in a long time and Sally had never been happier.

She reminded herself of this as she cleared her throat and took a seat. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

Blaine grinned and pulled a small present from his pocket. “He’d planned to give you this on your birthday, but then… well, you know.”

She cringed.

“Anyway, he wants you to open it while you’re waiting.”

“Okay.” She took the gift, figuring it was probably jewelry from the shape of the box. Maybe a pair of earrings. Nate had obviously tried to plan something special, but then that Schnyder case had reared its ugly head and he hadn’t been able to turn away from it. She shuddered as she briefly relived their breakup fight. She never wanted to go through that again.

Blaine stepped out of the room, and she carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. She tipped out the velvet box inside and popped the lid, her heart thrumming madly as she stared at the diamond ring inside.

An engagement ring.

Nate had intended to propose?

A soft gasp puffed between her lips and she glanced up to find Nate standing by the door, looking like a supermodel in a black tux. His polished shoes were the only sound in the room as he slowly walked toward her.

“You little liar,” she teased him with a smile. “I thought you’d been called away.”

He grinned and knelt down in front of her. “I’m not missing your special birthday dinner twice.”

She tipped her head, fighting tears as she lifted the ring box. “You were going to propose that night?”

“Yeah, I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“I did,” she whispered.

“But I wasn’t ready. I needed to lose you to truly understand…” He brushed his fingers down the side of her face. “I’m ready now, though.” Taking her hands, he gently squeezed them between his and smiled at her. “Sally, you know I love you. I haven’t always been able to show it the way you deserve, but you’re my heart and soul. I want to build my life with you—the good times, the bad times, all of it. I want to share everything with you, forever. So…” His lips twitched with a nervous grin. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” She didn’t even have to take a breath before the word slipped out of her mouth. The joy radiating through her was so intense she thought she might explode into a million starbursts.

Nate’s smile was radiant as he slipped the ring on her finger. She admired it for a moment before taking his face in her hands and giving him a watery smile. “I love you so much.”

He cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a passionate kiss. And a loud cheer went up from the kitchen.

Jerking back in surprise, Sally looked up and laughed as her family and friends appeared in the room. Everyone was there, even Nate’s father. She glanced down at her fiancé and mouthed, “Thank you,” knowing how much of a sacrifice having everyone there would’ve been for him. He was the introvert who preferred things low-key and quiet, but he was turning their engagement into a party…for her. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him again and kept going, even when the cheers rose to a deafening volume.

Champagne flowed freely as Sally got her perfect birthday celebration with an extra cherry on top that she could only have dreamed of. She stayed by Nate’s side most of the night. They danced, they ate, they celebrated.

Around midnight, Nate drove them home on his Harley. Sally’s mind was already buzzing with wedding plans. She was going to have a ball arranging this thing. Knowing Nate, he’d let her have full say. All he cared about was making her his wife, and that meant more than anything.

As they slipped into their home and greeted Rusty, Nate’s phone dinged with a text. He checked the call and frowned.

Sally’s plans of finishing up the celebration naked in bed wilted, but she put on a brave smile anyway. She could ask Nate to re-prioritize his life, but she couldn’t expect him to suddenly start compromising on his job.

“Work?” She kept her tone upbeat. Nate nodded, not looking up as he replied to the text. “Okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning, then?”

He glanced her way and grinned just as his phone dinged again. Reading the text, his smile grew a little wider and he threw the phone onto the couch. “If you think I’m leaving my fiancée on the night I proposed, you’re crazy.”

Sally giggled and pointed at the phone. “But…”

Nate stepped into her space, sweeping her off her feet in one easy movement. “Cam’s going to cover the scene right now, but she wanted to let me know that I have my work cut out for me in the morning.”

Sally scrunched her nose. “You sure you don’t want to go?”

“I’m sure I’d rather be here with you.” He captured her mouth before she could say any more.

They kissed all the way to the bedroom and finished off their night just the way Sally wanted.

As she snuggled her naked body against Nate’s and fell into a peaceful sleep, her heart was full.