Epilogue
Araceli squealed and threw herself into Donovan’s arms the minute his key turned in the lock. “You’re on time!”
He didn’t reply. He’d missed the taste of her too much. Donovan cupped the back of her neck and took her mouth eagerly. They’d been apart for nearly a month this time and it was too long. A week was too long.
Araceli twined her fingers into his hair and returned the kiss, giving as good as she got. “I missed you,” she whispered against his lips.
“Do we have to go out?” Donovan asked, pressing her back to the wall and rocking against her when she wrapped her legs around him.
His lips moved down her neck and her head fell back. “Oh...” She bit her lip when he nipped at her earlobe. “Yes.”
Donovan groaned. “Can’t be reschedule?”
“Everyone’s waiting for us.”
He reluctantly let her go, setting her gently on her feet. “It’s a damn good thing I’m in love with you,” he informed her.
Araceli smoothed her hair, more than a little sad that they’d had to stop. “Whatever, you love them too.”
Donovan smiled and escorted her out to his car. “What’s the occasion this time?”
Ara shrugged. “I don’t know,” she answered. “They just said to be there.”
“Maybe Ava finally got her acceptance letter to Cal Tech,” Donovan suggested.
“Oh, I hope so!” Araceli said eagerly. “Arturo is about to pull his hair out worrying about it. It’s the only school she wants.”
They got to the restaurant and hurried to the table. Donovan recognized all the faces this time. He’d been dating Araceli for a year now and this was the first time that had happened. He felt briefly proud of himself and then realized that the gathering was actually pretty small for the Vasquez family. Silvia and Thomas were there, along with Araceli’s parents, Oscar and Paula. Francisco sat at the head of the table and he gave Donovan a nod and a smile as Donovan pulled a chair out for Ara.
“How’s big business?” he asked.
“Holding steady,” Donovan answered. He’d decided several months ago to stop purchasing other companies and to focus on maintaining and training the firm's he’d already bought. “We’ve got bilingual employees in nearly every branch now. Customer satisfaction is through the roof.”
Araceli squeezed his hand under the table and smiled up at him. He smiled back.
“Oh, and all branches now close for lunch at noon,” he said.
“Why does Silvia look like she’s going to burst if she doesn’t start talking?” Ara asked, giving her sister a grin.
“Because she’s the one who called us all together,” Paula answered, giving her oldest daughter a smile. “Go ahead, mija.”
“Well,” Silvia said, her voice quivering with excitement. “Thomas and I...” Her voice broke.
Araceli’s grip on Donovan’s hand tightened.
“Thomas and I...” Silvia started again. “Oh, damn.” She wiped away her tears and waved her hand at her husband. “I can’t!”
“We’re going to have a baby!” Thomas practically shouted.
Araceli and Paula both shrieked. Donovan and Oscar both winced. Ara jumped up and ran around the table, throwing her arms around her sister. Silvia sobbed into first Araceli’s shoulder and then her mother’s.
Donovan knew how long Thomas and Silvia had been trying for a baby of their own. He caught Thomas’s eye and raised his glass in a silent toast. Thomas grinned in thanks. Once things settled down again, the questions started.
“When are you due?” Araceli demanded.
“October 11,” Silvia said. “I’ll be pregnant all summer.”
“I managed it twice,” Paula said, giving both of her girls a smile. “I promise that it’s worth it.”
“Are you going to find out whether it’s a boy or a girl?” Donovan asked, knowing that he would have to know.
“Control freak,” Ara teased.
“We think that we will,” Thomas answered.
“Mainly just to prove me right,” Silvia said with a grin. “I know it’s a girl.”
“Names?” Ara asked. “I suggest Araceli.”
“We’re still fighting over that,” Thomas said good naturedly.
“She’ll win,” Oscar said.
“Probably,” Thomas acknowledged. “But I won’t go down without a fight.”
Once dinner was over and Ara had congratulated her sister approximately a thousand times, she and Donovan took their leave. Araceli chatted happily the whole way home about the things she was going to buy the baby, and do with the baby, and call the baby, and what the baby was going to call her.
“You’re awfully quiet,” she said in a slightly accusatory tone when they got back to her apartment.
“Hey, I’m happy for your sister,” Donovan said as Ara turned away to hang up her light jacket. “It’s just that it’s a little awkward.”
“Awkward?” Araceli asked, spinning back around. “How is it...oh.”
Donovan held out a blue velvet box. A diamond set in platinum winked out at her.
“I was going to ask you to marry me tonight,” he said softly. “But there’s no way in hell I was going to steal your sister’s thunder.”
Ara stared at him, speechless. The first thing that popped into her mind wasn’t a yes or a no. “What about Ingram Norman?”
“It’s the digital age,” he said easily. “I can set up an office and a small staff here. If you say yes, that is.”
“Oh, oh, yes, obviously I’ll marry you.” She flung her arms around him. “Not sure about that ring, though.”
“You’re not?” Donovan asked in surprise.
“I do need to move my left hand occasionally,” she teased.
He set her back to her feet and took the ring out of the box. “Let’s test it out.”
Araceli held out her hand and he slid the ring on. “I think I can manage,” she finally whispered.
“I love you, Araceli.” Donovan cupped the back of her neck and looked into her dark eyes. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Even if I never work for you?” she asked, a smile playing on her beautiful lips.
“You’re not Ingram Norman material,” he answered, catching her hand when she smacked him.
“And that’s why I love you so damn much.”