Are you sure you have anything?” I asked the babysitter for the umpteenth time. “Do you need me to run to the store and get anything else?”

“I think I’m good,” she answered.

“Help yourself to any food.”

“Will do.”

“Don’t forget to set the alarm before you go to bed.”

“Okay.”

“Keep my girls safe.”

“Baby, stop worrying so much. Everything is going to be okay.” Ned wrapped his arms around me. “It’s just a week. We will be back before you know it.”

“But…”

“It’s just a week,” he said again, kissing the top of my head. “But we really need to go or we’re going to miss our plane.”

“Okay. Okay,” I relented, giving Kasey another kiss goodbye, followed by a great big hug from Missy. I couldn’t believe they were already toddlers. How were they growing up so fast? It felt like every time I blinked, they were a year older. Couldn’t they slow down and let me enjoy the moment?

“Bye, mommy!” they said in unison, waving at us from the door as we got into the car. I waved back, watching them recede as we drove away.

“Are you sure they are going to be okay?” I asked, looking at Ned as I nibbled on my bottom lip.

“Yes. I have VanGuard surveillance on the house. They are perfectly fine. Plus, I asked Cruz and Franklin to drop by this week to check on things. Everything will be fine,” he said, taking my hand in his. “Stop worrying so much. This is supposed to be our week to unwind.”

“Right…” I nodded, trying to remind myself of that. “Paris… I still can’t believe it.”

“Well, you’d better start because in a few hours, you and I will be making out under the Eiffel Tower.”

* * *

To my surprise, however, when we landed in Paris, Ned decided that he really wanted to go to the Paris Museum of Modern Art.

“What’s up with you? I haven’t seen you this excited since they came out with the newest Power Ranger movie.”

“Come on,” he insisted, practically dragging me into the building.

“You’re up to something,” I said, narrowing my eyes in his direction and trying to figure out what this was all about. “What is it?”

“Just trust me, okay?”

I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t be able to convince him to just tell me what he was doing. I’d have to go through the motions and figure out the hard way.

Once we passed the security gates, he slowed down and started to casually admire the artwork.

He was definitely up to something.

“You know you suck at keeping a secret, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he answered, his hands clasped behind his back in mock innocence. “I’m just enjoying the artwork.”

“Uh-huh, sure. And I’m a pirate.”

“What? You are? Why didn’t you tell me? That’s pretty sexy.” He winked.

I laughed.

“Seriously. What are you doing? You have guilt written all over your face.”

“Again, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shrugged.

“Mhm.” I crossed my arms over my chest. One way or another, I was going to find out his game. So for the time being, I followed him through the museum, admiring the various pieces of artwork. I was here anyway, so I might as well enjoy myself.

“Hey, let’s check out this room.” Abruptly, he grabbed my hand and yanked me into a small room set off to the side.

I nearly tripped, but he caught me in his strong arms, holding me against his chest for a minute.

When I managed to get back on my feet, my eyes nearly bugged out of my head.

No. It couldn’t be.

I did a full 360 of the room, my heart beating fast.

My artwork.

Hanging on the walls of a museum. No… this had to be a dream.

After I had moved in with Ned, my art career had taken off. I’d managed to get a job drawing comics, but my passion was still with painting. Whenever I could spare a few moments, I would dig into the canvas, but they’d never really gotten me anywhere. They were more of a hobby.

“What is this?”

“My present to you,” Ned whispered, hugging me from behind. “You deserve to be recognized for your talent, and now anyone can come in here and see how great of an artist you really are.”

My eyes welled up with tears of joy. I hugged him tightly, my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

I didn’t know how I’d managed it, but I had snagged the best man a girl could ever ask for.