Chapter 201 204

Chapter 201 204
“Well, the chef usually removes the cloche and then leaves,” I explain. “He probably just forgot.”

I’m about to reach for the tiny handle on my cloche, when Lucio stops me.

“Hold on,” he says, his eyes twinkling against the candlelight. “Allow me.”

He pushes up from his chair and walks over to me. I look at him in surprise, wondering what’s brought all this on.

He removes the cloche in front of me with a flourish.

It takes me a moment to register what I’m looking at.

“That’s not prawn ceviche,” I say dumbly.

It’s a little black velvet box. I stare at it with confusion.

Lucio, meanwhile, has slowly sunk to one knee on the floor next to me.

“You wanna open it?” he asks.

“I… Lucio, what is this?”

“Nuh-uh,” he demurs with a faint smile. “You have to open it first.”

My heart hammers hard against my chest as I crack the box open.

Nestled in the center of a tiny ivory cushion is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. It’s a square-cushion cut diamond flanked by dark blue sapphires that closely resemble the color of my eyes.

“Oh my God,” I breathe slowly. “Did you rob a museum to get this?!”

I force my eyes away from the ring and look at Lucio.

“Charlotte Dunn,” he says simply with the kind of quiet confidence that makes me feel strong and weak at the same time. “Will you marry me?”

I just stare at him.

Mostly, I’m trying to figure out how to absorb the moment. It feels too surreal to be happening to me.

I’m just a liar.

White trash from the trailer park.

I don’t deserve this.

“Lucio,” I whisper. “Are you sure?”

His answering smile is radiant. It outshines the brightness of the massive diamond between us.

“I wouldn’t be asking if I wasn’t sure,” he replies simply. “Marry me, Charlotte. And we can take on the fucking world together.”

I meet his intense, brooding, beautiful gray eyes.

And I feel a stillness come over me.

It’s a stillness that’s born from perfect happiness, perfect security… and perfect certainty.

Because honestly…

How can I say no to that?

“Yes,” I whisper. “A million times yes.”

His eyes flash once more and his smile breaks fully open.

He winks.

And then he adds, “Smart girl.”