Page 64 of Cursed with Fortune

In the great hall, the reception had thinned out, but some people were still dancing and mingling. I walked around the perimeter and scanned the small crowd and that’s when I saw her leaning against the thick railing on the balcony.

My feet carried me over to her and I took a chance, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her. “I adore you. And the feel of your body close to mine. I love our quiet working times and our playful times. And I would never lie to you on purpose.”

“Frank.” She whispered, but didn’t pull away.

“And your tongue?” I groaned in her ear. “You can do anything you want to me with that tongue.”

“You know, if anyone else heard that, they’d think you were a pervert.”

“I’myourpervert.”

“Still?” Her voice cracked and wavered.

“Always.” I kissed her shoulder. “What do you want, Pricilla?”

“I want to be Mrs. Franklin Hammer and live our lives.”

I slid my ring on the tip of her finger and heard her gasp. “Oh, my gods!”

“I commissioned the ring for you. It’s one of a kind.” I kissed her shoulder. “Just like the woman Vincent made it for.”

“Frank, what were you laughing about with your secretary?”

“The other day, before we left?” I peered around to see her face.

She nodded and turned in my arms. “Yes.”

“We had a customer call and tell us we mixed up their order, which I knew we hadn’t. They were insane, insisting on a refundandthey wanted a brand new piece.”

“Then why did June look like I caught you both doing something wrong?”

I stopped to think back and then I threw my head back in laughter. “Vincent had just brought me your ring, and I showed it off. She didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

“Oh, gods.” Tears fell down her face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you.” She wiped her nose on the back of her hand. “Wilma and Edwina were talking about how you deserved someone better than me, and how you were building a house to get away from me and…”

I placed my finger on her lips to stop her. “They’re full of shit. The house was going to be a wedding gift.”

“Was?”

“Still is. Only now you can help me make decisions about it.”

“You still love me?” She sniffed, and I kissed her lips softly, then dropped to my knees in front of her.

“Always.” I kissed the slight swell of her belly. “You and our baby.”

She looked surprised. “You know?”

I nodded and stood back up. “I fainted.”

She barked out an unattractive laugh. “I love you, Frank.”

“I love you too, Cilla.”

We met in the middle for a sweet kiss, lips pecking against each other and all over each other’s faces.

“Wanna get out of here?”

“Why not? The King and Queen did,” she giggled.