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The reporters stare, rapt.
“I call Sera my Sparkplug because when she gets passionate, that’s what she’s like…” He looks at me with emotion-filled eyes. “But there’s another reason. She’s sparked something in me, something I never knew was there. I didn’t plan on this piece of filth crashing this press release, but it’s a good thing he did, because now there’s nothing stopping us from being together.”
The world goes blurry as my eyes fill with tears. He lets go of me, reaching into his pocket, taking out a jewelry box.
"Luke." I gasp, covering my mouth, everything else fading away until it's just us. Damien and the guards and the sea of reporters might as well be the emptiness of the Grand Canyon as Luke, with his injured hand, opens the ring box to reveal a glistening, exquisite diamond. "Oh my God, Luke!"
"You asked if I wanted to show the world my love for you, Sera," he says. "There's nothing I want more. You're the only woman I ever want. My partner. My rock. You're my everything. From the first moment I saw you, Sparkplug, I knew I loved you."
When he kneels down, emotion overwhelms me. Tears stream down my cheeks, love and belonging making my heart pound.
"Seraphina Vale, will you marry me?"
"Say yes," somebody calls from the crowd, sounding equally tearful.
I laugh, wiping my cheek. "Iknewyou were touching your pocket for a reason... yes, Luke. Yes!Yes, yes!"
The reporters cheer as he takes the ring and slides it onto my finger. He springs to his feet and pulls me into his arms. When we kiss, it's like I can feel the helicopter rumbling beneath us, see the Vegas lights glittering from Top of the World, hear theclick-click-clickof the roulette wheel.
"I planned on doing it after the press conference," he says when he pulls back from the kiss, his hand resting possessively on my hip.
When sirens pierce the air, I say, "This was perfect. Except your hand. Are you sure you're okay?"
"I would've taken much worse to make sure he could never hurt you again."
"I love you, Luke. I can't wait for our life together. I can't wait to wake up to you every single day. To work with you. To be with you."
The reporters soon call for a photo. We turn away gladly from Damien – from the past – and toward the cameras.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Luke
On the private jet, the four of us sit around the table. Me, my woman, Eleanor, and Graham. Upon arriving in LA, Eleanor and Graham were shocked to find a video on their phones of me taking down Damien. Hell, I was shocked too. I didn't plan on rushing out there. But when I saw him, I lost it. I thought about him cornering my woman in the bathroom, what would've happened if she hadn't been so brave and fought him off.
That was three days ago. Graham and Eleanor thought they would have to leave. There was no use for them now. But, surprisingly, Sera asked them to stay. Since then, they've stayed at my place in the spare room, and things are…
Not healed. Not fixed. But my Sera has a good heart. I can tell she's seriously considering forgiving them. I can see the toll that harboring resentment has taken on her.
"Thank you for inviting us," Eleanor says. "It means a lot, Sera, truthfully, wholly. It means more than you could ever know."
"It's fine," Sera replies, looking stunning in her sleek business jacket and black pants, her hair tied up, pencil slotted throughher bun. "I mean – it's not fine. But I know how sorry you are. I know you were prepared to help us catch Damien."
"We can never make it up to you," Graham says with genuine sincerity. "But thank you for giving us the chance to try... and thank you for inviting us on this trip. It was very kind."
Sera smiles tightly. "I know how much you love Vegas, Ellie. I figure, if Luke and I have a business meeting, why don't you tag along?"
"It's very thoughtful," Graham says. "More thoughtful than we deserve, perhaps."
"You said you would do whatever it took to prove how sorry you are," Sera says.
"We are, sweetness," Eleanor says, her voice tired... but she's pushing past her exhaustion. "Anything."
"Then I'm willing to give you the chance to do that. I love you, Ellie. Your fear was clear. I know you had your reasons. It won't be easy, but if meeting my Luke has taught me anything, it's that even the craziest, most impossible-seeming things have a way of coming true."
When she smiles at me, my heart swells with love.
"What's the meeting about?" Graham asks. "I've been hesitant to ask..."