Page 43 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

I admit that since Ben called and spoke to Wynne, on speaker, of course, and set up for us to meet tonight at eight o’clock at an expensive, ultra-upper-crust restaurant that was suggested by Wynne, I’d grown more anxious.

I wondered why he chose that one. Wynne had told him how much he looked forward to meeting us in person.

However, we had other things to do first.

At the moment, we were about to walk into the jewelry store and return those beautiful sets to Fabian.

As the door opened and we entered, I was again hit with how bright it was there.

The bling was enough to take your breath away.

I didn’t care who you were. Everyone could find a jewel, even if not a diamond, to admire.

When one of the assistants spotted us, she smiled and went into the back. She’d been the one to assist us and Fabian when we tried them on. It was no more than a minute before she was back, and Fabian was hurrying toward us. We’d lingered by a display.

“Come, come, we can go into the back where it’s more comfortable. You must tell me how it went, and I want to see photos,” he insisted.

He was such a sweet and funny man. I just wanted to hug him.

We were shown to the same private viewing room as last time and served a flute of champagne.

I sipped mine and found it was delicate and delicious.

Beau slid the jewelry boxes across the table to Fabian.

The lids were open so he could see they were all there and undamaged.

“Thank you so much, Fabian. We appreciate the loan so much. They perfectly gilded the lily, as you call it,” my sister told him with a wink.

“My dear, I have no doubt they merely put a thin glimmer on the two of you. Did you enjoy yourselves? Tell me about it. I hear the food is typically good, which is a shock.”

Mainly, Keeley and I fed his hunger for details.

We praised the event highly. The truth was, it had been a great experience.

If not for Sherman’s untimely interruption, we would’ve stayed longer.

At the end, we showed the photos that the guys had insisted on taking of us.

There were a few of us alone, and together, and then of each couple.

“You all had to have made a spectacular impression. You ladies were dazzling, and I’m not talking about the jewelry or dresses.

I’m so glad you got to experience it. It is a worthy cause.

I know that Beau indicated when he called earlier that you’re on somewhat of a schedule.

Let’s get the business out of the way. To complete the business part of this, the rental fee will be deducted from your payment, and the rest will be refunded.

If you’ll just complete this, we can get that out of the way. ”

Fabian handed over the electronic device next to his arm to Ben. He’d been the one to fill out the original paperwork and used his work card. When he was finished, we all rose and headed to the main room. Fabian handed off the cases to the woman to lock them up.

“Can I help you with anything else today?” Fabian asked.

Beau, my sister, and I said no. I was shocked when Ben said yes.

“What do you want to look at?” I asked him. I vaguely noticed Keeley and Beau had moved toward the door without us.

Ben smiled at me and then stated to Fabian, “I’d like to see your selection of engagement rings and wedding bands, if you don’t mind. I know you have to have some fabulous ones in here.”

As I gaped at him speechless, Fabian beamed and took us to a long strip of cases. He left us to browse and said to call when we were ready to see some up close and try them on. I waited for Fabian to get out of hearing range before I hissed at Ben.

“What are you doing? There’s no need to take the acting this far. I doubt Wynne has this place bugged. Let’s go home. We need to prepare for dinner.” I tugged on his arm. Not that it did any good. I couldn’t budge him. Ben shook his head.

“No, not until we take a look. I want to know what’s out there. And I want to hear what you like the most.”

“Why? Are you about to ask me to marry you?” I snipped at him.

I felt funny pretending to be shopping for my ring with him. It didn’t matter that I’d been thinking about it due to the nature of our cover story. Seeing Keeley so happy and preparing for her wedding made me long to be doing the same.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am,” he immediately responded.

Upset with his teasing, I went to walk away. But Ben had a hold of my hand and wouldn’t let me walk off. He twirled me back to face him.

“This is taking this act too far. Stop it, Ben,” I hissed.

I watched in astonishment as he dropped to one knee.

He kept holding my hand. As I stood in shocked silence, he said clearly and loud enough to be heard, “Kensington, this isn’t me acting.

I’m asking if you’re willing to look at engagement rings with me.

And if you find one you like, will you wear it?

I know this isn’t how guys usually ask a woman to marry them, but you and I aren’t normal.

Even if you don’t find what you want in here, the request is still deadly in earnest. I want you to be my wife, Hummingbird. ”

There was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice or the plea on his face. Benedict Madris was asking me to marry him in the middle of an undercover assignment. My secret wish was coming true if I reached out and grabbed it. Without letting my negative side talk me out of it, I went with my heart.

“Then yes, Benedict, I’ll marry you.”

Ben came bounding to his feet, then I was swept into his arms, and he laid an extremely passionate kiss on me. When he finally let me go, my head was spinning. I felt dazed. As Ben shook Beau’s hand and they hugged, Keeley faced me.

“Are you sure about this? You don’t have to say yes,” she whispered.

Anger hit me. “Are you sure about Beau?”

“Yes, of course I am,” she snapped.

“Then that’s how sure I am of Ben. Stop with all this petty crap, Keeley. He hasn’t hurt me, and he won’t.”

“All I want is for you to be safe and happy. If he does that for you, then I’ll welcome him. But if he ever hurts you in any way, I’ll castrate him and stake his ass out in the mountains for the bears to eat,” she growled.

“And I would expect nothing less,” Ben said from behind us. I whipped around. The two of them stared at each other for a few moments, then she smiled and hugged him. When she finished with him, she hugged me.

The next thing I knew was that I was being shown ring after ring. Each one was more beautiful to me than the last. I tried to look at the price tags, but Ben lightly smacked my hand and said, “No.”

I looked, with my sister pointing out one here or there that she thought I might like.

When I finished, I chose the ones I wanted to try on.

There were six of them. Fabian waited on us.

I quickly narrowed it down to two, which I loved equally.

Finally, I asked Ben, who’d made suggestions of ones to look at, but kept quiet unless I asked.

“Which one do you like more? I can’t decide.” I had them on my ring finger on both hands. He studied them closely and then pointed to the one on the right.

“I like that one more. It’s more you than the others, and I can’t say why.”

The one he’d chosen was a pear-shaped center gemstone. On each side of it was a marquise and a round diamond set into the platinum band. In total, it was 1.5 carats worth of diamonds. When I smiled at him and nodded, Ben called out to Fabian.

“We have a winner, Fabian. She’d like this one. I think we’ll save shopping for our wedding bands for another day. We have plans tonight that we have to get ready for. Hummingbird, I want you to go outside with Beau and your sister.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t need to know how much I’m spending on your ring. I might not have asked the typical way, but I will stick with that tradition.” Ben winked.

I protested, but my sister was the one who dragged me toward the door, so I went. We stood outside, and I listened to Keeley talk about the next step—wedding planning.

It wasn’t long before Ben rejoined us, and we headed to the SUV.

Beau and my sister got in the front. As I snuggled up to Ben in the backseat, he took out the box and opened it.

He removed the ring as I held out my hand.

As he slid it on, he whispered, “I love you and you’ve made me so goddamn happy, Kensy. ”

Right before our lips met for a kiss, I whispered, “Not any happier than you made me, Ben. I love you.”

???

Entering the swanky restaurant on Ben’s arm later made me feel like I was on display.

We were dressed appropriately. They accepted business clothes.

There was no need to be dressed in gowns like we were on Saturday.

Keeley and I had business clothing, even though she used hers less than I did.

We had brought a few sets with us, not knowing what we might have to do.

We chose to wear dresses tonight. The guys were dressed in regular suits.

Glancing around, we didn’t stand out. Most people eating there were dressed the same way as we were. When we reached the hostess’s stand, Ben addressed the young woman behind it.

“Excuse me, miss. We’re here to meet the Wynne party. Has Mr. Wynne arrived yet? My name is Ben Pierce.”

She checked us over before she glanced at her tablet. A few moments later, she was smiling as she answered, “Yes, we’re expecting you and your companions. Mr. Wynne isn’t here yet. But he left instructions to show you to his private room. If you follow me, I’ll take you to it.”

As we followed her, she seemed to have a lot of swish in her walk, or maybe it was just me being catty. Her somewhat snooty attitude when Ben introduced himself had rubbed me the wrong way.