Page 28 of Mayfair Madame (Mayfair Heights #1)

“Looks like you’d be up for some more.” She smiled slyly.

I groaned and opened my legs a little farther. I’d have been more than happy to continue, but time was ticking on, and we’d need to shower before we went out.

“Naomi.” Reluctantly, I moved her hand away. “I’m covered in sunscreen and need to shower, plus you need a nap before we go out. You know how tired you get.”

“You’re such a spoilsport, Ellie, but we will carry this on later. Are you sure you don’t want to stay in?”

“We could, but why don’t we go back to the bistro? I love the food there, and it means we don’t have to cook. Plus, I want to try their calamari. It looked delicious the last time we were there.”

“You’re right. It’s nice to be unhurried and do as we please, and I wish we could stay here forever.” She tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

“But we have a life back in London. One I’m not eager to return to.

“All good things must come to an end, Ellie. We’d have to go back eventually. We have jobs, friends, and family. We can’t stay here forever, as much as I would love to spend eternity here with you.”

She was right of course, but it didn’t make the realisation any easier.

Feeling melancholy, I stood. “I’d best go shower.”

I kissed her forehead, then her nose and finally her lips.

At least we’d still have each other.

Two hours later, we walked to the bistro, hand in hand.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she said. “I love the people, the weather, and it’s all so colourful here.”

She trailed her hand through the bright pink bougainvillaea. I plucked a flower and tucked it behind her ear.

A single painted lady butterfly flew by us, reminding me of the butterflies that had invaded my stomach. What if I’d read this wrong? What if she said no?

I couldn’t hold a candle to her. She was beautiful, exquisitely so. She had money, class, friends in high places, but what did I have to offer?

A menial job, little to no savings, and I could count the number of friends I had on one hand.

No,this was a waste of time, but the box containing the simple engagement ring burnt a hole in my pocket, reminding me it was still there.

I’d made an excuse a couple of days ago to visit the town not far away. There, I’d found a local jeweller and after much deliberation, had chosen a ring. Would it be perfect? Who knew?

But it’d be better than a ring pull.

“Are you okay, Ellie?”

“Yes, why?” Had I said something out loud? Given the game away?

“Well, you’ve gone really quiet, and you’re squeezing my hand.”

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something.” Yes, something that could go horribly wrong. What was I thinking?

“Anything I can help with?”

“Nope. Nothing. Let’s just get to the bistro. I’m starving.”

I picked up the pace, almost dragging Naomi behind me.

“Hey, slow down. There’s no rush.” She pulled on my hand, and I fell in step with her, my stomach in knots, but I couldn’t stop the niggle that had taken root in my brain.

A few minutes later, we arrived at the bistro. We sat outside, the sun still warm, with the soft murmur of conversation around us. We both ordered the calamari and a fruity white wine to accompany it.

“So, what’s on your mind?” She held my hand across the table and rubbed it with her thumb. “You’re usually never this preoccupied. Is it because we’re going home soon?”

Home. London. Where demons had lurked. There were none there now, and I needed to remind myself of that. Godfrey was locked up. There was nothing he could do to ruin our lives together.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“Are you breaking up with me? I thought….”

“No, I’m not breaking up with you either. Quite the opposite.” This wasn’t going according to plan at all. Not that I had a plan.

“I don’t understand. What’s going on, Ellie?” She looked confused.

Fuck, this wasn’t how I wanted to do it, but there was no time like the present, and if she said no, then we’d carry on with our meal as if nothing had happened.

Except if she said no, I’d run from here, pack my bags, and fly back to London, never to be seen again.

Here went nothing.

I slid off the seat and onto one knee, struggling to get the ring box out of my shorts pocket.

Confusion morphed into realisation.

“Ellie,” she warned.

“No, let me get this out. I need to say it.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, all the ways this could go running through my head.

When I opened them again, she sat with a huge smile on her face, her hands clasped before her.

“Naomi Reeves,” I said. “Before I met you, my life was one boring day after another. Then one callout changed all that. You sat on the bed, so vulnerable and lost, all I wanted to do was protect you and make everything right. That hasn’t changed.

All I want to do now is love and protect you, but not just for now. For the rest of our lives.”

The bistro was silent. No sound of cutlery or chatter of people.

“I know it’s soon. We’ve known each other for two months, but they’ve been the best months of my life. I’m not particularly eloquent, so will you marry me?”

I took the ring out of the box and offered it to her.

“Oh, Ellie.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she held out her hand. “Yes, yes. A thousand times, yes.”

I slipped the simple diamond ring onto her finger, and the restaurant erupted. I laughed with them, hardly believing what had just happened.

She said yes!

Naomi cried, I cried, the bistro cried. It was definitely a night to remember, and the panic I’d felt dissolved like mist on a sunny day.

Weate and drank, and all the time she gazed at the ring. “It’s beautiful, Ellie. I’m so fucking happy right now. To think all we’ve been through has led us here.”

“It’s been a wild few months, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, and being here with you, it seemed like the right thing to do.”

“You know I was going to do this when we got home, but you beat me to it,” she said as we set off for home.

“After everything we’ve seen, I didn’t want to wait any longer. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. You’ve changed my life, Naomi Reeves.”

“And you’ve changed mine. I guess we have something to thank that bastard Godfrey for. If it hadn’t been for him, we’d never have met. I love you, Ellie Sharpe.”

“Ditto, baby.”