Her eyes widened with shock. “What?”
“I’ll be working at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City for the next two years.”
“You’re joking.”
“No. I’m serious.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth. Now she looked happy, and his heart rejoiced.
“I have the choice to stay in employee housing or rent my own apartment. I thought we could share an apartment. You can come to the city with me and pick a place you like.”
“You want me to live with you…in sin?”
He laughed at her delighted expression. “Yes.”
“My mother wouldn’t approve.”
“I already told her I plan to marry you.”
“When did you say that?”
“Just now. She asked about my intentions.”
She groaned, fisting her hands in her hair. “Did you tell her we slept together too? If she knew what you did to me in that hotel room, she’d take us straight to the church.”
He put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “We don’t have to live together. We can go as slow as you want. I’ll only be four or five hours away. I can drive here to spend time with you. Whatever you decide is fine with me.”
She stared up at him with teary eyes. “This is too good to be true. I can’t believe it.”
“There’s more.”
“What?”
“Adam and Kari are getting married at the end of the month. I’m the best man. I thought you could come with me to San Diego and be my date.”
“Yes,” she said, nodding. “I’d love to be there.”
“I don’t have to start at the embassy for three more weeks, so we can go on a vacation. Anywhere you like.”
“Really?”
“Sure. We can stay here in Mexico and go to Acapulco. Soak up the sun. Or we can go somewhere exotic, like Brazil.” He wagged his brows. “They have nude beaches there. Don’t tell your mother.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
She touched her lips to his, making a little squeal of excitement. “Yes.”
He pushed her back against the tree and kissed her again. “When can we leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What about tonight?”
“You can stay with us.”
“In your room?”
“Of course not,” she said, rolling her eyes. “My mother won’t like us living together in Mexico City, but I can tell her we’re engaged. If everything goes well, and you still want to get married at the end of your assignment…”
“I will,” he assured her.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“So you’ll be my fiancée for two years?”
“Yes.”
“Where will we get married?”
“Here, at the chapel in Mezcala.”
“And after that, you’ll come with me to the U.S., or wherever my next assignment is?”
“Yes,” she said, decisive.
“I can handle that.”
“What about your boss? Will he disapprove?”
“I don’t think he’d care if I married you this week, let alone two years from now. I already signed an employment contract.”
She twined her arms around his neck. “I love you.”
He wanted to do this right, so he got down on one knee and removed the box from his pocket. The ring inside wasn’t anything fancy. It was made in the 1920s, with an unusual setting of silver petals around a modest diamond. There was a leaf symbol engraved in a simple platinum band. He liked the earth-angel vibe of the piece.
Maria took the ring out of the box. “It’s beautiful,” she said in a hushed voice.
“It’s vintage.”
“What does that mean?”
“Used.”
She wiggled her fingers to make the diamond sparkle in the sun. “I love it.”
He stood, drawing her into his arms again. “I love you, mariposa.”
“I love you too.”
“Say it in Spanish.”
“Yo también te amo. Para siempre.”
“Para siempre,” he repeated, covering her mouth with his. Sealing it with a kiss. Promising to love her, always and forever.