Chapter 10 - Ashes and Diamonds
Z
Six months later.
The autumn leaves across the Chesapeake Bay had turned into a brilliant canopy of gold, crimson, and deep orange. The crisp air carried the faint, salty scent of the ocean, blowing softly across the manicured grounds of the estate.
In downtown Annapolis, a brand-new medical billing and practice management firm called Dalton & Associates Logistics officially opened its doors in a beautifully restored brick building overlooking the harbor.
I stood in my sleek, private corner office on the second floor, looking down at the polished hardwood floors, the state-of-the-art computer systems, and the four employees already hard at work answering calls and managing client files.
I hadn't used a single cent of Luke’s money to start the business.
With Evelyn Vance’s brilliant legal maneuvering, the Colorado courts had forced Eric’s frozen assets to be fully liquidated to pay back the $142,000 he had stolen, along with significant punitive damages. I had taken that money—my money, hard-earned and rightfully returned—and used it to build my own independent future.
A soft knock sounded at my office door.
"Come in!" I called out, turning around with a smile.
Beth stepped into the room, holding a clipboard and wearing a crisp professional blazer. She was now my senior operations manager, running the day-to-day administrative side of the firm.
"The audit reports for the Johns Hopkins pediatric group are finalized, Boss," Beth said with a proud grin, handing me the folder. "And your three o'clock appointment is waiting downstairs."
"My three o'clock?" I frowned, checking my digital calendar. "I didn't think I had anyone scheduled for three."
"Oh, he didn't make an appointment through the front desk," Beth teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "He brought a special consultant with him."
My heart did a familiar, joyful flutter.
I walked out of my office and down the open wooden staircase to the reception lobby.
Standing by the front window was Luke Callahan. He looked devastatingly handsome in a navy wool coat and dark trousers. Standing beside him, holding his hand, was two-year-old Poppy. She was wearing a tiny yellow raincoat and red rain boots, holding a brand-new, intricately folded paper bird made out of heavy gold parchment paper.
"Mommy!" Poppy squealed, letting go of Luke’s hand and running across the lobby as fast as her little legs could carry her, her rain boots squeaking loudly on the floorboards.
I dropped to my knees, catching her in my arms and spinning her around while she giggled uncontrollably. "Hi, my sweet girl! Look at you! What do you have there?"
"Luke made a giant bird!" Poppy proudly displayed the gold origami swan. "It flies!"
I stood up, holding Poppy on my hip, as Luke walked over to us, a warm, devoted smile resting on his lips.
"I hope I'm not interrupting official business, Director Dalton," Luke said softly, leaning down to press a warm kiss against my lips.
"You can interrupt anytime, Mr. Callahan," I replied, my hand coming up to rest gently against his cheek. "What are you two doing here?"
"We came to take the most successful CEO in Annapolis to dinner," Luke said, taking my free hand into his. "And to deliver a small delivery."
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a sleek, velvet jewelry box.
My breath caught in my throat. I looked up into his dark, beautiful eyes, my heart suddenly beating at a million miles an hour.
"Luke..." I whispered.
Luke took a step back, taking the velvet box in his hands. He didn't drop to one knee in front of my employees—he didn't need grand, dramatic performances for cameras anymore. He simply looked at me with a raw, profound, unwavering devotion that brought happy tears to my eyes instantly.
"Hannah," Luke said, his voice deep and steady. "One year ago, on a crowded airplane, I asked a brave, beautiful stranger to rest her head on my shoulder for ten minutes to hide from the world. In that ten minutes, you changed my entire life. You gave me a reason to love again. You gave me a family."
He opened the velvet box. Inside rested a breathtaking ring—a flawless, brilliant-cut diamond resting on a delicate band of platinum, glittering under the office lights.
"I don't want you to just rest on my shoulder for ten minutes anymore, Hannah," Luke murmured, his eyes locking onto mine with absolute certainty. "I want to spend the rest of my life protecting you, loving you, and building a world with you and Poppy. Will you marry me?"
Beside us, Beth gasped softly, holding her hands over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
I looked at the ring, then at Poppy, who was happily waving her gold paper swan in the air, and finally up into the eyes of the man who had saved our lives and won my heart completely.
"Yes," I sobbed happily, stepping into his arms. "Yes, Luke! A thousand times yes!"
Luke slipped the diamond ring onto my finger, pulling me into a fierce, joyous embrace, locking his lips onto mine in a passionate kiss that echoed through the quiet office lobby. Poppy cheered, clapping her tiny hands, while Beth and my staff burst into applause.
As I held Luke tight, resting my head against his broad shoulder, I looked out the window at the sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay below.
May you like
The storm was finally over. The past was burned to ashes, and from those ashes, we had built a magnificent, indestructible life. I was no longer a victim hiding from the cold. I was strong. I was loved. And I was finally, truly home.
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