“Ready.”
They looked pretty darn good tonight, she in a new dress and Omar wearing a black shirt and black pants. When they arrived at the hotel, the valet took the Escalade and Omar took her hand in his. For them, holding hands, hugging, and kissing was the norm, an easy affection born from years of togetherness in a strong friendship.
They walked up the stairs to the second-floor restaurant where a host guided them to their table. They enjoyed a delicious three course dinner, drank most of a bottle of wine, and shared each other’s dessert at the end of the meal.
Omar glanced at his phone, the second time in the last five minutes.
“Is everything okay?” Dana asked.
His gaze flicked up to her. “Yeah, yeah. I’m expecting a message from my mother, and she hasn’t responded yet. I’m going to send her a quick text.”
He sent the text and then leaned forward, gazing into her eyes. “You ready to go to bed?” he asked, in a low voice.
“Yes,” Dana replied. “And since I’ve already taken a nap, I have a lot of energy.”
“Lucky me.”
Omar paid the bill and took her hand as they walked out of the restaurant. In the elevator with his arms around her, she leaned back into his solid chest and silently marveled at how much time she had wasted with other men, trying to find someone who made her feel as relaxed and cared for as Omar did.
They strolled out of the elevator on one of the upper floors, and as they made their way down the hall, a woman carrying large canvas bags came toward them. She glanced at Omar and gave a brief nod, then smiled at Dana as she passed.
Omar opened a door at the end of the hallway and let Dana precede him inside. The room was dark, but the curtains were open, and light from the nearby buildings cast a glow within.
“You got a suite,” Dana said. She turned to face Omar.
“Only the best for you,” he said, sounding solemn. He took her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. “Why don’t you go into the bedroom while I get a snack from the minibar. You want anything?”
“No thanks, I’m stuffed from dinner. How do you have room for a snack?” Dana teased.
She pushed open the double doors and didn’t take more than a single step before pulling up short. Candles were set up around the room along with huge bouquets of red roses and other flowers, their scent filling the air with a sweet aroma, and the entire scene giving the impression she had stepped into a candlelit garden.
More shocking than the beautiful display were the words written in red rose petals atop the white duvet on the bed.
Will you marry me?
Clutching a hand to her chest, Dana swung to face Omar, but her gaze dipped lower to him on one knee. A beautiful oval-cut diamond ring lay nestled in a box in his hand.
“Omar…” she breathed.
“I’m going to keep this short.” He smiled. “Dana, I love you. Damn, I love you, babe. I’ve loved you for years and for so many reasons—your sense of humor, your kindness, and the way you always have my back. The time we spent together this summer made me realize how important you’ve become to me. I want to grow old with you. I want to keep whooping ass in spades, with you across the table as my partner, for the next seventy-five years. There are so many more things I want to do in life, and I want to do them all with you. Would you grant me the honor of becoming my wife… forever?”
Dana nodded vigorously. “Yes. Yes!”
Omar slipped the ring on her finger, and when he stood, he pulled her against his chest and kissed her hard on the mouth.
“I love you so much,” he whispered huskily.
She gazed up at him with tear-filled eyes. “I love you too, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
***
