Of all the days to get an assignment.
“It’s all right.”
He was about to spill the news when the waiter came to take their order. One prime rib and one frou-frou salad later, he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“I got an assignment today.”
“Oh.” Crestfallen was the only word he could think of to describe her expression. Of course, she thought he was going back to the Middle East.
“It’s an easy assignment.”
She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, then gave him a sad, brave smile. “Where are you going?” For all her talk about accepting his job, he knew it wouldn’t be easy for her when he headed off to Mexico.
“Oklahoma.”
Her brows rose. “Are you joking?”
“I wish I was. It’s a crazy assignment, but if I want to get back out in the field, then I have to go.”
“I understand.” She looked down, seemingly captivated by the pattern on the ends of their flatware.
He hated the resigned slump of her shoulders. “It’s only for three months.”
“That’s not bad.” There was that brave smile again.
He shook his head. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
She took a sip of water, watching him over the rim.
Zane’s hand started to tremble. Surely a natural reaction. After all, it wasn’t every day a man got engaged. He pulled the velvet box from his suit pocket and placed it on the table in front of him.
Her sapphire eyes grew wide. “Zane, I—”
He shook his head, effectively cutting off whatever she was about to say. “Just hear me out.” He took a deep breath, then flipped open the top of the ring box to expose the sparkling ruby and diamond engagement ring inside. Another breath. “Monica, I’ve always been something of a loner. I guess it’s in my genes, but getting shot made me stop and think about the future. That’s when I realized I didn’t have one. At least, not one that I was looking forward to.”
He cleared his throat and dropped down on one knee beside her. “Monica Cartwright, will you marry me?” His voice cracked on the last word, but she didn’t seem to notice.
She looked from the box on the table to the knot in his tie, but made no move toward the ring. “I don’t know what to say.” She didn’t meet his gaze.
“I believe this is where you’re supposed to say yes.”
“Oh, Zane.” Her voice was filled with anguish and indecision instead of the happy love that he’d been expecting. She tugged on his sleeve. “Stand up. Stand up.”
Zane rose, then sat in his chair, wondering where his proposal had gotten off track.
“What about your job?”
He shrugged, his shoulders stiff. Then he tried to laugh it off. “I’ll need to keep it, don’t you think? We’ll still have bills to pay.”
She dropped her gaze to her lap. “You’ll be gone most of the time.”