During the six months they'd been dating she had developed a close relationship with Jake's half-sister Callie. They spoke on the phone often and whenever Callie came to Washington to see her father she always stopped in for a visit. After having to decline several invitations to visit New York because of work, Charlie had finally made it up the month before.#p#分页标题#e#
Jake wrapped his arm around her waist and began to leave a trail of kisses down her neck. “What do you say we skip the party downstairs? No one will notice.” Jake reached the base of her throat, then began to work his way back up the other side.
As tempting an offer as it was, Charlie didn't want to miss the New Year's Eve party the Sherbrookes had planned. When she arrived at Cliff House two days earlier the place had already been a buzz of activity with preparations. According to Jake's mother, the Sherbrookes had been throwing a New Year's Eve ball at the mansion since 1900, and it was attended by everyone from top government officials and multimillionaires to A-list celebrities. Every time Charlie thought about that fact she almost had to pinch herself.
Actually she'd been doing a lot of that during the past six months with Jake. Not that she was complaining. She was in love with an incredible man who loved her and she had a fantastic new position at Memorial Hospital. Life couldn't get much better.
“What do you say? Should we let everyone celebrate without us?”
Charlie pulled his arms away from her waist. With him so close she was about ready to give in. “I have a better idea. Let’s go down for a little bit then come back up here for our own mid-night celebration.”
Jake sighed and shrugged his shoulders. “If that is what you really want.”
She almost laughed at his expression. He looked as if she had just taken away his favorite toy.
“But if we're going down there you're going to need some more jewelry. Everyone down there is going to look as if they just stepped out of Tiffany's.”
Other than the diamond stud earrings she had on, Charlie didn't have any jewelry with her. She figured Jake knew that so she didn't know where he expected her to get more. Before she could ask however, she saw him pull a ring-sized jewelry box from his pocket.
“I think this would be perfect,” he said holding the open box up to her.
Nestled inside was the largest sapphire she'd ever seen surrounded by tiny diamonds. She'd never seen anything so exquisite up close. Speechless, she stared at it.
“Well?” he asked.
“I don't know what to say. It's gorgeous.”
“Simple. Say yes.” He flashed her one of his teasing lopsided smiles. The very one that sent her heartbeat into overdrive.
“Yes? To what? I didn't hear a question.” Charlie still didn't touch the ring.
Jake studied her. “Really? You don't get it?” he asked. Then he reached for her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. “Charlotte O'Brien will you marry me?”
Her entire life she'd told herself marriage was the last thing she wanted, but now she wanted nothing more. “How could I ever say no to you?” Charlie didn't give him a chance to respond. Instead she leaned in to kiss him.
The End