Simply Irresistible Part 36

It was dawn when Vivian and Dex arrived in the backyard. The sun was a big red ball on the horizon, and the light, a gorgeous mixture of orange and yellow, made Dex's garden glow. Vivian was never so happy to see anyplace in her entire life.

"Are we safe now?" she asked.

He nodded. "Eris can't touch us anymore. If Zeus's punishment stands, I doubt she'll ever go free again."

Vivian sighed with relief. She was tired. Dex slipped his arm around her and she leaned against him. Together they walked to the back door.

Sadie was already there, wagging her tail, waiting to get in.

"What about the Fates?" Vivian asked.

"What about them?" Dex said.

"They can go about their business now."

Dex shook his head. "I think we should leave them exactly where they are. I told them this would take a month. Let's make sure it does."

Vivian looked at him, frowning. "Why?" And then she knew the answer without him saying a word. "Oh, yeah. The kittens."

Dex pulled the back door open. "It's more than that, Viv. They wanted to know what it was like to be helpless. They're safer being helpless in my cave than they are out on the streets of Portland."

"Good point," Vivian said, stepping inside.

"And," Dex said, "maybe by then they'll give up the whole idea of going out into the world and they'll fight to get their job back."

"Especially after we tell them about the Interim Fates."

"Exactly," Dex said.

They stepped into the kitchen. The light filtering inside was as beautiful as it had been in the garden, but here it illuminated dirty dishes and clutter.

"Why don't you clean up your house?" Vivian asked.

"Expectations. It keeps the neighbors thinking I'm a young single man."

"You are," Vivian said.

"But not for much longer." Then Dex looked at her in surprise. "I hope."

Vivian laughed. "That was a proposal?"

"Oh, G.o.d," Dex said.

"It didn't sound like a proposal," Vivian said, teasing him. It felt great to have the luxury to tease him. They had survived. Fate's darkest day was over, and they had survived.

Now they could enjoy their great love.

The thought made her smile, so she continued the tease. "That comment sounded like an expectation. Was it an expectation?"

"I didn't mean it to come out that way," Dex said. He was appalled. She could feel it. "I mean, I know how you feel. It's how I feel."

Vivian was having trouble suppressing a smile. Dex was so wrapped up in his own propriety, he didn't even notice all the ways her mood had changed. And the joy she felt knowing what their future would be.

How lucky they would both be.

Maybe she did believe in luck now. She certainly believed in prophecies and Fate(s) and magic.

And love at first sight.

"I suppose I can do the bended knee thing," Dex was saying. "In fact, I should do the bended knee thing. And have a ring. But I'd like to buy a ring. It's better than conjuring one. Can we--?"

"It's all right," she said.

"No, it's not." He bit his lower lip, a sign of just how agitated he was. "How about this? Tonight, I take you to Quixotic--I owe everyone there an apology anyway, after what Eris was rambling about--and we have this great dinner, and by then we'll have the animals out of the bas.e.m.e.nt, and we'll have had some sleep, and I'll have a ring--"

"It's not necessary, Dex," Vivian said.

"But it is." He took her hands in his own. "I want this to be perfect, Viv."

She kissed him, and in that kiss were promises answered and all the love she could give.

"You don't have to make it perfect," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him. "Because it already is."

end.