Spooky Business (The Spectral Files #3) - S.E. Harmon Page 0,113

stuck out a little as he scowled and it was adorable. “You can't just put it on your finger and start wearing it.”

“I beg to differ.” I arched a brow. “You gave it to me.”

“Yeah, maybe so, but only so you’d start thinking about it. I didn’t even get to ask you yet.”

“Well, ask me, sweetheart. Cuz I’m not taking it off.” I waggled my finger. “And do it quickly, because I’m getting hot standing out here.”

“I can’t ask you now.”

“Why not?”

“Because… because… I’m not even dressed nicely.” He looked down at himself, taking in the gray sweats and black T-shirt I’d brought for him to wear home. He had slides on his feet because I hadn’t wanted him to have to fiddle with laces. He ran a hand over his scruffy jaw, which was a few days past a five o’clock shadow. “And I need to shave.”

I didn’t see the problem. He looked as good to me as he ever did. Clearly, he didn’t understand that he did disreputable very well. I also didn’t tell him that his shirt was inside out, because I had no intention of taking my ring off while he got spiffy.

“We’re in a hospital parking lot, for Chrissakes,” he went on, scandalized.

I raised an eyebrow. “I can drive us someplace else, if you prefer. I think there’s an Arby’s up the block.”

“An Arby’s!”

I winced. I was pretty sure they’d heard him on the Space Station. “A proposal and curly fries,” I said indignantly. “That’s just good planning.”

“This isn’t romantic enough,” he growled. “I want to get this right.”

He was so adorable and so dear to me that I almost couldn’t speak for a moment. I sifted a hand through his dark hair, which was longer than usual, super soft and free of product. I tucked a few, unruly, silky strands behind his ear. “The fact that it’s you and me makes it very right, Irish. That’s all I need.”

His cheeks colored a little as he gave an embarrassed laugh. “Maybe you’re right.” He held out his palm. “I’m going to need the ring back.”

I scowled. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” He smiled. “And then I never want you to take it off again.”

That was an easy promise to make. I removed it from my finger and put it in his palm. He took a deep breath and cast a suspicious look around. “We’re alone, aren’t we?”

I purposefully didn’t glance at the two ghosts sitting in the back seat. Ellen practically had stars in her eyes as she stared at us with bated breath. I’d thought she only cared about treasure, but I’d underestimated her romantic side. Brian slipped his hand in hers, and they held hands tightly.

I mentally crossed my fingers as I lied my ass off. “Of course.”

“It’s just so beautiful,” Ellen sighed.

“Get to it,” Brian advised.

Hush up, or there’s room for you in my pendant. I’d never wished for telepathy more.

Danny cleared his throat, and suddenly, I couldn’t care one whit about the ghosts. “Rainstorm Moonbeam Christiansen,” he began.

“That's not my fucking name—”

“That is your fucking name,” he countered patiently. “Your mother said—”

“Once again, you can't give your grown child a middle name.”

“I think she can. She gave birth to you, didn't she?”

“Yes, but there's a fucking window of time that decent people abide by—”

He hushed me. “Let me finish.”

I glared. “Fine.”

“It’s hard to believe one person could be so pouty.”

“You’re the one marrying me,” I reminded him.

“I can't marry you if you don't let me get on with the flipping proposal,” he said loudly. I made a sweeping, magnanimous gesture, and he sighed. “Thank you.”

He looked down for a few moments, long enough to make me fidget. When he looked back up, his eyes were troubled, and I squatted down in front of him. I took his hand. “Ask me,” I said quietly.

“But kneeling is traditional.”

“We’re not traditional.”

He thought about that for a second before he huffed out a soft laugh. He kissed me then, his lips soft and warm on mine. He pulled back and smoothed his thumb across my mouth softly. “I was having a hard time marshaling my thoughts. I wanted it to be perfect, but this is perfectly us, and I think that's enough.”

“It is.”

“I thought about saying I want to love you all my life, but I already do. Always will. And I thought about saying I want to be your partner in life and work, but we already are.” His hand dropped from my face and took my