The Christmas Proposal - Miley Maine Page 0,62

said. “I have one more.

I looked to him curiously, none the wiser, until he faced me and got down on one knee.

My heart beat fast in my chest, and I thought that it was going to burst. This couldn’t be happening. No way could this be happening. Could it?

“Serenity, perhaps this is too hasty of me, but I am sure in my conviction. You are the only one for me. This doesn’t have to be an engagement if you don’t want to be, but let it be a promise to you, that I will be by your side, through all that happens, and especially through the birth of our child. I want to be the best partner and father that I can, and you make me want to strive to continue to be better.

“So I ask you, on this Christmas day, with your family as our witnesses, will you do me the great honor of accepting this ring.”

He took out a ring box from his jacket pocket, and opened it up to reveal the most beautiful diamond that I had ever seen. It was set in a simple platinum band, but it said all the words that I needed it to say.

How could I say no?

“Yes, a thousand times yes,” I said, letting Grayson slip the ring onto my finger and then sweep me up into a hug. “I will always say yes.”

He kissed my cheek, then pulled back to look at me. “Good, because I love you and intend to care for you for all of our days.”

I leaned back in to hug him, and whisper in his ear, “Thank you, this is the best Christmas present that I ever could have asked for.”

Excerpt: Maid By Mistake

All I wanted was to tell the truth. Now I’m lying to the handsome sheriff who saved my life.

My career took me undercover,

But it put a target on my back.

I escaped the big city.

With nowhere to go, I take refuge in a small town.

A sexy sheriff gives me a chance to be his maid.

The only problem?

I grew up in an elite society.

I’ve never cleaned a thing.

He takes me into his home, and lets me be a part of his life.

I learn to do the chores, and take care of this gorgeous man.

This former Navy SEAL is my protector,

But he doesn’t know what I’m hiding.

He doesn’t know there are men who want me dead.

At night, I share his bed.

During the day, I share his life.

I thought I was careful,

But now I’m pregnant.

If I tell him the truth, this fierce sheriff will protect me from harm.

But will he ever forgive me for lying to him?

Ava

A secret underground group that controlled the elite society in Chicago?

It sounded crazy right? It should have been laughable, because it sure sounded like a tabloid headline.

But nobody was laughing.

Mostly the citizens of Chicago just went for extreme denial.

For most of my life, I’d heard the rumor that a good portion of the money in upper-crust Chicago was gained through illegal means. The rumors were whispers, first at school, then online. I’d learned early on that no one in my world wanted to believe it.

I’d asked my mother when she was still alive. She’d smiled at me, and said, “Honey. That’s silly.”

I’d tried my dad next. “People are jealous. They can’t handle their own lack of success, so they have to disparage others,” he’d said.

It wasn’t the mafia, although it sure sounded close enough.

Now I was twenty-four, and the rumors had not been put to rest. In fact, they had only gained more attention.

This group didn’t specialize in prostitution or drugs, like other criminals. People claimed that all the illegal business was mainly conducted through a gambling ring.

But no matter what I Googled, or who I asked, I just couldn’t get any clear answers.

A chime sounded down the hallway, and I brought my focus back to my current reality.

My job.

The smell of burned coffee wafted by and I wrinkled my nose. It was so bad I was tempted to cover my face with my shirt. Mixed with the scent of my coworkers’ overpowering perfume, the smell was positively acrid.

I leaned over, trying to see the source of the problem. It was rare for anyone to make coffee in my office; most people ordered it and had it delivered from upscale cafes.

I pressed my fingers to my eyes. I should be concentrating on my work, but as usual, my heart wasn’t in it. I dropped my head back to rest against my