the day?”
“You’re a good friend, Nolan. I’ve got it from here, though. You help your parents out. I’ll read through this carefully and get back to you by the end of the week.”
Stella watched Nolan get into his truck. He gave her a wave out the window before he began to drive away. As soon as his truck disappeared from view, the first car drove in. It was time to get to work.
“I’m so sorry,” Sarah cried as she hugged Jace. “It’s all my fault. I should have known something was off with Molly when she kept on saying she was your work wife and you were her work husband. Eventually she dropped the word work, but I thought she was just joking around. I mean, lots of people joke about having a work spouse. I thought it was completely innocent, but now I don’t think so at all.”
“It’s no more your fault than mine.” Once Jace said it, he realized it was true. “Guilt has been eating me alive this weekend. But it’s not our fault. Something broke in Molly’s brain and she became obsessed with everyone she worked for.”
Sarah started to sob again as she buried her face in his shoulder. “Those poor families. She murdered them, Jace. She could have killed you and Stella.”
“It’ll be okay, Sarah. At least we have answers now and we are safe.”
The door opened behind them and a woman in a suit walked in carrying a briefcase. She looked between Jace’s and Sarah’s tear-stained faces and sighed. “I knew since you were Pierce’s son, I should have brought the bigger diamonds.”
Sarah looked horrified. “You can’t give me diamonds after everything that’s happened!”
Jace couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry, but the diamond is for someone else. How about a raise instead since I’ll be down a nurse and in no hurry to find a new one?”
“I’ll take the raise, but then who are you getting diamonds . . . oh!”
Jace yanked the cell phone that suddenly appeared in Sarah’s hand and shook his head. “Oh no, that’s betting on insider information. Nope, you’ll get this back tomorrow.”
Sarah crossed her arms. “Fine, but you have to answer all my family’s texts and pick out dinner for tonight.”
“I’ll order it and pay for it to be delivered.”
“Deal, but I get first look at the ring.” Sarah winked at him and together they checked out diamond engagement rings.
Jace watched as dozens of rings glittered at him from the foam holder that lined both sides of the briefcase. Sarah gasped right along with him.
“Okay, if you want to buy me a diamond, I won’t complain,” she joked as the different stones and cuts were explained to him.
“This one. This is it,” he said, pointing to a ring. He’d known it the moment he’d seen it. The two women sitting on either side of him nodded in agreement.
“Excellent choice. I’ll wrap it up for you.”
This was it. This was the day he was going to propose. All weekend he’d been working undercover on his plan to propose. His father had suggested Monday, but it really didn’t have anything to do with that. It had to do with the fact he had the ring and he could hardly wait to pop the question.
He picked up his phone and sent a text. The plan was now in motion.
Jace took a deep breath as he handed over the ring. “Don’t lose it.”
“I promise. Relax, I’ve got this.”
“Dylan,” Jace said with warning. His brother didn’t look too serious. In fact, Dylan looked like he had a secret prank ready to play on Jace like they used to do when they were kids.
“I’m just happy for you. I promise, I will do exactly what you want me to do. I’ve never failed in a mission.”
Jace took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous. I can’t wait to marry Stella. It’s ridiculous how excited I am.”
Dylan’s mouth softened and the teasing left his eyes as he clasped his brother’s shoulder. “I understand. Jace, it only gets better. Every day together is better than the previous one. Last week Abby and I were taking down this terrorist leader who planned to hit soft targets in the US that could kill thousands of innocent civilians. Anyway, here we were in the middle of nowhere when the moonlight caught on Abby’s tactical vest and seemed to highlight her. I just had to stop right there and kiss her. When you find that love, you feel that