TWENTY-FOUR

MIKE’S voice was firm and steady, his expression sweetly somber.

I had to admire the man’s self-control. When I tried to speak, I couldn’t find my tongue. I couldn’t see straight, either. Yet even with my eyes blurred by tears, I sensed Mike’s anxiety, along with his unspoken questions—

Did I do a good thing here or completely screw up? Are you thrilled or embarrassed? Are you going to make me the happiest man on earth or pierce my soul and say you’ve changed your mind?

Clearing my throat, I gave the man his answer.

“Of course I’ll marry you—” My voice broke, and I swallowed hard. “I know it won’t be easy. But I love you with all my heart. So . . .”

I met his eyes and smiled. “Let’s give it a shot.”

At the word shot, gasps hit my ears and every cop in the place froze.

Mortified, I froze with them—until Mike burst out laughing, along with the entire coffeehouse. Grinning with joy, and more than a little relief, he rose, took my left hand, and guided the tiny golden circle onto my finger.

I gazed at the dazzling blue center of what was now my engagement ring—the coffee diamonds flawlessly set around it—and realized this band not only fit perfectly, it felt perfect, too.

Then I wrapped my arms around my new fiancé and stiffened. The ring may have felt right, but Quinn’s torso felt wrong, oddly rigid, his chest harder than Superman’s. The fleeting perception was quickly banished when his lips met mine, and the cops, customers, Madame, and my staff began to applaud.

Amid all the congratulations, Mike and I were quickly separated.

While he endured a round of backslapping and good-humored “give it a shot” jabs from his buddies, I found myself cornered. Esther Best and Nancy Kelly were circling me like curious birds while Tucker loomed over my shoulder.

“So . . .” he said. “Let’s meet your new BFF, because everyone knows a diamond is a girl’s best friend.”

As we ogled the ring, Madame moved closer, and I lifted it for her inspection.

“See the coffee diamonds?” I pointed out excitedly. “They’re just like the ones on that brooch Matt’s father gave you.”

“Not like the ones on my brooch, dear. Those are the very diamonds.”

“What?”

“When Antonio died, I promised myself I’d never sell them. But I knew how much you admired them, so I happily gifted them to you and your future husband.”

“But how?” I gaped at her. “How could you know that Mike would—”

“Your young officer paid me a visit,” Madame confessed. “He wanted my advice on choosing your engagement ring. He said you were always behind him and his work, and he wanted a ring that would show you that he felt the same about you. He insisted on a token of his love that would convince you that he respected your life and wanted to join it, not take you away from it. I suggested we use the coffee diamonds, as a symbol of your ties to the Village Blend, and he happily agreed.”

“What a beautiful gesture.”

She opened her arms, and we hugged each other tight.

“Thank you,” I croaked, tears welling again.

“Thank that man of yours. He is something special. And, frankly, I’d consider losing you a much greater loss than those diamonds.”