| |
“What the hell?” Sierra watched from her living room window as several news crew vans stopped at the front of her estate. Men and women leapt from their vehicles with cameras and recorders.
“Miss Sierra?” Yuricema ran across the hardwood floor. “What’s going on?”
Dash’s silver Aston Martin inched through the crowd.
Sierra called for her security guard. “Go out there and let Dash in,” she ordered him. “Make sure the press doesn’t get past the gate.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Sierra and Yuricema followed the guard to the front door, watching the chaotic scene.
“Sierra?” Dash ran across the yard. “Come out here!”
“You crazy?” She huddled behind the door. “Why did you bring these people here?”
He hopped onto the stoop and grabbed her.
She stumbled as he pulled her from the house. “What the hell’s going on?”
The press set up cameras and lights.
“You wanted me to prove my love.” Dash pointed at the paparazzi. “I’m doing that.”
“Dash, what in the world—”
“We’re on live television.” He kissed her cheek, beaming.
“What?” She gasped, touching her hair. “I look a mess.” She plastered on a smile for the cameras. “You’ve lost your mind?”
“No, but I almost lost you. I can’t do that, Sierra. You mean too much. I should’ve done this a long time ago. I love you.” He waved to the paparazzi. “That’s right! I love Sierra Delfino and I don’t care who knows it!” He dipped Sierra and kissed her. “She’s the only woman for me, and I’m never letting her go again.”
“Dash.” Sierra held onto him, woozy from the kiss.
“Forgive me for turning my back on our love. That’s the past.” He took a tiny, black box out of his pocket. “And, this is the future.”
“My god.” She covered her mouth as the press yelled and clicked pictures. “What is this?”
“Do you love me, Sierra?”
She glanced at the media then into his pleading eyes. “Yes.”
“Will you make me the happiest man in the entire world?” He got on one knee, taking her hand.
“God.” Sierra’s breath caught in her throat. “This can’t be happening. Not here. Not like this.”
“It is.” He opened the box.
A ring with a huge diamond, surrounded by baby diamonds, glimmered under the fading sun.
“Sierra Delfino, will you marry me?” He held his breath. “Let me spend the rest of my life loving you the way you deserve to be loved.”
She breathed into her palms.
“We’ve wasted too much time being apart. I can’t bear to go another day without you in my life.”
Sierra tilted her head, crying.
“Whatever we go through from now on, let’s do it together.” He raised the ring. “Will you marry me, Sierra? And, be the reason I wake up in the mornings? The reason I breathe? The reason I live?”
“Dash,” she whispered. “I—”
“Say you’ll marry me.” He pressed his soft lips to her hand. “Please.”
“Yes.” She dropped on her knees, kissing him. “I’ll marry you.”
“Yes?” He stood and swung her. “She said yes! Take our damn pictures!”
The media clicked.
“God.” He kissed Sierra, spinning her. “I’m the happiest man in the world. Sierra Delfino’s gonna be my wife!”
He carried her inside as the press cheered.
****
“You hear me, Los Angeles?” Sierra spun past the fire table of her terrace, shouting at the sky. “I’m getting married!” She joined Dash on the sectional. “You’ve made this one of the happiest days of my life.”
“Here’s to future happy days.” He hooked his arm in hers and they drank champagne from each other’s glass. “I love you so much.”
She stretched her legs on his lap. “Mrs. Sierra Delfino-Phillips. I like the sound of that.”
“Ah, no.” Dash grimaced while sipping. “You’re not going to do that hyphen thing are you?”
“Why not? I’m very proud of my Italian roots. I want to keep my name. Besides, Sierra Phillips doesn’t even sound right.”
He laughed, pinching her stomach. “It does too sound right.”
She chuckled, pulling him into another kiss.
Yuricema tapped on the glass doors then walked out. “You have a visitor.”
“Get rid of them,” Sierra mumbled with her lips hooked to Dash’s mouth.
“It’s your father.”
“My father?”
“Should I bring him out here or do you wanna talk to him inside?”
“He can jump in the river for all I care.”
“Sierra,” Dash said.
“What the hell does he want to see me now for? Yuricema, get rid of him.”
Ian walked out. “That won’t be necessary, Yuricema.”
She nodded and left.
“What are you doing here, Dad?” Sierra gulped champagne. “I’m surprised you even remember where I live.”
“I’d like to talk to you. Dash, how are you?”
“Fine, sir.”
“Sierra, I—”
“Hold on, Dad.” She stood. “This is my house, and I’m going to say what I want to say first. I don’t need your shit today.”
“Sierra?” Dash pulled her hand. “Give him a chance.”
“Shut up, Dash.”
“We’re not even married yet and you’re already telling me to shut up?”
“Look, Dad.” Sierra pointed her glass at him. “This is the happiest day of my life and the last thing I need is your negativity.”
“But—”
“If you ran over here to warn Dash against me because I’m gonna ruin his life then you can hop your ass back on the horse you rode in on. I don’t wanna hear it—”
“I wanted to congratulate you.”
She wobbled as if Rocky punched her. “What?”
“I saw the proposal on television.” He smiled wider than he ever had in her presence. “I’m thrilled for you.”
“Dash?” Sierra looked at him. “Did I drift into another universe or did my dad say something nice to me?”
Dash stood and fixed the couch pillow. “I’ll let you two speak alone.”