Chapter 22

SIX MONTHS LATER

"Are you ready, Jules?" Caleb asked.

Juliette checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror and applied more lipstick.

The things she did for love.

"Almost."

"We're going to be late." Ivy's voice carried through the bathroom door.

What was the rush? The convention didn't start for two hours. How had she agreed to attend her first Star Trek convention? But worse, what had possessed her to dress up in a blue Star Fleet uniform complete with Spock ears?

Easy answer. Ivy was the reason.

The girl had begged her to attend, and Juliette couldn't say no. After binge-watching the movies, she'd decided to surprise Caleb and Ivy with her ensemble.

"Well, here goes nothing." She opened the bathroom door and headed to the living room. Ivy and Caleb gaped, their reactions everything she could have wanted.

"What? I thought I'd look the part."

Ivy giggled at Juliette's outfit.

"It's not what I was expecting when you agreed to go to the convention," Caleb said. "But you look great, as always." He twirled her around and wrapped his arms around her.

She was beyond blessed with Caleb and Ivy in her life. The three of them had been inseparable these past few months. When she didn't have an assignment from work, she'd pick up Ivy from school and spend the afternoon with her.

Ivy bounced around the apartment with an unusual level of excitement, more than her typical twelve-year-old girl antics.

"You really are excited for this convention," Juliette said with a laugh. "But why aren't you and your uncle dressed up? If I'm wearing a costume, you two should be in costume."

"Right," Ivy said, winking at her uncle. "I guess we need costumes, too."

What were they up to? The girl's giggle filled the hallway while she raced to change. Ivy had a closet full of choices. Caleb shrugged and headed to his room too, emerging a few minutes later with his own Star Fleet uniform.

Ivy returned, decked out in her matching uniform. "I can't wait. Let's go." She grabbed Juliette's hand and pulled her toward the door.

"I guess we're leaving now." Juliette followed Ivy down the hall and to the car.

Caleb drove and Ivy prattled on about Star Trek, giving a detailed play-by-play about an episode featuring the Borg. And for the first time in her life, Juliette could follow the conversation.

She watched out the window, not recognizing the road they were on. "Where is the event? I didn't even ask."

"Uh, it's at a hotel down on the riverfront," Caleb replied without making eye contact with her.

Internal alarms rang .

Caleb couldn't lie. He was up to something. The last thing she needed was a surprise at a Star Trek convention. The surprise was her agreeing to go in costume. That was enough excitement for one night.

"We're here," Ivy squealed. Caleb pulled the car around the horseshoe driveway and stopped in front of the lobby doors to one of the swankiest hotels Juliette had ever seen.

"These Star Trek fans must make a lot of money to stay at a place like this," she said.

Caleb gave his keys to the valet—who failed to hide a laugh when sizing up their attire—and Ivy raced inside. Juliette followed, but Caleb grabbed her hand. "Ivy will be fine. She's going to get us—um…registered? At the table with the…you know…registration."

Okay. Since when did Caleb let Ivy out of his sight? And why was he so nervous?

Wait…was Caleb going to propose to her? At a Star Trek convention? While she was dressed like this?

They walked along the boardwalk to the back of the hotel, which had a stunning view of the river. Tiki torches with flames lit the pathway and created a moment of pure magic.

"This place is beautiful, Caleb. But why are there no people? I expected to see alien costumes and Spock lookalikes. This is so?—"

He put his finger over her lips. "There isn't a convention. I—I made it up."

"You? That can't be. You must have had help."

"I wanted to create the perfect moment. Of course I had help. I want to give you the world, Juliette. You deserve every moment to be special." He got down on one knee with a ring, and Juliette forced herself not to squeal in excitement.

"Yes!" she exclaimed.

"I didn't say anything yet."

"Right. Sorry!"

"Juliette, will you marry me? Ivy and I love you so much. We want to be a family."

"Yes! Of course I'll marry you."

He placed the ring on her finger and stood, and she practically tackled him with a hug. She kissed him, relishing the thought that this was just their beginning. She'd get to kiss him this way for the rest of their lives. Because man, Caleb could kiss. Why hadn't she figured that out sooner?

She put her hands on his chest and moved half an inch back. "But this proposal doesn't count."

"Oh please. You mean you want me to do it again?" Caleb's perplexed face caused Juliette to burst out in laughter.

"It doesn't count because we're in costumes, and that's not how I want to remember this perfect moment. I can't tell Alana and Noelle that you proposed to me while I was wearing a Star Fleet uniform with Spock ears."

"Yeah, about that." He grabbed her hand and led her back toward the hotel. "Like I said, I did have some help planning this little ruse."

Bright lights burst on by the resort-style pool. A cheer erupted as they approached. Caleb leaned in and whispered, "Sorry, I guess you'll have to celebrate as Spock. I never in a million years would have guessed that you'd dress up."

Juliette spun around and saw all of her Elite Guardians friends hanging out around the pool. A buffet was set up under a tent with all kinds of island fare. Tropical music played in the background. Even though the temperature was a bit chilly, heaters made it feel like a Caribbean paradise.

Ivy raced down the path and wrapped herself around Juliette's waist. "You said yes! I almost blew the secret. It was so hard to stay quiet. I can't believe you dressed up!"

"And I can't believe you didn't tell me to change."

Juliette walked with Ivy still attached to her. "Is that funnel cake I smell?"

Caleb laughed. "Yes, I requested something made from pure sugar be added to the menu."

They entered the gate around the enclosed patio next to the pool, and Juliette found herself sandwiched between Noelle and Alana in a group hug. Alana whispered in her ear, "Girl, I am not letting you live down this outfit. But if anyone can pull off a skin-tight space uniform, it's you. You look hot." Juliette greeted Jonah and Cash, Noelle's and Alana's significant others.

"I can't believe you all came." Juliette made a beeline for Olivia Savage and her husband Wade. "This is such a surprise." Olivia had started the Elite Guardians Agency and had recruited Juliette.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Olivia said.

Quinn and Maddie Holcomb rushed over, a toddler in tow.

"You two came a long way for this party," Juliette said, hugging them both.

"Well, when Preston Whittaker rents out an entire luxury hotel, I'm not missing out," Quinn said.

"I couldn't stop him," Caleb said. "Things really got out of hand fast."

They greeted more old friends until she spotted Laila and Preston. "I can't believe you did all of this for me. You two are the best."

"What's money for if you can't spend it?" Laila said and laughed. The most unpretentious person on the planet had married a businessman worth billions. But Preston had turned his family's company into one of the biggest philanthropic organizations in the world.

"Not to mention that you did save our lives after we crashed on the side of a mountain. We'd do anything for you, Jules ." Preston stuck his tongue out at Juliette, and she gave him a mock glare.

She wrapped her arms around her fiancé. "Watch yourself, Whit . Caleb's the only one that gets to call me that."

Preston grabbed his wife's hand. "We should get this party started with some dancing." He whisked Laila away, and the deejay started playing eighties classics. Others joined them on the dance floor.

Juliette greeted Christina and Grey along with Lizzie and Charlie. It wasn't so long ago that they'd all worked together in Columbia, SC.

The party carried on until after midnight. Many guests had reserved rooms in the hotel, courtesy of Preston. Juliette made her way to the edge of the pool area, overlooking the river. To the spot where Caleb had proposed.

Ivy and Caleb joined her. She put her arm around Ivy, and Caleb put his head on hers. "I can only think of one thing that would have made this night perfect," he said.

"Really, what's that?" With all her friends, the lights, music, food, and laughter, she couldn't think of anything missing from this evening. Other than her wardrobe malfunction.

"This night should never have existed," Caleb whispered. "Because I should have proposed to you the day I met you."

* * *

Thank you for reading Guarding Truth .