CHAPTER 34

“I can’t believe I getto keep Angel,” Cassie repeated to Wade for the third time as they walked slowly together along the beach.

They got permission to leave the dog for an hour with Olivia so the two could get reacquainted. Wade had suggested that he and Cassie take a short walk on the beach while they waited.

The soft pink sky held lavender clouds rimmed with gold from the setting sun. There was a small family still playing in the waves, water droplets sparked with flame-colored light as they splashed. Couples cuddled together on park benches that overlooked the lake, enjoying the view.

Cassie and Wade had left their shoes in Wade’s car, and they now strolled barefoot along the shore, letting the refreshing waves wash over their feet with each step.

“You know, I’ve been doing all the talking for a while now,” Cassie said after a brief moment of silence. “Why are you being so quiet?”

“Just thinking,” he said.

“About?”

“I have a proposal for you, too.”

“What sort of proposal? she said. Then she realized he’d stopped walking beside her, and she turned around to find him on one knee in the sand.

Her jaw dropped and her breath caught in her throat.

He pulled a small black velvet box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a simple marquis diamond ring glittering inside. “Cassie Sherwin, will you marry me?”

Cassie stood there, mouth still hanging open, saying nothing.

“Ani helped me choose it,” he said, sounding worried.

The silence stretched. His face started to redden. “Um...look, if you—”

“Yes!”

“Yes?”

“Yes!”

He leaped to his feet and she was in his arms, showering his face with kisses as the family and the couples on the benches let out cheers and whoops of congratulations.

Then she pulled back a bit to gaze into his shining golden eyes. “Wait, I have one condition.”

“What is it?”

“Well,” she looked down at the sand at their feet for a moment, then looked up again to meet his eyes. “I just really enjoyed helping you solve this art crime. I loved puzzling it out, investigating the clues, and going undercover to catch Olga and Brett. I like the idea of helping people who are in trouble, like you do. And...”

“Yes?”

“I’d like to wait to get married until after I finish up my training at the Police Academy.”

“What?!” Wade exclaimed.

“I’ve decided to become a police officer.”

“But I thought you didn’t even like cops.”

“I didn’t,” she said. “Until I met you.”

Then their lips met and they lost themselves in a passionate kiss as the sun slowly sank beneath the horizon.

***