“Yeah, sure John. Have a good night man.”

“I hope I will.” John said with a small grin. He left the police station and head back to his apartment to shower and change for his date with Evangeline. He had made reservations for them at the Bayberry Inn for 8:30.

Evangeline took the box sitting on her desk and gripped it hard. She grabbed her briefcase and turned out the lights to her office. She closed and locked the door and head down to the garage to her car. She drove home and hopped into the shower to get ready for her date with John. She knew exactly what she was going to do and she hoped he wouldn't say or do anything to make her have to deviate from her plan.

When she stepped out of the shower and into her room to decided what to wear she saw reflection of the ring box sitting in the middle of her bed. She paused for a moment and continued to look in her closet for something to wear. She found a dark pink dress that always drove John crazy. She slipped it on after putting on scented lotion and a light spray of her perfume.

John stepped out of the shower looked at the clock and saw he was running a little earlier. He took time to check his phone for any calls and then finished getting dressed. He put on a magenta color shirt and a black jacket and pair of pants. He slipped on his ankle boots put on his watch and headed out the door. He had no idea what to expect from her, because she was the most unusual person he had ever met and anything could come out of her mouth tonight. He prepared himself for anything as he pulled up to her town house.

Evangeline was putting on her jewelry as she heard John’s car pull up outside her window. A huge smile crossed her face as she hurried to fasten her watch and hook her earrings on her ears. She grabbed the box of the bed as she heard the door bell ring.

“I am coming, hold on, be right there.” She yelled as she hurried down the stairs. She opened the door and saw John standing their with his back to her, he was surveying the street. He is always so protective. “Hey, handsome.” She said in a sexy voice.

“Well, hello there yourself.” He replied turning back to face her. His eyes got huge as he saw what she was wearing. His mouth practically fell to the floor at the same time.

“I take it you like what I am wearing?” she said moving aside so that he could step into her place. He nodded in agreement. She stills had the ring box in her hand but her hands were behind her back so he didn't see it.

“So are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Actually I am not. I was hoping that you could help me put on a piece of jewelry.”

“Sure what is it, your necklace?” He responded stepping closer to her.

“Actually no.” she replied inching even closer to him.

“Sure, what is it?”

She took her hands from behind her back. In her right hand was the velvet box with the engagement ring in it that he had given her hours earlier. She handed him the box with a smile on both of their faces. He knew what she wanted

“Does this mean what I think it means?” he asked taking the box from her.

“Ask me again.” She said laughing.

John got down on bended knee opened the box and said, “Evangeline Williamson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, for the rest of my life?”

As soon as he got down, she started to tear up. This time she wasn't going to cry though. “Yes, John McBain I will marry you. You are stuck with me for the rest of my life.” She said laughing and extending her hand to him. John took the ring out of the box and slowly slipped it on to her hand just to make sure that he was hearing her correctly, he asked her, “Could you say that again?”

“Yes, John McBain I will marry you.” She said throwing her head back laughing at his request.

John stood up, took her hand and held it to his chest. “You will always have my heart.” He said as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. His hands pulled her closer to him and her hands went up his back and landed in to his hair pulling his head closer to hers for a deeper kiss.

“Wow, you are a romantic.” She said laughing in between kisses.

“Hey, now don't let that get around, I have a rep to maintain.” They both laughed at the comment.

“So, now what?” she asked.

“Dinner, remember, we have the dinner plans. And we are already running a little late are you ready to go now?”

“Yeah let me grab my purse.”

John grabbed her coat and turned the lights off in her place and they headed out the door, hand in hand. He opened the car door for her and waited till she had her dress in before he closed the door. He finally exhaled a deep breath as he walked around the back of the car and got into the drivers side. John started up the car and they drove to the Bayberry Inn.

“Where are we going?” she asked quietly.

“Oh, I am sorry I thought I told you. We are having dinner at the Bayberry Inn. Is that okay?”

“Nice choice McBain. You sure are getting good at this romance thing. I like it.” She said grabbing his hand and linking it with hers. He picked up their linked hands and kissed the back of her hand near where her new piece of jewelry sat.

“Did I do good?”

“What is that suppose to mean?”

“I am talking about the ring, you haven't really said anything about it.”

“Oh, John, I am sorry. It is gorgeous. I absolutely love it. It reminds me of you every time I look at it.” She said looking down at the ring and their fingers locked together.

“How so?”

“Well the sapphires on each side remind me of your eyes when you look at me intensely. You know your eyes get that deep of blue right?”

“Only when I am looking at you.” He said turning to kiss her on the cheek.

“Man, you are laying it on thick tonight McBain.” She said with a laugh.

They arrived at the Inn, and took their seat in a private table in the back corner of the restaurant. John had everything planned. He had a bottle of champagne already being chilled for them. John poured them each a class and raised his glass to make a toast. “To our future, may it be long, happy, and filled with a whole lot of sex.” he said laughing.

Evangeline nudged him at the last part of the toast then clinked her glass with his and took a sip of the champagne.

They ordered dinner and talked about who they should tell first about their impending nuptials. They decided to tell, Evangeline’s mother, and John’s mother first at the same time. Then they would tell Michael and Marcie, and then Nora. They figured anyone else that needed to know would learn from Nora and Marcie. After dinner John paid the check and they left heading back to Evangeline’s place. John walked her to the door and they stood on her front steps like two kids who just went out on their first date.

John wrapped his arms around her waist and her arms went around his neck. Then leaned in and let their foreheads and noses touch as they had done so many times before. Evangeline played with John’s soft hair as they stood there for a while with their eyes closed just enjoying being in each others presences.