"Come on, tell me."

"No, Greg."

"Who was this mystery woman?"

"Greg, seriously I'm not telling you anything. Especially not at work, where other people would hear and pass it back to Renee."

Nick was tired and sweaty – July had not been kind to Las Vegas – and desperately trying to shake the younger man from his tracks as he worked his way around the torched Lincoln in the CSI garage, looking for evidence that could be processed.

"Why won't you say anything?"

"Greg, we have a car in front of us that is a major piece of evidence in a double homicide, do you think we could keep our minds on it?"

"Can I at least see her? I think as Renee's older brother, I should be entitled to see what you're giving up my sister for."

That one had Nick stopping cold. "Her? You think I'm seeing another woman?"

"Yeah, you know, Anastasia, the one you had a date with last Saturday afternoon. I heard the message she left."

Nick swallowed deeply. He hadn't wanted to get into it with anyone until it was done, but now he was left with no choice. "That would be Anastasia Bellerose, my jeweller, who I also might add is in a long term relationship with her girlfriend Katrina."

"Jeweller?"

"Yeah." After looking around to make sure no one would hear him, Nick walked around the hood of the car and pulled a piece of paper from his jeans pocket. "She helped me design Renee's ring."

Greg stared blankly. "What now?"

"Her engagement ring, you idiot, take a look. I wanted her to have something unique. My appointment with Anastasia was to pick it up on Saturday before Renee and I leave for Iowa."

"And you're giving her that in Iowa?"

"Yeah." Giddy as a schoolboy and just as nervous now, Nick stuffed the paper back into his pocket. "My sister Riana invited us up to her farm for part of our vacation time, which just happens to be outside of Dyersville."

Greg looked at his friend like he'd lost his damn mind. "What the hell does that mean to me?"

"Dyersville Iowa is the place where they filmed Field of Dreams, Renee's favourite movie. I'm giving her that ring at home plate of the Field of Dreams baseball diamond."

"You're serious."

"Greg, that ring cost me about two months worth of salary. Of course I'm serious."

Greg stood there for about two seconds before embracing Nick tightly in what he hoped passed for a manly brotherly hug. "That's awesome dude."

"Yeah, now if I can just remember to not freeze like the last time I wanted to, I'll be fine."

"Whoa, whoa, the last time?"

"Yeah, I was going to ask her on the Fourth of July, but it was just…it didn't….well the idea of proposing with fireworks in the background, not too classy. This is much better."

"Yes, why say 'Please be mine forever' in glittering explosives when you can do it in the middle of a cornfield?"

"Shut up and get back to work."

Renee could sense something was up. It had just started now, within the last half of an hour. They'd had a great time visiting with Nick's sister and her husband and doing the farmer's marktet that morning in town, but now... She couldn't tell exactly what, but she could tell when after dinner with Riana and Shawn when Nick pointedly turned down cherry cheesecake. Her man never turned down cheesecake, especially cherry. Instead, he'd told her he had a surprise for her and proceeded to blindfold her with a kitchen towel before she even got in the car. Now, as they were slowing down in the country, Renee could tell by the amount of crickets, she merely sat patiently and waited to be helped out of the car.

"You know," she began as Nick took her hand and guided her forward, "If you're thinking outdoors sex, you're going to be mightily disappointed."

"I'm all for experimentation honey, but I think this surprise hits a little less on the loins, closer to the heart."

He removed the blindfold then, and as Renee opened her eyes, she felt her mouth drop open in shock.

"Oh, my God, Nick! Do you know what this place is? It's the Field of Dreams, baby!" she shrieked in delight as she spun in a wide circle. He'd walked her out to the home plate so she was standing in the batter's box. Beyond the edges of the field were the clapboard white farmhouse and the signature cornfields where the disgraced Chicago Black Sox had emerged from in cinematic wizardry. For Renee it was too much. She bounded over to Nick, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Thank you so much, this is beautiful."

"Well, I didn't think we could come to Iowa and not visit this piece of cinematic history. You've have my head on a platter." Knowing the moment had arrived, Nick reached into his pocket with a not-quite steady head. "How about a quick pitch or two?"

"Oh, honey, but Riana's expecting us back soon."

"It won't take long. Here, catch." So saying, he lobbed the custom-designed box, which looked like a baseball, into Renee's waiting hands.

Renee caught it, felt the edges. It wasn't a real baseball, but a jeweller's box designed to look like one. Intrigued she opened it and for the second time that night, her heart did a double bounce.

Inside was a diamond ring, with a centre emerald-cut stone hugged by two princess cuts all on a platinum band. She stared at it, and then looked up at Nick with open mouthed wonderment as the tears began to fill in her eyes. Before he could say a word, Renee launched herself into his arms, showering kisses on his face, as the waterworks began to crank up.

Nick wrapped his arms around her, his voice shaky. "I had a little speech prepared."

"Oh we both know neither of us could have lasted through it."

"Renee, I have never met anyone like you in my entire life. You make me tow the line without even realizing you do, you have nothing but compassion for the kids you work with, and you keep everyone around you on their toes." Nick took the ring from her then, and taking her hand ever so gently, slid the band onto her finger. He fought as hard as he could, but one tear still managed to sneak it way past his guard. "I got into science and forensics because I like puzzles, and I love you because you are a constant puzzle to me. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you, trying to figure it out. Will you marry me?"

"Yes," Renee whispered, afraid her graceful tears might turn into full on joyful wailing. Instead she opted for an elated shriek. "Oh my god, yes!"

They kissed then, each full of nothing but pure love and joy, and as Nick picked Renee up, swung her around in his arms, they made a single silhouette against the mid-west sunset.