- CHAPTER 8 -

He opened the door and I was shocked at the changes. It had gone from a plain bathroom to a luxurious bathroom.

He had added a shower big enough for two. I just looked around with my mouth hanging open. I noticed a door on the other side of the sink. He gently pushed me towards it.

I opened the door and walked into a beautifully appointed office. It was painted Caribbean blue and had a tropical feel to it. I turned slowly in a circle and took it all in. "Whose office is this Carlos?" I asked in wonder. "It's yours Babe" he said with a genuine smile on his face.

"But how did you do this? I only agreed to work here full time this morning" I gasped.

"Babe I had this planned for almost a year. I had the guys take care of it while I was gone on my last mission. I had Ella do the decorating since she knows your tastes so well. I've had a plan to add you to the Core Team for over a year. I wanted to show you this now because I don't want you to think I asked you to be a part of the team just because we are together" he said while he held me from behind.

I turned in his arms and kissed him tenderly.

"Thank you Carlos. You don't know what it means to me to have your support and know that you believe in me unconditionally" I told him with tears in my eyes.

"I can't believe you were thinking of me while you were preparing for you mission."

"Babe you're the reason I came back from all of my missions over the last 4 years. No matter where we were in our relationship, I knew I had to come back to you, to keep you safe. Speaking of missions Babe I was saving this for a surprise but I want to tell you now" he steered me over to my couch and sat down while pulling me into his lap, holding my hand."

" My days of being in the wind are over Steph. I chose not to renew my Government contract. I want to start the next phase of my life and just so you know you figure prominently into it."

He lifted my hand and kissed it.

"From now on Steph if I have to be gone I want you to go with me. I don't want to spend even 1 night away from you ever again." He gave me a deep kiss.

He stood up and sat me down on the couch saying "don't move Babe I'll be right back." He went back thru the bathroom door and into his office.

He was back in less than a minute. He walked over to me and knelt down looking into my eyes "Babe, Stephanie I planned on doing this while we were in Miami, but I think now is the time. I love you Steph, more than I ever though possible. I want you in my life in every way. My personal life, my professional life, everyday for the rest of my life Stephanie Michelle Plum will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and give me the humble honor of becoming your husband" he said all this while looking very nervous.

I knelt down in front of him and smiled with eyes brimming with tears "Ricardo Carlos Manoso I would love to be your wife and I would be honored to have you as my husband. Next to my daddy, you are the best man I know."

He pulled us up to our feet and gave me the most tender, loving kiss. The emotion he poured into that kiss told me more than any words could have, what he was feeling at this moment.

The emotions we were feeling took my breath away and I had tears streaming down my face. He kissed away my tears with butterfly kisses on my eyes and cheeks.

We held each other for a long time before he pulled back and said "Babe do you want to see the ring?"

He laughed as my inner Burg girl came rushing out "Damn skippy I wanna see it."

He opened the black velvet ring box and showed me the most exquisite 2 carat emerald cut sapphire in a platinum setting with smaller diamonds on each side.

The wedding band was platinum with sapphires and diamonds inlaid all the way around. His platinum band had "Babe" etched into it in a fancy script.

He pulled my ring out and slid it on my finger as he kissed me deeply "You have made me the happiest man alive Babe" he said with as grin on his face.

"You have made me the happiest woman in the world" I whispered against his lips as we sealed our engagement with a kiss. About this time his phone buzzed between us.

"Sorry Babe duty calls, but we will pick this celebration up later, I promise" he said as he answered his phone.

He held me close to him as he growled "Talk". I could hear Tank on the other end saying "sorry to interrupt Boss but we have a situation that needs your attention".

"I'll be there in 5" he said closing his phone.

"Babe I want to take you out tonight to celebrate. How does Rossini's sound?"

"Sounds wonderful Baby. We should probably go see my parents before we celebrate or I'll never here the end of it. You know the minute we show up at Rossini's the Burg grapevine will be in full swing" I said rolling my eyes.

"How about you go talk to Mary Lou, then we can have lunch with your parents and we can tell them then. We can call my parents and stop by tomorrow on the way to the airport. Sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan. We should stop off at the bond office after lunch so I can tell the girls. I don't want them to find out from someone else. What about the guys? I don't want them to find out elsewhere either. Should we tell them now and swear them to secrecy?" I gushed out.

"Whatever you think Babe" he said walking us towards his office.