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Lisa was surprised. Mostly in a positive way, but also in a slightly uncomfortable way. Undoubtedly, Christmas was supposed to be somehow a miraculous time of the year, but this was a little too much. Even for her and her sick sense of humor.

She reached over and grabbed a cookie from the jar on the table. Then she took a bite while her eyes once again focused on her mother. Lisa replayed in her mind the odd scene of Priscilla and Michael pleasantly chatting away throughout the entire lunch. The older Presley had been treating her long despised, loathed former son-in-law as if he was her new best friend. Un-fucking-believable!

“I like your new boyfriend,” she had told Lisa after lunch. “Ethan is so… normal. Such a regular guy. An old-style gentleman, well-educated and so, so handsome, too! I’m marveled, Lisa Marie. And so proud of you. And I just wanted you to know that… Well, I trust my instinct. I feel that he’s good for you.”

Lisa was speechless. She didn’t know if it was because her mother thought it was surprising that she had chosen a man who could be stamped with the approval labeling right away, or because Priscilla had finally realized that Michael was, indeed, handsome. Talk about blinders! Talk about what Lisa had once defined, sarcastically, “a slight prejudice problem”!

She had just stared at her mother without a word, not knowing if she should laugh or just shake her head. Was Priscilla for real? And, most of all, did she have the hots for Michael now?

Her family had arrived in full force earlier that day. Priscilla and her current, much younger boyfriend, who now seemed busy reading a newspaper while sitting by the fireplace, Benjamin and his girlfriend, Riley and her husband, Ben, and finally Lisa’s two twins, Harper and Finley. Lisa still felt overwhelmed and was glad that she had convinced Michael to be there with her right from the get-go.

When the two cars had pulled over, he was standing right next to her on the patio, already entirely in character. Yet, throwing him a glance, Lisa had realized by his stance and stiff posture that he was slightly nervous. She had grabbed his hand, squeezing it.

Michael had looked at her and smiled, exhaling a long sigh.

“Are you happy?”

Lisa had watched him with the sweetest look in her eyes.

“I am. Are you?”

“Very happy… I’m just a bit overwhelmed.” He had cleared his throat. “Come on. Let’s do this.”

Lisa had prepared her family for Ethan’s presence beforehand, telling them what she considered to be the closest version of the truth. She didn’t want to lie to her loved ones more than what was necessary. So, she had told everyone that she had met Ethan a few months earlier and that they were now dating, stating that she genuinely cared about him and expected everyone to make him feel welcome and at ease during their visit, since he was going to spend Christmas with them.

Riley and Ben had sounded surprised and happy – remembering very well how bad their mother looked when she had left for Scotland. They knew how she had needed to distance herself from Los Angeles and the polluted circumstances that had been holding her captive, choking her. The church, the divorce, the medications, the loneliness, the confusion, the anger and pain.

On the other hand, Priscilla had sounded a bit taken aback and not in the best way.

“Are you sure, Lisa Marie? Isn’t it a bit soon to jump headfirst into a new relationship?”

Too bad that it wasn’t a new relationship. Lisa had sighed.

“Mom, please… I know you’re worried, but I’m asking you to stay out of it. Let me make my own choices… since I’m a big girl and all.”

“I’m just worried about you. That’s what mothers do. They worry. How am I supposed to react? You are going through a heinous divorce, and heaven only knows when it will finally be over. Wouldn’t it be best for you to just be on your own for a while?”

Oh, mother. I was alone for seven years. Isn’t that enough?

“Mother, I understand where you’re coming from and I appreciate your concern, I really do. But Ethan is… different. And he makes me feel good. Better than I’ve felt in years. Couldn’t you just be happy for me, for once?”

Priscilla had stayed quiet. After what had happened to Michael, she had softened up quite a lot, especially after realizing the toll that his passing had taken on her daughter.

Lisa had never admitted it openly, but she believed that her mother might have started to realize that her dismissive, hostile attitude towards Michael had been unjustified. She knew that Priscilla had always been sure that Michael was after her daughter only because of her name, her status, and the prestige she carried just for being a Presley. For a long time, Priscilla had been convinced that Lisa was nothing but a trophy for Michael, and a way to give birth to a Jackson-Presley offspring. She had always thought that he was only using Lisa and had done her best to pollute her mind with doubts and suspicions. Plus, there was another “insignificant” problem to add to the list: he was black.

Unsurprisingly, Priscilla had always looked quite ecstatic about the other men in Lisa’s life – especially the last one. The superfluous fourth husband. Who, by the way, had turned out to be the worst man that Lisa could ever marry.

When the details of her separation from Lockwood had finally been discussed, Lisa was sure that Priscilla had been forced to go through some significant reflection. Mother had possibly realized that Michael was not that bad after all. In fact, it might have crossed her mind that he had been the only man who had married her daughter with no other purpose but loving her and wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. That was the reason why the older Presley had mostly stopped talking about him since 2009. Lisa could only hope that she had also stopped hating him, but couldn’t be sure about that. She and her mother had gotten closer, but not that close.

When the family had walked over to the porch, Lisa and Michael welcomed them hand in hand. Lisa had let go of him only to crouch down and take her two little twins into her arms, hugging them tightly. He had observed them with a look of longing and happiness on his face. Then, Lisa had introduced him – as Ethan – to all her family members.

Michael had been perfect, his behavior and interpretation flawless and completely natural, and Lisa had immediately noticed how his gentleman attire, his polite words and calm demeanor seemed to impress everyone. Especially her mother.

“Lisa told me so much about you,” Priscilla had said, watching Michael straight in the eyes, carefully hidden behind the usual photochromic lenses.

He had shaken her hand gently.

“It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Presley… Merry Christmas.”

He had also bowed his head a bit for good measure, and Lisa had repressed a smirk. He was so full of shit!

Both Benjamin and Riley had greeted Ethan in a friendly manner. They had studied him for a second, assessing if he was good enough for their mother, but had otherwise looked peaceful and unfazed. They were taking the situation just for what it was. That was their mom’s new boyfriend? Cool. He seemed nice. Fair enough. For now.

Being only eight years old, Harper and Finley had looked shy and slightly uncomfortable before a stranger. Michael had noticed their discomfort and, bending over, had extended his gloved hand to them.

“Hi. My name is Ethan and I am a friend of your mom’s. You must be Harper… and you, Finley. Did I get it right?”

He had smiled at them, and the twins had smiled back at him instinctively, shaking his hand. Michael was a great dad and naturally empathetic, very charming and genuinely lovely. Lisa knew that his behavior with kids had always been nothing but impeccable. It warmed her heart to see that trait of his character emerge again with her babies.

Within five minutes both girls were completely smitten, and began interacting with him and engaging him in their banters. That was not surprising either. Yet at that very moment, the only thing Lisa wanted was take his hand, pull him up and shower his face with kisses. The gratitude and love she felt for that man were overwhelming.

Instead, she just stood there and inhaled the marvelous feeling of having all the people she loved here all in the same place, at the same time, for once.

 

 

Christmas Day had been perfect. Everyone seemed at ease; the snow outside had rendered the view exceptionally quiet and peaceful, the talk was pleasant, the food was excellent, the wine even better.

Michael only took a glass, probably worried about letting his guard down a little too much with the aid of a bit of alcohol. He was aware that he was being scrutinized, but everything was going smoothly and, after a couple of hours, nobody was paying attention to him anymore. If he had felt like an outsider for a moment, soon the warming feeling of being at home had timidly crept into him. He had forgotten about that kind of emotions and just enjoyed his first Christmas celebration in years. Sitting next to Lisa during lunch, several times he felt her hand on his thigh, under the table, caressing him. I’m here, her touch said, you’re not alone. Not anymore.

He was also amazed and what he was looking at. The situation was surreal and familiar at the same time.

Riley and Ben had become two amazing young adults, well-spoken and accomplished, and yet he marveled at how many memories their mere presence evoked. Him dropping Ri off at school or swimming with the kids in the pool at Hidden Hills – his and Lisa’s home at the time of their marriage. Them spending their first and last Christmas together as a real family and then a few others, in the following years, as… he didn’t even know how to define what the heck he and Lisa were at that time. He just knew how good those memories made him feel, and how he longed to be with his kids, how much he would have wanted them there. Michael felt so good that he could even tolerate Priscilla’s presence.

After a few hours, Michael realized that even Priscilla kind of approved his presence in Lisa’s life. That was the joke of the century, but he was pleasantly surprised. After all, not being Michael Jackson was probably enough to be appreciated by her former mother-in-law. It was hilarious, yet he took his role very seriously – knowing well that not having Priscilla dislike him or, even better, having her by his side – gasp! – could be a great asset. So, he worked hard at making himself likable the moment he grasped that the lady was indeed appreciative of his presence. For hours they spoke about art, blues music and philosophy, and at one point Lisa’s hand under the table pinched him on the thigh.

Slowly and without missing a beat, Michael turned to look at her and grinned. Lisa smiled back at him and blinked.

“Ethan, why don’t you help me out with the champagne?”

“Absolutely, sweetheart.”

He put his napkin on the table and pushed his chair back, offering her his hand as she stood up. They walked together to the kitchen and she closed the door, resting her back against it.

Michael leaned against the kitchen counter, his hands in his pockets.

“It’s going good, right?”

He narrowed his eyes and smirked when he noticed the look in her eyes. When she spoke, her voice low and husky, charged with an electricity that he recognized right away.

“Come here…”

Michael walked over to her and placed his hands on the smooth wooden surface, on both sides of Lisa’s body, effectively managing to keep the door closed in the slim chance someone decided to walk in. He bent his head and captured her mouth in a silent, deep kiss. She grabbed him by the hem of his vest and pulled him into her.

“Fuck, I want you,” Lisa whispered against his lips.

Michael raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Behave…”

“I don’t wanna behave. I’ve been a good girl for hours. I wanna be bad. And I want my man. You’re so fucking sexy… you have no idea what it does to me to watch you be so fucking good at everything you do. How much you turn me on. How do you do it? Tell me… No, wait… kiss me, first.”

Another passionate kiss and he tried to ignore the fire starting to spread in his lower abdomen.

“Later, baby girl… Later you’re gonna show me just how much you want your man.”

Her man. How he loved the sound of it.

“But Mike… I don’t know how much longer I can wait… this horniness is killing me.”

He giggled.

“Lise, you should probably stop with the wine. It’s giving your Tourette’s.”

This time it was her turn to laugh, her forehead resting against his. He was still so silly. She smoothed down the soft fabric of his vest and then fixed his tie.

“Alright… here. See? I’m a good girl…”

“No, you’re just good at being bad. On a side note… Your mother likes me.” His grin widened, “I mean, isn’t it crazy?”

Lisa made a face.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed. She better stop with the dreamy eyes.”

He snorted in amusement.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not sure. But she’s giving you the look. And I’m sorry Michael, but it’s gross. And inappropriate.”

He smiled and watched her, from one eye to the other.

“Well, at least we know she won’t do anything to keep me away from you, this time.”

Right on cue, somebody knocked on the door, and they flew apart like two teenagers. Lisa spun around and opened the door while Michael pretended to be busy retrieving two champagne bottles and examining the labels.

“Hey mom, I was…” Riley moved a couple of unsure steps into the kitchen. “…I’m sorry, am I interrupting something?”

“No, baby. Of course not. We were almost done here.” Lisa glanced at Michael. “Right, Ethan?”

“Sure,” he replied casually, the bottles still in his hands. “Almost done.”

Riley watched him and then her mother.

“Cool… Mom, grandmother needs to speak to you.”

“Yeah? Right now? Um, OK… Ethan, can you take care of this on your own?”

“Sure. I know where the glasses are. Do your thing.”

Lisa walked out and, out of the corner of his eye, Michael noticed that Riley had decided to stay. Weird. He acknowledged her presence with a polite smile, then got busy placing the glasses on the kitchen counter, opening a cabinet and retrieving a large tray.

“So… Mom told me that you’re an art dealer…”

Riley walked over and spoke in a very even tone. He glanced over at her, then began to place the crystal glasses on the tray one by one.

“Yes, exactly.”

“In that case… I’m sure you know the value of something unique and irreplaceable. You know how precious it is, and how essential it is to keep it safe and unharmed…”

Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept smiling politely at his former daughter-in-law. Who had always been very smart. And straightforward too.

“I guess I do, yes.”

“Can you do me a favor, then?”

Riley moved a few steps closer to him, and he stopped in his tracks, turning around and pushing his hands into his pockets. OK. Time to face the music, because this little girl right here was just like her mom. She just wouldn’t relent.

“Of course…”

He watched her straight in the eyes, noticing how much they looked like Lisa’s. They were sharp, intelligent. Eyes that couldn’t easily be fooled.

“I’m asking you to treat my mom like the best work of art you’ve ever laid your eyes on.”

Riley’s tone was serious, and he felt taken aback by the undercurrent of concern he heard in her voice. Knowing her and remembering well how intuitive and sensitive she had always been, Michael realized that she was probably apprehensive about her mother. After all that had happened, it couldn’t be any different.

“Riley… to me, your mother is way more precious than anything I’ve seen in any art gallery or museum,” he replied, and he was candid.

Riley just stared at him for a long time.

“She went through so much. Life took so much away from her… I don’t know if you have any idea of what she had to endure.”

Michael didn’t reply but closed his eyes for a moment. Oh, yes. He thought he had a fairly good idea of what Lisa had gone through. Of what they all had gone through.

“She’d kill me if she knew I’m telling you these things and talking to you like this. And I know it’s not my business and that I should just butt out. But still… I love her very much, and I want to be sure that she’s OK, especially since we’ll go back home very soon and she won’t. She’ll stay here… with you.”

“I know you do,” Michael replied softly. “I know you love her very much.”

“I just need to make sure that she’s safe with you. You won’t hurt her, right? You won’t use her.”

He shook his head slowly.

“I won’t.”

Riley frowned and cocked her head to a side, studying him.

“Do you love her?”

Michael took a second to think about the answer and decided to just go with the truth.

“Yes. I do love her.”

“Because she does love you, you know?” She smiled very softly. “I know my mom… I hadn’t seen her like this in a very long time… In fact, I didn’t think I would see her like this ever again. This happy… I mean, I was just a kid back then, but I remember…”

She blinked and watched him.

“…I remember so well. I thought she had lost that spark for good when…”

She stopped talking suddenly, and her smile slowly faded from her lips. Her eyes didn’t leave Michael’s. He observed her and it was like seeing a bulb light up.

In turn, he suddenly felt deprived of his mask. Exposed. Yet he couldn’t look away.

“I remember how she looked when…” Riley resumed, and then her voice disappeared once again as she stared at him, scanning his face cautiously. She blinked and frowned and then her blue eyes widened in disbelief. He heard her hold her breath for a moment and turned his head, placing another glass on the tray. Hiding his eyes from her in pure self-preservation.

Then he felt Riley’s hand on his forearm and stopped mid-track. As if an electric force was pulling him, he turned to her again. Her eyes were teary now, her bottom lip quivered, and her brow furrowed as if she was experiencing intense pain. Or extraordinary relief. Michael swallowed and sucked his bottom lip into his mouth.

Then she threw herself into his arms.

At first his body stiffened. He didn’t know what to do, how to react or where to place his hands. When she sniffled and rested her cheek against his chest, he gently hugged her without saying a word. He patted her back.

Riley knew.

 

 

It was almost three in the morning when Michael turned the key and quietly stepped into Lisa’s house. It was dark and peaceful. Everyone was asleep. He walked over to the master bedroom silently, noticing a dim light filter from under the door. She was waiting for him.

When he opened the door, Lisa smiled at him from the bed and closed the book she was reading, placing it on the nightstand. She wore a white satin underskirt, and her long hair caressed her naked shoulders.

“Welcome home, baby.”

He savored her voice, the way it caressed him. He closed the door behind his back with one hand and started to loosen his tie with the other.

“Hi, baby girl…”

He stopped at the foot of the bed and stared at her quietly. His hair was uncombed and he no longer had his glasses on, but still wore the same clothes he had on when, a few hours earlier, he had wished goodnight to Lisa’s family after a light and pleasant Christmas dinner. Lisa had asked him to come back after a few hours – not wanting to spend another night without him, and Michael had felt relieved. Needless to say, the day had been intense for both of them.

“Is Riley OK?”

He took off his jacket and unbuttoned his vest. He loosened his tie.

“She is. She is ecstatic, actually. Upset, but happy.”

“Do you think she’ll be able not to let it slip?”

“I am sure she will,” Lisa replied calmly. “But you still have to tell me how she managed to blow your cover in the first place.”

Michael had finished unbuttoning his white shirt. He started unbuckling his belt and kicked away his shoes.

“Honestly? I have no idea… She just did… Just like you.”

He smiled and Lisa shook her head, smiling herself and rubbing her forehead in disbelief.

“Well… She’s smart.”

“Lise… What did she tell you?”

He glanced at her while he removed his socks.

“Not much… just that she felt that it was you. You two were so close when she was little, and she has always loved you very much, so maybe… I don’t know…”

“Something just triggered in her mind. Or maybe she’s just intuitive.”

“Yeah… And it only took her half a day to figure it out… I’m not sure if I should be relieved or worried.”

“Well, you tell me.” He stood in front of her, wearing only his t-shirt and boxers. “You think she’ll be able to manage?”

“I think we’ll be good… I mean, at least as far as Riley is concerned. She is trustworthy and gets why things must stay the way they are. She totally understands your position, and she wants to protect you… In fact, I am sure she’ll protect both of us.”

“What about Benjamin Storm?”

He lay down on the bed with a sigh. Since the first night they had slept together, they had automatically resumed their exact positions during their marriage and relationship: Lisa on the right side of the bed, Michael on the left. Funny how some things seemed to never change. And funny how good such simple things could make him feel.

“Ri says he has no clue.” Lisa smiled and turned on the side, facing him, resting her hand on his chest. “But you know how you males are, sometimes… You just need a little more time.”

Michael giggled.

“Nut.”

Lisa’s hand slid down his abdomen and then under the fabric of his t-shirt, touching his warm, smooth skin. Something she had craved to do for the entire day.

“On the other hand, we girls always know everything we need to know…” She raked her nails on the firm, tight abs of Michael’s lower abdomen, pulling at the elastic band of his boxers and then letting it go. “And we also know what we want…”

“Yeah?” He raised an eyebrow and covered her hand with his own, pushing it under the fabric of his underwear. He was already turned on by her mere presence, and smiled when he saw her close her eyes for a second. “…That’s weird. I think I know exactly what I want.”

“And what is it that you want, big guy?”

Lisa’s voice dropped, and her sexy drawl made Michael’s insides flutter in anticipation. All his blood suddenly went south.

“Well…” He let go a long sigh as his grip on Lisa’s hand tightened, his hips pushing up and into her palm. “…I want you to show me exactly how much you want your man. See? I still have a good memory.”

“I’m glad dementia hasn’t kicked in yet, grandpa.” Lisa grinned lazily and came to sit astride him, one hand still massaging his penis, the other one helping him take his t-shirt off.

“Grandpa?” Michael smiled. “You’re so disrespectful…”

That lopsided grin that he adored. There it was.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mike… Did I hurt your feelings?”

“You’re walking on a thin line, here… I’m warning you.”

His smirk stayed in place even though keeping himself in check was getting harder by the second, with her hand in his boxers stroking him firmly, just like he liked it.

“What are you gonna do about it? Would you discipline me if I was acting bratty?”

“Oh, baby… you know I would. In fact…” In a swift motion, Michael reversed their positions and Lisa found herself pinned under his body. “…I think your unruly attitude is unacceptable.”

He had always been way stronger than he looked but now, with his bulkier and more muscular physique, opposing him was quite a feat. She tried to move and realized that she couldn’t. Pangs of pure lust swept her away, knowing well that his dominance in bed was, after all, only apparent. She was the one setting the rules, allowing him to do just what he knew she would accept. But she loved to let him feel in control.

“Mike… knowing that you can completely overpower me makes me so crazy horny… Especially because I know I’m always safe with you…”

She raised her head from the pillow and nipped at his lower lip, forcing him to open his mouth, meeting his tongue in a deep, passionate kiss. All the while, she felt him get even fuller between her legs and pushed his boxers down until he took them off. Oh yeah – he had power over her body, but she had power over him, too. That old dance never changed.

Michael pushed up her underskirt and Lisa quickly got rid of it. She needed nothing in between her skin and Michael’s. Glancing down at her, he realized that she was completely naked.

“Lisa…”

She grabbed his head and pulled him down, kissing him longingly, raking her fingers through his hair, caressing his cheeks and then grazing down his neck, grabbing his shoulders as his head lowered and he took her nipples into his mouth, first one and then the other. Lisa threw her head back and repressed a moan. They were not alone in the house and, for a second, she remembered how quiet they had to be during their passionate nights at Hidden Hills, when they were married. And even after their divorce.

Michael’s hand found her warmth and, this time, she couldn’t suppress a whimper. He looked up at her, his breath uneven.

“Lise… Don’t make a sound until I tell you to… and if you do, I’m going to stop and wait until you can be quiet again, like a good girl.”

She just stared at him and bit her lip. Then she nodded her head.

“…There you go… spread those pretty legs for me, baby…

His voice stroked her inner chords with that low and velvety tone that she adored, and she complied.

Michael entered her almost immediately, in one slow, steady motion that made her eyes roll back in pain and pleasure. Mostly pleasure. She grabbed his shoulders and, with immense effort, found the strength to open her eyes and look at him again, her lips pursed, trying hard not to let out any sound. That familiar dimple between his eyebrows was visible, as it always happened when he was focused or going through an immense exertion.

He stood still for a moment, pulled back with a slow drag, then rammed into her body once again. Her mouth opened and she took in a long breath, gulping for air.

“Now talk to me… Tell me what you feel…” Michael whispered, and Lisa exhaled in relief, grabbing his head and kissing him again, hard.

She put her lips near his ear.

“Your cock feels so… fucking… good…” The contrast between her gentle whisper and the rawness of her words almost pushed him over the edge. “Take what’s yours… Come on baby, give me that thing… Bring it home.”

The latest bit of self-control that he had struggled so hard to keep slipped away. He started to move as if his life depended on it, pushing his hips into her and then gyrating them the way he knew she loved. He changed his pace and angle, spellbound by the way her body responded to his movements, like a choreographed dance they had practiced to perfection. When he felt her start to tense, holding him even tighter inside her body, he pulled out with a low moan and lowered his head on her, finishing her off with his mouth and tongue and loving the way she kept his head down.

“Shit! Fuck… Oh, God. I love you, Michael…”

She barely breathed out the words. He kissed a path up her body, stopping on her breasts for a while until she pulled him up, reclaiming his mouth. He felt her hips rise, capturing him again, and closed his eyes while he pushed into her one more time. She was scorching hot, pulsing, and staying quiet was becoming harder and harder. He started to move vigorously, knowing well that he would not be able to last long.

Her eyes opened. They were an ocean of clear water.

“Tell me, baby…Tell me what it feels like.”

Her breath was uneven and quick. And just like that, the balance of their roles in bed moved along the spectrum between dominance and submission, shifting just enough to make everything unpredictable and new.

“Oh, damn… you’re so tight, Lise… Scorching hot… You feel amazing… You’re heaven. I love you so much…”

“Say it again, Michael… I wanna hear your voice.”

Her eyes became glossy. Michael winced, realizing that she was climaxing again by the way her body trembled. By the way she struggled to keep her eyes open and fixed into his.

“I love you,” he repeated, shattering under the constant assault of the intense pleasure.

Lisa found his mouth and kissed him.

“You’re making me come again, baby…”

She held him so tight inside of her that he could barely move. But it was enough. Her words were his undoing. And when he reached her right where she was, in the white haze, it felt as if not a single day had passed, as if he had never experienced any pain, or loneliness, or humiliation. Everything was forgiven. Everything was forgotten. Love had swallowed all evil.

Afterward they dozed off together, entwined like two perfect pieces of a puzzle, Michael still inside Lisa’s body. A few hours later, when she woke up, he was gone and on his pillow stood a small velvet box, used as a paperweight on a carefully folded note.

Raking her fingers through her hair, Lisa reached for it, emotions flowing through her and awakening each one of her cells.

 

“Lisa,

I sneaked back home, fearing your mother would catch me in bed with you. It would have destroyed all the progress I made with her yesterday, don’t you think? I am under the impression that me running butt-naked in the snow would be quite distasteful, given the circumstances.

You are so beautiful when you sleep. Too beautiful. That’s why I’ve decided not to wake you up to give you my Christmas present. You’ll find it in the morning. It’s nothing compared to what I feel for you. I’m a slave to your love.

I will see you in a few hours.

PS: I hope our hornymoon won’t end anytime soon. I love you.”

 

He was nuts. And she was so in love with him.

Smartly enough, the note was merely signed with an M., as in Michael, but also Murphy. Lisa smiled, blinking away the tears, and carefully weighed the velvet box in her hand. She sat up and watched the snow falling outside the window for a long moment. The room was quiet.

She took a deep breath and opened the box. The sight of the Trinity Ruban platinum and diamond solitaire ring welcomed her, and she pressed the palm of her hand over her mouth.

Chapter song