Page 348 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

“I have a reservation, the name's Dominic DeParma,” he told the hostess.

Her eyes flickered in recognition and she gave them a huge smile. “I have your table waiting for you. Follow me.” She led them to a corner table in the back and he pressed a small box into her hand before he sat down. She held it behind her back as she took their drink orders and gave him a shadow of a wink as she departed.

The waitress appeared shortly to explain the specials. “…and we also have a special item on the menu tonight just for your table.” She went on in the exact same didactic tone she had explained the specials, “It's called the ‘Casado,’ which is a marriage.” She looked at Kate, who had not caught on. “In this case it would be a marriage between you and Dominic DeParma. It comes with a ring and two glasses of champagne and your choice of a meal from the menu.”

Kate blinked several times at the waitress. He found he could not breathe. He should have simply got down on one knee at her place. This public setting proposal may have been creative, but he really was not sure of her answer, which could mean embarrassment for them both. He opened and closed his hands. The best he could hope for was a “maybe” from her at this point.

Kate covered her mouth with one hand in surprise, comprehension dawning on her. “W-what?” she asked shakily.

To hell with it. He'd already hung himself out there, he had no choice but to give it his best. He got out of his seat and dropped to one knee. “Kate, will you marry me?”

Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded wordlessly. The waitress, who had stepped back unobtrusively—probably ready to disappear if things didn't go well—beamed at them. “I'll be right back with that order,” she said brightly, as if she'd been rehearsing that line all night.

They were getting curious smiles from the tables nearby, who couldn't fail to notice a man down on one knee. He stood up and pulled Kate to standing, kissing her fully on the lips. A smattering of applause broke out from their fellow diners.

“Dom,” Kate said in a strangled voice, clinging to him, pressing her cheek against his chest.

“Dolcezza mia.” Then he wished he hadn't chosen a restaurant for his proposal for the simple reason that he wanted to keep her close to him, pressed against his body, breathing in the scent of her freshly cut hair rather than sit down with a table separating their bodies.

But of course they did sit back down. The waitress returned with the little box and two glasses of champagne. He watched Kate's face closely as she opened the box. It lit up. He felt a surge of happiness as she beamed at him and put it on her left ring finger. He held up his glass of champagne to toast. She looked uncertain. He smiled indulgently. “A few sips won't hurt anything, Kate.”

She looked relieved and picked up the glass, clinking it to his. “I'm so happy,” she said in a low, honeyed voice and he felt the truth of it as her pleasure engulfed him like a warm blanket.

His heart surged with love. “Me too, piccolina,” he said.

The waitress appeared and reminded them that they hadn't ordered anything to eat, so they both ordered the chef's pick.

“So I am going to take charge of you, cara mia.”

She smiled at him and he caught the faint scent of her arousal.

“I am sending movers to your house to pack everything and move you into my place.”

“But my lease isn't up till December,” she protested.

He shrugged. “So we might have to pay a penalty. I'll worry about it, all right?”

“I have a cat,” she said, her shoulders bracing as if she expected a fight.

He shrugged again. “I like cats.”

She smiled her brilliant smile.

“I want you to have another appointment with my Feldenkrais practitioner to make sure the bones in your face are all right.”

She smiled demurely. “Whatever you say, Dom,” she said, as if trying on the phrase.

“And I guess we need to research obstetricians and make an appointment for you.” He felt a wave of pain at that thought. He wouldn't be able to be a part of this aspect of her pregnancy—doctors only did business in the daylight.

“What is it?” she asked, noticing his sadness.

He picked up her hand. “I just wish I could go with you, that's all.” He shook his head. “It's all right. It is the first of many, many times I will not be able to include myself in your and our daughter's lives. But I will find other ways to be involved.” He smiled at her weakly. “At least you don't have to worry about who will take the night shift with the baby!”

She grasped his hand tightly. “We'll figure it out. Together. We'll figure it all out,” she said emphatically.

He smiled at her. “Yes, my love. I know we will.”

She liked cooking in Dom's kitchen. No—her kitchen, now. Or soon it would be, anyway. That thought didn't feel right yet, but hopefully it wouldn't take long to settle in here. She cracked six eggs into a bowl and started whipping them, stopping every so often to admire the incredible ring Dom had given her the night before.

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