Chapter 12

Izzy bit her nails as she watched Dayton read one of her manuscripts.

After talking with Tophyr she went back to their house and unpacked her clothes to wash. She had rummaged through her closet and pulled out the crate of notebooks that house her manuscripts. When dinner was ready, her laundry done, and she had showered, she grabbed one of the notebooks and walked the few blocks to Dayton's.

He had been surprised when he opened the door and there she stood. He had stepped back and let her in. He even had allowed her to explain. Their agreement had been he would read her manuscript if she would cook dinner and agree to eat it with him.

Dinner was done and now she was sitting at the bar munching on a chunk of garlic bread she had made to go with the lasagna. He was still engrossed in her manuscript. It made her wish she could read his mind so she could figure out what he was thinking. Then again that would take the fun out of it so she swung her legs impatiently.

After Saturday night out on the town, they had gone the airport on Lake Pontchartrain to come home. The flight wasn't as comfortable as the whole trip had been. They were both thinking of the question he had asked the night before. Neither one could bring it up to the other so they just let it waver between them.

Izzy jumped when Dayton slammed the notebook shut. She watched him stand and then walk over to her. He leaned down and kissed her, ultimately silencing the question on her tongue.

"That was great," he murmured when he pulled back.

She laughed. "Which part?"

He smiled. "Both." She crinkled her nose. He held up the notebook in one hand. "This was amazing. You really should get it published."

"That's what I've been trying to do." She wrung her hands. "What did you think?"

Dayton slid onto the bar stool. "You have a gift and it should be shared. I know understand why you were reticent about saying yes. Your mom didn't know your dad that well when they got married, did she?"

Izzy stared at the island and shook her head. "No, she didn't. She was young and he was charismatic. She figured if she married him she'd understand the world. What she found was he was an enigma and she spent the rest of her married life trying to figure out who the real Christopher was. When she had Drake and me, she tried to instill in us what she wanted in her marriage. My college professors told me to write what I know." She shrugged. "This is all I know."

"It's very well written and I think it would sell."

"There's only one problem. I don't have the money to self-publish."

"I could always help you." She looked at him with her hand under her chin. "My proposal is still on the table, Izzy."

"Even after you read that, you still want to marry me?" He nodded solemnly. She started to chew on her lip as she mulled it over. "If I say yes…"

"If you say yes, I can promise you I will never do to you what your brother and your father did. I can promise to stand by your side no matter what you want to do but I will be honest if I don't like it."

"It also means that I'll be your escort to every function you have to go to as a Manhattan socialite."

He shrugged. "Only if you want to. I don't even go to some of them, just the ones Jim says are important for the company."

She frowned. "What about the ones your mother goes to?"

"She learned long ago not to force my brother or me into anything we didn't want to do. We have our father's stubbornness and she doesn't want to deal with that on good days."

He smiled when she laughed then took her hands in his. "Marry me, Izzy, and never worry about where your next meal or where rent for the month is coming from ever again."

Izzy tugged once on her hands and he let them go. Her feet dropped to the floor and she leaned into him, framing his face in her hands. He didn't move as she looked into his eyes for any sign that he was lying. If he was, she was going to walk away and never look back. She couldn't have another man in her life that was going to lie to her. It would crush her.

Finding nothing to hold against him, she stepped back. "Ever since I got out of college, I've always wanted a place to call home, a good career writing books, and a loving husband." She paused and looked around the room. "If I asked you to walk away from everything you love, such as the socialite status and your money, would you do it?"

Dayton stood and followed her across the room. Once again taking her hands he pressed them against his chest so she could feel the fluttering of his heart. "Isabelle Peters, if you asked me to turn away from everything I know –my family's money, my status as a Manhattan socialite, my career- I would gladly give it up because you would be my wife and I'd respect your decision."

Izzy looked down at her hands. The only jump in his pulse had been when he placed her hands on his chest. Now his heart was thumping expectantly. She bit her lip as she leaned in to him. This time when their lips met, it was a little more tentative than

the first time. It was for her to see if he would take charge like he did last time or let her lead. To her relief he allowed her to lead.

She sighed when she pulled back but she let her forehead rest against his. "Why so soon? We've only known each other for a few weeks."

"But I've felt like I've known you my entire life. It's in your writing. And it feels right. Plus we can get to know each other while we're married." He tugged her closer. "Marry me, Izzy, and I can make you as happy as Tophyr."

As happy as Tophyr. That was very happy considering Tophyr had her education, owned an art gallery, painted, was married to the man she loved and was expecting a baby. Tophyr was the happiest woman she knew and that was a kind of happiness she wanted in her life.

She looked up at him and nodded. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you."

Dayton's smile was so big that she swore it would split his face. He laughed as he picked her up and swung her around. When he set her on the ground again, he kissed her soundly. A few seconds later he made a sound in the back of his throat and pushed her away gently. He dug around in his jeans pocket and pulled out something. Izzy watched as he opened his palm and held out a ring. She looked at him.

"Do I have to put it on myself?" He laughed and slid it on her left ring finger. When it was in place she lifted her hand to look at it. "How did you know my ring size?"

"It was a good guess." He watched as she moved away from him to collect her things. "Where are you going?"

"I have an engagement ring on my finger. Where do you think I'm going?"

He nodded knowingly. "You're going to tell Tophyr. I got it."

"Hey, Dayton."

"Yeah?"

"Can we get married at the court house instead of having a huge wedding? I don't feel like making the engagement announcement and then having to deal with everyone."

"What do you want to do?"

"Let's get married at the court house then put the wedding announcement in the paper like a week later. That way we can deal with the questions of why we didn't tell anyone instead of everyone fussing about when it will be."

He thought about it and nodded. "Okay, but we'll need two people to be witnesses."

"Why do you think I'm telling Tophyr? Plus we'll have to have the dogs there as well."

Dayton looked at Dublin as he lay on his doggie bed. The Irish setter's tail thumped at the mention of his name.

He laughed. "Sounds fine to me. Hey." She turned around and he kissed her. "See you later."

She smiled shyly. "Bye." Then she turned and left the flat, closing the door gently.

Standing alone in his living room, realization hit Dayton. "I'm getting married."