Calling Me Home by Louise Bay

suggested we live together. It was what I did at the beginning of every new case I worked on. I found myself at the edge of the city, not too far away from home. Taking a shortcut, I made a left onto Hatton Garden, and into the heart of London’s jewelry district. Stores lined both sides of the road, their windows full of engagement rings. Burly security guards broke up the throng of couples peering into windows. I was about halfway up before a ring caught my eye, and I dared to stop to take a proper look through the glass. I wasn’t sure I’d really noticed an engagement ring until Haven’s. She’d been ecstatically happy with hers, and had thrust it in my face several times. The ring I’d spotted wasn’t small, but it wasn’t huge—certainly not in the same league as Haven’s. It was blue—a sapphire, probably. It wasn’t a traditional engagement ring, but ours wasn’t a traditional love. It looked beautiful without being showy. Like Ashleigh. It had an antique feel to it with a large central square stone surrounded by a ring of tiny diamonds. I grinned. I could imagine it on her finger, both now and in thirty years as she held our grandchildren. It was timeless. I was sure Ashleigh would love it if she ever got to the point where she would consider marrying me.
    “It’s a beautiful piece, isn’t it?” said an elderly woman. She was carrying flowers and making her way into the store.
    “It really is.”
    “Made for a beautiful woman. It’s a platinum setting with an untreated medium-dark stone that’s just under five carats. It’s one of my favorites. It won’t be around long. We only get that design once every few years, and it always sells out within days. Getting a stone like that isn’t easy.”
    “It’s expensive.” I sucked in a slice of air as my eyes focused on the price tag. It wasn’t a spur of the moment purchase. This wasn’t just underwear.
    “It is. Is she worth it?”
    I peeled my gaze away from the ring and looked at the woman. “She really is. I need to . . . think.”
    The woman smiled at me. “Don’t leave it long.”
    When I got home, I found Ashleigh at the breakfast bar in just her underwear and a camisole, poring over her laptop. I’d left her asleep to join Jake on our run.
    “You look good enough to eat,” I said as she swiveled on the stool to face me.
    She uncrossed her legs and parted her thighs, skimming her hands down her milky white skin.
    “Yeah?” She tilted her head and took in a breath. Fuck, she was amazing. I couldn’t resist what was between those perfect legs.
    I moved toward her and skimmed my fingers up her arms. “Yeah,” I whispered into her neck.
    “How was your run? How was Jake?”
    “Good. Interesting.” I’d found the ring I wanted to propose with. I just needed to figure out next steps—a strategy to get it on her finger.
    “Interesting?”
    “Yeah. We were talking about our girls.”
    “You were? That’s cute. What was interesting about it?” She sounded intrigued.
    “Well, I was telling him how I wanted us to move in together.”
    The corners of her mouth turned up, and her eyebrows lifted. I saw surprise, but not horror. “You were? What did Jake say?”
    “That when all the pieces are there, it doesn’t take long to fit them together.” I loved how she looked at me—open and trusting. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” I traced her collarbone with my fingers, enjoying her shivers as I did so.
    “You know what I’m thinking.”
    She was right. “That it’s too soon? That I’ll change my mind?”
    “It’s fast, Luke.” Her words were light and soft as if she were easily persuadable.
    “It’s not that fast. And we’re spending most nights together anyway. You could rent your place out. Paying for business school would be easier.”
    “It feels fast,” she whispered.
    Slowly, I backed away. “Take your underwear off.” I fixated on my prize, staring at the juncture between her thighs. She hesitated,