Last Chance Proposal by Barbara Deleo

fingers up his back until they rested on his shoulder.
    He hadn’t been aware of lusting after her in the hall, but his body was doing a pretty good impression of feeling that way about her right now.
    Betty nodded. “I’ve always said you can tell a man’s intentions by the way his voice changes when he talks to his sweetheart, and that’s exactly what happens with you, Cy.”
    He held Ellie’s gaze. “Ellie would make any guy speechless, don’t you think, Betty?” The tiny grin at the corner of Ellie’s mouth slipped as she blinked and looked away. She was feeling something, too.
    “And we haven’t seen the ring!” Betty took her arm and Ellie dropped her hand from his hair.
    A ring. He hadn’t thought of that. They’d pick one out when they went to Auckland for the marriage license.
    “We’re getting married in Auckland after New Year’s. In fact, we’re going there on the twenty-ninth to make wedding arrangements, so maybe we’ll get one then,” Ellie said. “Cy needs to be back in the States for a few months and we’d prefer to get married here before we go. I’ll be keeping a sharp eye on the council and the renovations from there, though.”
    Betty drew a camera out of the navy-blue handbag on her wrist. “Now, I want a photo of you for my album. I have one of you both when you came to help me clear my front yard after a storm one year. It’d tickle my fancy to be able to put a snap of you newly engaged beside it.” She shooed the group to the side and took a step back.
    Cy put his arm around Ellie’s shoulder and she shuffled closer and turned, her soft breasts pressing into his side.
    Betty beamed. “A kiss, please.”
    Ellie whispered under her breath, “Oh, no!”
    He looked down into her face and whispered back. “I can make an excuse.” He winked. “Or we could make the best of it.”
    “I’ve just put fresh lipstick on,” she said to Betty in a helpless voice and the older lady scoffed.
    “What else is lipstick for than to be kissed off by a man as handsome as Cy?” She waved them together and lifted the camera to her eyes. “Hurry up before the light changes.”
    He reached out and put his palms on Ellie’s shoulders, his hands molding to the shape of her body.
    She tilted her head to the side and the only sound was the screeching song of a cicada in the branch above them. For some inexplicable reason he didn’t want to get this wrong. His heart was beating stronger, his blood moving more quickly.
    Gently, he cupped her face in his hands. Her lips were plump and dusky, and a little moist from the remnants of beer. He leaned closer and her pupils dilated. He hoped she wanted to kiss him in that second, just as much as he wanted to lose himself in her.
    Betty’s shriek stopped them dead. “Oh, for the love of Michael! The batteries are dead! Do you have some I could borrow, Ellie?”
    They both turned to her and Ellie stepped away, the warmth of her cheeks still imprinted on his fingertips. Ellie rearranged her tank top as a blush trailed across her face. “I’m sure there must be some in the house, Betty. I’ll take a look for you later. Why don’t I pass some nibbles around?”
    “Thanks, but you’ll still owe me that shot.”
    Betty turned to talk to the guy next to her and Cy tried to catch Ellie’s eye. She wouldn’t look at him. What had happened just then was so much more than make believe, and it threw a whole new complication into their plan. He held back a groan. He’d have to keep a lid on it for now—no way would he give in to a rogue attraction and risk scaring Ellie off before he’d gained custody of his son.
    “Oh, there you are.” Fleur joined them, waving a pair of tongs in her hand. Ellie had told him that her sister knew about the marriage, and although he hadn’t spoken to Fleur about it himself, he had the impression that she didn’t think it was such a great idea.
    “Won’t your parents be proud of your sister, Fleur?” Betty said