Free Enigma Black by Sara Furlong-Burr

to move in together?” he asked curiously.
    “My guess is that you’re enjoying this just as much as I am.”
    “Immensely.”
    Even though we’d been together for two years, the whole idea of the big “C”—
    commitment for those brave enough to use the word—scared the hell out me. It wasn’t as if I imagined my life without Chase, because I didn’t. I was just afraid of the unknown. I’d never been married, nor had I ever lived with anyone I’d been in a relationship with, so the whole prospect was rather frightening.
    “I don’t know. I was always taught that people should be married before they live together,” I asserted in an attempt to grab hold of the topic and steer it over a cliff.
    “So… you want to get married?”
    “No… no… oh, my God, no …. I mean… you mean... right now?”
    He laughed. “Not this very second, but thanks for the confidence booster.”
    “Chase, you know how I feel.”
    “I know. You’re afraid of commitment, and I think that’s the most intriguing thing in the world because I’ve never met another woman who seemed to have that problem.” He rolled over to face me, cupping my cheek with his hand. “I also know that the majority of that issue stems from the loss of your family. Trust me Celaine, come hell or high water, I’m not going anywhere. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”
    “Promise?”
    “I promise.”
    I leaned in to kiss him as he ran his finger tips from my neck down to my back, creating an electric tingling sensation through my body as he pulled me closer.
    “Do you want me to stop?” he asked.
    “Never.”
    “Promise?”
    “I promise.”
    ****
    I opened my eyes. It was morning, and it was raining. Terrific.
    “ You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you, please don’t take my sunshine away .” Chase kissed my cheek. “Good morning, beautiful,” he cheerfully greeted me.
    “So, it’s all right for you to rip off songs but not me? That’s really unfair.”
    “Hey, when you’re as suave as I am, you can make anything sound good.”
    “What time is it?”
    “It’s about time for the both of us to get up and get ready for work.” I groaned. “My sentiment exactly.”
    “Well, it was good while it lasted,” I mused.
    “Yes. Yes, it was.” At that moment, the alarm on my nightstand went off. Chase leaned over me to turn it off.
    “What? No snooze button?” I teased.
    “I have to pull a double shift and will be on-call after my shift for the rest of the week, so I’ll pretty much be M.I.A. for the next few days.”I gave him the best pathetic looking face I could. “Don’t look at me like that,” he smiled, turning his gaze to the ceiling, staring seemingly off into space.
    “What is it?”
    His gaze remained fixated on the ceiling as though he were in some sort of intense concentration. After a moment, he spoke. “How about you and I have dinner at Angelo’s on Saturday?”
    “Angelo’s? What’s the occasion?”
    “No occasion. I just figured we could use a change of pace from our normal routine.”
    “It’s a nice thought, Chase. It really is. Isn’t it pretty expensive there? After two years, I think we’re well beyond having to impress each other. I don’t want you to spend that kind of money on…”
    He put his index finger to my lips. “Don’t worry about the money. I have some extra funds lying around just itching to take my beautiful girlfriend out.”
    “Well, when you put it that way.”
    “Angelo’s on Saturday, then?”
    “Consider my arm thoroughly twisted.”
     

Chapter Eight
    The Proposition
    It was pouring outside as I unfolded my umbrella, venturing out from the sanctity of the awning in front of my apartment building. Rain ranked right up there next to Christmas in my book of dislikes. Water splashed up from the sidewalk, saturating the inside of my heels while I trudged down the street, cursing