Part 423 – No Spoilers For You!

Ambrose and Barbara got into her car.

Barbara backed out of the driveway. “Okay! Which way am I heading?”

“I hate to say it, but the bad side of town.”

“Wow. You really meant it when you said it was dangerous.”

He twirled some loose strands of her hair around his fingers and kissed it. “Just stay near me. I’ll protect you.”

She almost vehicle manslaughtered her mailbox.

Ambrose smiled. He kissed her hair one more time before releasing it and returning to his seat.

Barbara side-glanced at him as she headed towards the main road. The thought of his touch made her heart beat all wrong. Her face felt terribly warm.

Maybe we should have walked. The cold air would have felt wonderful right about now.

She looked forward.

When is he going to propose? I assume he will. What if he’s planning to do it tonight?

She frowned.

Wait. That doesn’t seem right to me. Who in their normal and right mind would go out to the bad side of town to do a marriage proposal? Who does that?

Maybe he wants to make it memorable in the weirdest way possible.

Wait.

He’s a vampire. Does he even know anything about proposing?

What if he doesn’t?

What if he expects me to do it?

What if he ruins it all by going into evil vampire mode? I hope not. That would be devastating.

“You look tense. What’s wrong? Are you still bothered that I touched your back like that?”

“No.” She thought about it. “Okay, maybe a little. I love you, Ambrose, but I really don’t want to cross that bridge until we’re married.”

“I understand.” His voice was like a soft touch.

What if he doesn’t want to marry me?

What if he just wants to stay as is?

Would he really want just that? I hope not. I want to marry him. I want to be his wife. I want to come home to him.

Does he realize that?

Doesn’t he know?

“Ambrose. Have you ever even proposed to a girl before?”

“Once. It didn’t turn out all that well.”

“She turned you down?”

“Flat.”

“So, never married before?”

“No.” He tilted his head. “Is there a reason why you’re asking?”

“Curiosity.”

“Ah. Curiosity.” He grinned.

“What are you grinning about?”

He spun the emerald ring on his thumb. “You’ll see.”

“When we get to the bad side of town?”

“Yes. Or maybe on the way back. I haven’t worked out that detail yet.”

“What are you planning?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Okay. How about a hint?”

“No can do. A hint would tell you too much. And that won’t do, Barbara. I want you to be surprised.”

“So, no spoilers then.”

“None whatsoever.”