High Noon

kid. I used to sit in bed and think about it. It all seemed so happy there. Color and music and fun, life-sized cartoon characters walking around. Never got there, not when I was a kid. Been a couple times since, just to say I did.”
    Carefully, she set the box back on the shelf. “And was it happy? All you wanted it to be?”
    “Yeah, I guess it was. If you come out of the Country Bear Jamboree with a frown on your face, you’re hopeless. I figured Carly’d get a charge out of it, wouldn’t she? It’s got to be about the best place in the world when you’re seven. At least I thought so when I was.”
    She stepped back out of the closet to study him. He was sitting on the bed, buck naked, his hair all tousled, a dreamy half smile on his face as he thought, not about the City of Lights or Roman holidays, but magic mountains and flying elephants.
    “You want to take Carly to Disney World?”
    He turned his head, shrugged. “You can come, too. I’ll buy you some mouse ears.”
    There was a threat hanging over them, she thought. It was very real, and it was very close. His connection to her put him every bit as much in the crosshairs as it did her. But he thought of taking her little girl to Disney World.
    She walked to the bed, sat beside him. Taking his hand, she looked into his eyes. “Duncan.” And love moved through her like a sigh. “Duncan.”
    His dimple winked. “Phoebe.”
    “Would you marry me?”
    “Would I…what was that?”
    His hand jerked, just a little, in hers, and she saw the coordinating shock on his face. She didn’t mind either. “You’re the best man I’ve ever known, and that’s going some since I have Carter and Dave in my life, and they’re such good men. You make me laugh, and you make me think. You’re generous and you’re smart—which is an important combination since one without the other is almost always annoying. And your innate loyalty is something I respect and admire.”
    “You forgot the sex.”
    Now she smiled. “No, I didn’t, not for one quick minute. Since I’m being so complimentary, I’ll tell you I’ve never had better, and it does, of course, factor into this proposal. My life is complicated, and it’s heavy with responsibilities. You’re the only one I trust enough to ask to share that. The only one I love enough. And I love you, Duncan. I love you so much.
    “Wait, wait,” she said quickly when she saw the change in his eyes. “I need to finish. I love all the things about you I’ve just said, and all that was the bunch of things I was going to tell you tonight. The proposal, that wasn’t on the map. But then, well, I got lost in Disney World.”
    “Disney World was the kicker?”
    “Oh yes, yes, it was. I know we haven’t known each other for very long. Just since—”
    “St. Patrick’s Day.”
    “St. Patrick’s Day. So you’ll probably need to think about it, and God knows things need to settle down, but—”
    “Where’s the ring?”
    “The ring?”
    “What kind of half-assed proposal is this?” he demanded. “You didn’t get me a ring?”
    Her breath came out in a whoosh. “I’ve been a little busy.”
    His sigh was patient, long-suffering, and quite a bit exaggerated. “I don’t know as I can take this very seriously without a ring. But I guess I can make an exception, this once.” He leaned down, met her smiling lips with his. “I was going to ask you in Disney World.”
    “You…Really?”
    “I figured on getting you dizzy on the teacups, or weak-kneed on Space Mountain, hit you while your defenses were down some. Of course, I’d’ve had a ring.”
    She shoved him back on the bed, rolled on top of him. “I like things clear. Is that a yes?”
    “You had me when you walked into Suicide Joe’s apartment.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “As far as you knew at that point, I could’ve been married with six children, or a lesbian.”
    “Then I’d’ve pined for you the rest of my days. But I’m a lucky man. Been on a streak for a while now, and it’s been heading straight toward you. You had me, Phoebe, the minute you walked in, and from that minute I’ve been sliding into love without even looking for a handhold.”
    He tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t mind complications, and responsibilities are just part of living if you’re doing it right. We’ll do it right, you and me. So yes, I accept your ringless proposal.”
    She laid her lips on his, then rested, cheek to cheek. “I haven’t even