The Teacher's Billionaire

that.”
    “What a world you live in,” Callie said sounding amazed. “Did it ever occur to you to tell me what was going on?”
    “There was more to it,” Dylan admitted. He had to tell her everything if he had any chance of her forgiving him.
    Callie groaned and for a minute he thought she planned on leaving. “Honestly Dylan I’m not sure I want to know anymore. Maybe it’s better if we just leave things the way they are.”
    It’s now or never, Talbot. She’s going to bolt soon.
“Did you know I was engaged once? Francesca and I met at a party in London.” He didn’t give Callie a chance to respond. Instead he plowed on. “She was from Connecticut but visiting friends in England. I thought she was the perfect woman until I walked in on her and an old buddy of mine from college one day. A friend that I introduced her to.”
    Looking confused Callie shook her head. “What does that have to do with me?”
    “I haven’t had a real relationship since then. Haven’t met anyone I wanted to be in one with. Not till you anyway,” Dylan answered dreading the next words he knew he had to say. “I didn’t realize it till after that night in New York but I’ve been scared. Scared that I would make the same mistake again that I made with Francesca.”
    Callie remained silent, her sapphire eyes just studying his face.
What is she thinking?
He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her till she said something, anything. The silence was killing him.
    He watched as Callie ran her tongue over her lips. “You still haven’t answered my question, Dylan. You say you want a second chance. A second chance at what?” Her voice was laced with fear. He knew it had been hard for her to ask the question. If the tables were reversed, he wasn’t sure he would be willing to give her a second chance.
    He smoothed back a few strands of hair. “Do you really need to ask?” He studied her face for a moment. God, he hoped it wasn’t too late. “I want another chance with you. I love you. And if I thought you’d agree, I would fly us out to Vegas tonight and marry you.”
    Joy and loved bubbled up inside her. He loved her. Was it really possible? “Getting married by Elvis was never a dream of mine,” she said needing to lighten the atmosphere a little.
    Did he just ask me to marry him?
If he had it was one strange proposal. Maybe the strangest ever uttered by a man. “Now if it can be Mickey Mouse I say get the plane ready.”
    Dylan brushed her mouth with a feather light kiss. “No more joking right now,” he ordered. “Now isn’t the time.”
    She heard the uncertainty and worry in his voice. Two emotions she didn’t know he was capable of. He always seemed in control of situations. Wrapping her arms around his waist she said, “I love you too.”
    Crushing her against him he gave her a long tender kiss that she felt down to her very soul. Eventually he broke contact and took a few steps back so that he could see her. Pulling a small ring box from his pants pocket he asked, “Callie Taylor will you marry me.”
    Oh my god!
He hadn’t been joking around before. Happiness like she’d never known before overwhelmed her. “Yes,” she replied laughing and crying all at once. Something she hadn’t thought possible to do.
    Dylan slipped the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. “I wasn’t joking about Vegas tonight, but if you want to wait that’s fine.” Pausing he gave her one of his lopsided boyish grins. “And if you want Mickey Mouse to marry us with Goofy as best man and Minnie as your maid of honor that’s okay too. I don’t care what kind of wedding we have as long as you’re by my side.”
    Callie laughed. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed joking with him. “What if I want the wedding cake made out of Girl Scout cookies? Got to keep those cookie pushers in business you know.”
    He burst out laughing at her question. “Only if they’re the ones filled with peanut butter.”
    She pretended to think it over for a minute. Finally with a small sigh she said, “I guess I can live with that.” Callie stared down at the diamond and emerald ring on her finger.
    “I would like to wait. I don’t need a huge wedding, but I do want my family and friends there,” Callie said seriously thinking for the first time since her mom’s death that she wasn’t as alone as she’d thought. Perhaps her mom had finally told Warren the truth so that she wouldn’t be so