She nodded and he kissed her again. “Me packing your stuff up had nothing to do with Saturday. That was my fault.”

Romero pulled back and looked at her. “Your fault? I’m the one that lost it.”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t have if I hadn’t purposely flirted with Michael to make you mad. It was stupid. I was still so mad about the smell of Cici’s perfume on you.”

Michael’s words came back to him along with the same sting he’d felt that night. “Did you really tell him you were questioning your future with me?”

This time she kissed him, then looked him in the eyes. “Something like that, but it was all part of the stupid state of mind I was in. I wanted him to think that so he wouldn’t question why I was being so nice to him. I wanted you to hurt as much as I was hurting. But trust me. I’ll never do that again. I’m sorry.”

All week he kept going back to that, certain that if she had already questioned their future together what he’d done that night had only confirmed her doubts. Hearing her reason for why she actually said it now, although it wasn’t the greatest feeling to know she’d meant to hurt him, was still an enormous relief. “Wait here.”

He startled her when he stood suddenly. So he leaned over and pecked her before walking away. “I’ll be right back.”

He ran out to his car and took the bag out of his trunk. Feeling the nerves start up in his stomach he tried pushing them away. He hurried back to her apartment and walked inside. She was pouring herself a cup of coffee, but curiously eyed the bag.

“Okay, don’t freak out. This could be whatever you want it to be. I just wanted to get you something nice.”

Isabel leaned against the counter holding her coffee mug with both hands as he pulled the box out of the bag. Romero couldn’t make out her expression, but he did catch how her eyes grew wider when he took the box out. He walked over and held it out for her.

She stared at him biting the corner of her lower lip then put her mug down on the counter. She took the box from Romero and opened it very slowly as if something might jump out at her. Now her eyes really opened wide. “Romero,” she whispered, bringing her hand to her mouth. “It’s beautiful. But I can’t accept this.”

His heart dropped. “Why?”

She finally took her eyes off the ring and looked up at him. “It looks so expensive.”

“It is.” He smiled, feeling slightly relieved. “But you’re worth it, baby.”

Isabel looked back down at the ring and then up at him again. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say you’ll wear it.” He pulled the ring out of the box and slid it on her left hand’s ring finger. Just as he imagined, it looked perfect on her. He kissed her. “And that you forgive me.” He kissed her again even deeper. “And that you love me.”

“I love you,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. “God, I love you.”

He groaned because he felt the sincerity in her kisses. She really did love him. Now that he had his second chance, he’d be damned if he was going to blow it. “C’mon.” He tugged her hand, pulling her behind him and practically sprinting to the bedroom.

***

Last night hadn’t been the only night Romero had gone almost the entire night without sleeping during the past week. Isabel told him she’d been deprived of any sleep herself all week. So it wasn’t surprising that after only an hour of making up for the time apart they were both out. Apparently, he’d been more tired than Isabel because she was already up when he woke. He hadn’t even felt her get out of bed.

He could hear her talking softly in the front room when he walked into the restroom. Obviously, she was on the phone because he heard no other voices. The sun was already heading south. Holy shit, how long had he slept? He had to admit it felt good. Everything felt damn good now.

He ran into Isabel in the hallway. She held her phone in her hand and he attacked her against the wall, kissing her neck as she giggled. “Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked in between kissing her neck.

She squirmed. “You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t have the heart to. I’ve only been up a little while myself. The phone woke me.”

“Who was it?” he said, nibbling on her ear.

She didn’t answer and he pulled his head up to kiss her when he saw her unnerved expression and he immediately thought of Max. “What’s wrong?”

“It was Michael.”

Romero stared at her, trying with all his might to slow the waves of heat that begun searing through him. “What did he want?”

“To let me know about him dropping the charges against you. But…” Her eyes went down to her phone and stayed there. “I need to tell you something.”

Her tone and the fact that she couldn’t look at him when she said it only made it harder for him to stay calm but he took deep breaths, hoping she didn’t notice just how deep. “Okay, tell me.”

She told him about talking to her dad Sunday and how he said it would be up to Michael to drop the charges. “I called him the day after you were arrested.”

He felt his eyebrows jump up along with his heart rate. “You called Michael?” It was becoming increasingly impossible to remain cool but he was determined to not blow it again.

“I had to do something, Romero. I was desperate. I felt so guilty because it was all my fault.”