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  "Fending off admirers? Cat hair?" John wondered.

  I frowned and nodded my head over my shoulder. "Constance was distracting you so Monroe could get a hold of me. He didn't like it when he found out he was holding a ball of cat fur."

  John's face darkened and his eyes hardened. "He touched you?" he growled.

  I walked up to him and patted him on the chest. "Down, boy. He didn't get very far before Sassy's fur attacked him. Who knew he was so allergic to your little pet?"

  John blinked, and a tinge of humor twitched the ends of his mouth. "But you're all right?" he insisted.

  I smiled and nodded. "I'm just fine, but I think it's time we had some of our own fun and broke up this party," I told him.

  He grinned and nodded. "Exactly my sentiments, Angel."

  John took my hand and led me toward the stage. A podium stood up there, and a man came from left stage and tapped on the microphone on the podium. Everyone cringed when a shrill noise erupted from the microphone. "Hehe, sorry, but I'd like for everyone to get to their tables. The Dinner is about ready to begin," he instructed them. Everyone moved to their tables except us. Our target was the podium, and we stepped on stage and walked over to the speaker. He saw us and frowned. "Can I help you?"

  I smiled and slipped my hands onto his shoulders. "Yep. How about you just come with me over here and give the man some room to talk?" The speaker blubbered but didn't fight me as I led him away from the podium.

  John took center stage and tapped loudly on the microphone. The audience cringed and glared at him, and he grinned back. "Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and reporters. I have a few announcements to make regarding the hot topic of the night, the separation of John Benson and his floozy lover Trixie Calhoun." I scowled and the speaker yelped when my hands dug into his shoulders. John threw off his wig, and stepped to the side of the podium and pulled off his horrible suit to reveal a penguin one that was much more becoming. He pulled out a handkerchief and rubbed off the tan to show his pale skin. There was a collective gasp from the audience, and the guy in my hands, when they recognized John. He stepped back up to the podium. "I'm very glad to tell you that the rumors are false. Waiters, if you would please pass around the leaflets."

  The waiters with the trays of food pulled out stacks of leaflets from their vests and dropped them down on every table. The murmur from the tables became exclamations of shock at the announced paper and small laughs of amusement at Sievers and Monroe's expenses. John turned and gestured to me, and I pushed aside my captive and hurried over to him. Along the way I shed my only disguise and there was that collective intake of breath that would rival any inverse wind tunnel. I reached him and John wrapped an arm around my waist. "We set up this charade for Mr. Andrew Parks' benefit, and if you'd like to learn more than you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the special Sunday edition paper I'm bringing out. However, there's one thing you wont' have to wait for."

  John stepped away from me and got down on one knee while facing me. He pulled out a small box and nervously smiled at me. "Trixie Calhoun, we've been through a lot of adventures together that have tested us, but this past week without you was the hardest test of all. It reaffirmed what I've always known, and what I hope you realized." He opened the box and revealed a large diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"

  The audience gasped, and mine was amplified through the microphone. Tears sprang into my eyes and my throat was choked up, but I nodded. The audience erupted into applause and cheers, and John stood to fit the ring onto my finger. I admired the beautiful purple gem, then glanced up and teasingly glared at him. "You planned this from the start, didn't you?" I accused him.

  He slyly grinned and shrugged. "What can I say? I learned from the best how do be sneaky."

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my tiptoes to rub my nose against his own. "You didn't have to get so good at it."

  "I figured it would win you over," he replied.

  "And I guess it worked," I teased.

  "So does this mean we're romantically involved?" he wondered.

  I glanced at the ring on my finger and grinned. "Only if you lavish me with more diamonds and jewels," I playfully countered.

  He looked over my face and smirked. "I'll bury you."

  "That sounds like a threat."

  "No, just a promise."

  The hollering from the audience disappeared when John captured my lips in a passionate kiss. It was a moment of bliss that we repeated for the rest of our lives. Who knew that a pack of ketchup could lead to a lifetime of love?

  For all books by Mac Flynn visit her author's page or visit Mac Flynn's website.

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