Chapter 1

Zeke Callahan crashed through Amelia Parker’s apartment door. “Hi, Ami!” He was down the hall and into the bathroom before she turned around from tossing the salad.

“Hey,” she called back.

It was a wonder that door wasn’t off its hinges by now.

But if it did break, Zeke could fix it, Amelia had no doubt. He could fix or build just about anything.

She shook her head and set the salad on the table. The lasagna was done, just warming in the oven. She put that on the table too, figuring Zeke would be out quickly. But it took him a while. What could he be doing in there! If they ever got married, they’d have to establish some etiquette about bathroom breaks before dinner.

Amelia burst out laughing. Zeke? Etiquette? That would be like teaching a puppy to eat with a knife and fork. His list of charms might include energetic, sensitive, creative, and brilliant, but ‘mannerly’ was not on that list.

They often had dinner at her place after he got off work and she closed the small AT&T store on Main. It kept them grounded even when moving across the country for his job as a technician at the super-secret VEIL facility.

What was taking so long? Going to the bathroom shouldn’t be a secret project!

Finally, he rushed out, slid into his seat, and set a remote control next to his plate. “What’s for dinner?”

Amelia looked at him, looked down at the lasagna, looked at him.

His eager expression didn’t falter. Finally, he looked down at the table. “Oh, lasagna. Great!” He clapped his hands together once. “What are we waiting for? I’m starving!”

Zeke was always high energy, but tonight he seemed hyperactive. Amelia could only assume his behavior was related to the big test at the facility tomorrow.

The remote control next to his plate didn’t strike her as odd either. He was always building some gadget. But the way he watched her throughout their meal was weird. After she ate her last bite of lasagna, he cleared his throat. “You ready for dessert?”

“You brought dessert?” She was full, but there was always room for something sweet. “Sure.”

She hadn’t remembered him bringing a box from the bakery, but then again, she had been in the kitchen when he arrived. He smiled as he lifted the small remote. Leaning forward—eyes shining and hand shaking—he pushed a button. She heard a motor wind up down the hall and looked toward the sound. A six-legged robot the size of a toaster crawled toward her.

She turned back to Zeke. “What are you—?” He was next to her, down on one knee.

She swung her gaze back to the robot, mouth agape. The robot held a clear plastic plate with two cannolis. A dollop of whipped cream bridged the ricotta-filled logs. Atop the heavy cloud of cream sat a diamond ring.

“Oh, Zeke!”

He set down the remote and gently lifted the ring. Cream clung to the platinum circle. “Amelia, tomorrow is a huge day for me and my career, but tonight is even huger. I hope we remember tonight as much specialer.”

Amelia certainly didn’t correct his grammar.

“Because you are so much more special. You are more important to me than any top-secret project could ever be. I love building stuff, but I love you so much more. Let’s build something great, together.”

Her brow knitted. He looked worried.

He cleared his throat and looked at the cream covered ring. “Oh.” He slipped the band in his mouth and sucked the whipped cream, then held it out to Amelia. “Will you accept this ring and be my fiancée? I mean, be my fiancée so we, you ... then we can get married and you’ll be my wife?” He squeezed his eyes closed in frustration. “Will you marry me?”

Amelia smiled and placed her hand over Zeke’s. “Yes.”

His eyes widened. “Yes?”

She laughed. “I love you with all my heart, Zeke Callahan. I would be honored to be your wife. Of course I will marry you.”

She held out her left hand. He eased the ring on her finger. She didn’t consider herself a crier, but she could feel her eyes brimming. “Oh, Zeke, it’s gorgeous! But can we affo—”

“No worries. My job at VEIL was collateral enough for the jewelers.”

“You’re sure? Cause I’d be happy with something much less expensive.”

“You would?” Zeke stood and snapped his fingers. “Geesh, I wish I’d known that before—”

“But now that you’ve bought this hunk of rock, I’ll settle for nothing less!” She laughed as she stood with him and leaned into his embrace. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her with such tenderness her knees went weak. Thank goodness he had a firm hold on her.

She pulled back with a gasp of air, and lifted her hand to gaze at the ring on her finger.

Amelia hadn’t stopped looking at her engagement ring since Zeke put it on her finger. She held it out and admired the sun’s rays scintillating in the beautiful solitary diamond. Dazzling! Walking down Main Street in Loville, she felt as if she were back in high school, eager to share the news with her friends at Java the Hut.

She could barely believe it had happened. Zeke had finally proposed. She smiled as she floated into the Hut, anticipating everyone’s excitement.

A friendly Chewbacca growl announced her entrance. “Morning!” Amelia called out to whoever would be there to hear.

Casey Kim, the least friendly barista Amelia had ever met, looked up from wiping a table and grunted.

A radio show played in the coffee house. “It’s Another Day! I’m Sarena on KLVL 1400. What chances are you taking today?” Sarena’s theme music rang out.

As Amelia glided to a center table, Jeremiah rose from his booth and crossed in front of her to peruse the pastry display.

Casey glanced at Jeremiah and sighed. “I’ll be right there.” But she continued wiping down the recently vacated tables. Jeremiah was rarely in town, growing hay just outside of Loville. Amelia was pleased she’d be able to share her good news with him, as well. He was a large, handsome man, but his eyes and mouth turned down at the corners, making him look like he lost his dog.

Sandy East, who worked at the VEIL facility, did a double take, gazing at Amelia suspiciously. “You look ... glowing!”

“Really? Well, perhaps I am.” She flipped out her left hand to display her new accessory.

Sandy gasped! All the customers’ heads turned in surprise. Sandy hurried to Amelia. “Girl! That’s gorgeous!” She pulled Amelia toward a table and shoved her into the chair. Sitting across from her, Sandy bracketed her chin with both fists. “Tell me all about it!”

Heat swamped Amelia’s face. With every eye on her she announced, “Zeke asked me to marry him last night!”

Nearly everyone in the coffee shop broke out in shouts of congratulations and applause. Casey sighed as if tolerating yet one more annoyance and rolled her eyes.

Blaze Moonstar just smiled, sort of. A frown quickly replaced that partial smile, and the unconventional Mystique Emporium owner looked lost in thought. “You and Zeke’s planets are not aligned for such a major event! Come by my store as soon as you can. We’ll find you a quartz that will balance your spirit over the next few weeks...” She looked Amelia up and down as if analyzing something surrounding her. “ ... or months. When is the wedding anyway?”

Amelia paused. Balance her spirit? Who said she was out of balance? “I’m not sure, Blaze. We didn’t discuss that.” She turned back to Sandy. “He’s got that big super-secret test today, you know?”

Sandy, who was likely involved in the same test, nodded but didn’t elaborate on what she did or did not know.

“He left early so he could get some rest—which he wouldn’t get if he stayed at my place!” The heat renewed in Amelia’s cheeks. “We didn’t get much past his proposal and a goodnight kiss.”