HUNT

MICHELLE

I love that you guys comment on the story, but I also have to kindly ask that you don't comment things that might spoil the story for other readers. Love y'all!

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She was dead tired when Ben came home, but that was no excuse to not look nice for him. Not in his book, anyway.

"Nearly ready?" he asked, watching her in the mirror.

"Almost." She pushed back a blonde curl to put in her earrings, the diamond ones he bought her last month.

"You look lovely."

"Thank you." She let her hair fall back into place, and then turned to face him.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

They went outside to his gleaming sports car and rode in silence to the restaurant.

A waitress took them to a table in the corner and left them with their menus.

Michelle skimmed the options, her eyes immediately going to the prices listed along the side.

Almost as if he knew what she was thinking, Ben said, "Don't worry about the price."

"But—"

"Don't worry about it. I'm making good money lately. You deserve a nice night out. Anything you want, you can have."

Maybe another girl would've jumped at the opportunity, but Michelle was the product of a low-income household. In her eyes, there was no such thing as senseless splurging.

"I mean it, babe. Whatever you want to order. It's my treat."

She was still petrified with indecision when the waitress returned to take their orders.

Ben gave her one glance before ordering a huge sampler dish.

Her pulse pounded in her throat. "That's too expen—"

"And a bottle of your best white wine." He sent the waitress away. "I told you not to worry about it."

"But how are we supposed to pay the bills? Ben, you know I don't make that much—"

"I told you I'm making more money now. Trust me, Michelle. We'll be fine. Don't worry about it."

"I don't know..." She chewed on her lip.

The waitress returned with their wine and poured them each a glass.

Ben raised his glass after she left again. "To us."

Michelle was a little more hesitant. "To us."

They clinked and tasted the wine.

She thought it was one of the best wines she'd ever tasted. Surely she'd faint if she ever saw the price tag.

"I know this seems like a lot, but you really deserve this," Ben said. "We both do. I think we're really good together. These last few months have been amazing."

"They have," she agreed. She sipped her wine again. If he was going to be making more money, maybe she could get used to this lifestyle.

"Our time together has been the best time of my life, Michelle. I want this to last forever."

She quickly set her glass down as he slid out of his chair and knelt to the ground.

She couldn't help it; her hand went to her gaping mouth.

He pulled a ring from his pocket and held it out. "Will you marry me?"

*** ***

I am soooo glad I got super ahead on this story back at the beginning of the school year. I haven't worked on this story in MONTHS, and I have just enough updates to get us through the end of November. Hopefully I'll work on it before then, but otherwise we'll be taking a week or two off until I get to winter break and maybe don't have my brain leaking out of my ears.