Into the Flames (Out of the Ashes Book 2) Read Online Free

if nothing happened.  What’s going on with her?  Dean takes my hand.  “Lauren, like your father I’m so proud of you.  I know you plan to go on for your masters next fall but I’m hoping…  Well, I’m getting ahead of myself.  Lauren, you have become so much more to me than I could have imagined.  When I’m not with you, I’m constantly thinking of you.”  A choked sound comes from my mother and I see the tears in her eyes.  I turn my focus back to Dean.  He drops to one knee in front of me and produces a small black box from one his pockets.  Oh god, I did not see this coming.  “Lauren, I love you with everything I am.  Will you be my wife?”  He opens the box to reveal the most beautiful diamond solitaire set in platinum.  I throw my arms around his neck in delight.  Nothing could be more perfect than this moment.
    “Yes, Dean.  Yes, there ’s nothing in this world I want more than to be your wife.”  Tears run down my cheeks.  I look at my mother and she’s crying also.  Could my mother actually be moved for something that was happening to me?  Could she actually care?  Daddy’s face is blank; he has taken on the stoic look so commonly worn by my mother.  I can’t tell if he’s happy or not. 
    “Oh, baby, you have made me the happiest man ever.”  He brushe s his lips to mine in a soft kiss.  “Later.”  He whispers and sits back down.  A few minutes after our meals arrive, Dean excuses himself with a look in mother’s direction. 
    Now that it’s just the three of us, I lean over to Daddy.  “Daddy, are you okay with this?”
    “Sweetheart, I knew this was coming.  Dean asked me last week if it would be alright for him to do this tonight.  But I must admit; it’s hard to lose my little girl.”  Mother jumps up suddenly excusing herself as well before Daddy continues.  “Just be careful with him.  I worry about you.”  His tone is ominous, foreboding.  He likes Dean, that much I know; he wouldn’t have someone working so closely with him if he didn’t like them.  And he’s happy that I’m happy but there’s something else, like a warning he’s trying to give me without saying it outright. 
    That’s the moment though that Dean returns to the table, straightening his tie.  He smiles at me and goes back to his meal without a word. A few minutes later mother returns and despite leaving to go clean herself up as she said, she looks worse than before she left.  I give her a curious glance but then again, I’ve never understood my mother and she never made any effort to understand me so we just sort of tolerate each other.
    Dessert arrive s and I’m glad for the distraction and for the meal to come to an end.  Since Dean’s proposal, things have become tight and a bit awkward.  I just want to get back to the cabin to spend the evening with him.  As we finish our meal, Daddy stands and extends a hand to my mother.  “I don’t think your mother and I will be staying after all.”  He glances from her to me and then over to Dean. 
    “But Daddy , what about our weekend?”
    “Sweetheart, I want you to have some time with your new fiancé and not have to worry about your parents hovering over the two of you.  Enjoy your weekend.”  He drops a kiss to my forehead and leads my mother from the restaurant. 
    “Did I upset him?”  Dean’s voice breaks into my reverie. 
    “I don’t know what ’s going on.  He said he just wants us to have time to ourselves.”
    “Baby, no news could be better than that.  I’m not sure we’ll leave tha t cabin all weekend.”  He smiles and brings my hand to his lips, running light kisses across the knuckles.  “Shall we head back?”
    Fire burns deep within me from just his simple touch and suddenly I’m more than anxious to get back to our cabin.  “Yes.”  I stand and turn to leave. 
    Dean grip s my wrist and pulls me into him.  “I’m really looking forward to tonight.”
    As we step