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things, but he'd never been as nervous as he was at this moment.
    "Then I have something I need to ask you."
    Nikki cocked her head to the side and frowned. "What's wrong?"
    Grant grinned and touched her cheek with his palm, then shook his head. "Nothing's wrong, sweetheart."
    Looking around at the hundreds of people coming and going around them, he knew this wasn't the ideal place to propose. He wanted it to be more romantic - special. But at the same time, he knew he couldn't get on that plane without having asked her, and hopefully placing the diamond on her slender finger. When he came home again he wanted to know he'd be coming home to his fiancé, to be married.
    Taking a step back from her, he reached into the left pocket of his jacket and pulled out the grey box he'd been carrying around for the past couple of days.
    "Another gift?" Nikki's eyes grew wide and a smile touched her lips.
    Grant chuckled. "You could say that." He took her left hand in his, flipped it over and brought her palm to his lips, kissing it lightly.
    Nikki closed her eyes and sighed.
    "Nikki?"

    ****

    Opening her eyes Nikki's brows furrowed when she saw he had gone down on one knee in front of her. "What are you doing, Grant?" She glanced nervously around and noticed that they were starting to draw a small crowd. "What's going on? I think we're drawing a crowd Grant." Considering he didn't like drawing attention this was a tad out of character for him.
    Grant's sexy grin - the one that made her heart skip a beat each time she saw it - widened as he brought the little grey box up so it was directly in her line of vision.
    Nikki gasped as it suddenly became clear why he was pressing to let their family know and why he'd been distant when she’d refused, not wanting to inform them. "Grant?" she managed to squeak out.
    He flipped open the lid of the box to display a diamond solitaire. Nikki's mouth dropped open, and she snapped it shut again and simply stared at it.
    "This wasn't exactly where I envisioned doing this..."
    Looking from the ring and back into Grant’s eyes she saw a hint of nervousness. Nervous? Grant? In the lifetime that she'd known him, she'd never seen that emotion, from him. He was always so confident and sure of himself. It was bizarre to see him down on one knee and nervous of... her?
    Looking around she noticed the small crowd had turned into a rather large one, circling around them. Couples were whispering among themselves as they watched and waited for Nikki's reaction to the proposal. She could feel the heat rising up her neck and to her cheeks and tears welling up in her eyes once again.
    "I've spent my adult life on my own, doing and experiencing things that some people couldn't even imagine doing or seeing. I’ve had to sacrifice being near family and friends for the life I live, but never regretted it. Until now. You've changed me Nikki. You've made me see there is more to life than my job, because now I have you. And I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. I think it's time for a different life, with you." He pulled the ring from the case and slipped it onto her trembling hand. "Will you marry me?"
    A whirlwind of different thoughts and emotions whipped through her as she looked down at him. Was he leaving the CIA? Did he want a family now? Oh-my-god. Despite all the questions that rose up within her the one main thought and feeling was how much she loved him and whether he remained an agent or quit was irrelevant at this moment.
    "I love you Grant," she whispered. She then became aware of her trembling hand, held securely in his and a teardrop making its way down her cheek. She wiped at it with her free hand and sniffed.
    A slow, tentative smile spread across his lips. "And?" he prompted, visibly holding his breath.
    "Of course I'll marry you."
    Before she knew what was happening, he was on his feet again and pulling her fiercely into his arms. She was vaguely aware of the clapping and approving