Love's Dance (30 page)

Colin grinned and shook his head. He pulled her close, a serious expression suddenly wiping the smile away. "Jaina, I've been meaning to talk to you about something..."

"Yeah?"

"I-"

The doorbell rang.

Jaina muttered something about living in a fanfiction as she pulled away. "I think your parents are here.
"

♥♥♥

A black high-heeled pump bounced off the mattress and fell to the floor. A moment later, it was joined by a second. Jaina flopped down on the mattress, arms flung out.

She groaned.
"Well, that was excruciating."

Colin wordlessly moved over and crouched at her feet. He took one foot in his hands and began rubbing distractedly. Jaina made a small noise of satisfaction.

"I really like your parents," she said. "Don't get me wrong. It's just that... I half think your parents didn't believe that you're straight."

"Dad was relieved," Colin pointed out. "And they didn't think you're a golddigger."

"No, they just think I'm someone willing to pretend to be the girlfriend of a homosexual who won't come out of the closet." Jaina sighed. She had difficulty sitting up because Colin had hold of her leg. "Why are people so eager to believe the lie?"

"All lies lead to the truth," he murmured.

"Why are you quoting
X-Files
taglines?" she asked, amused.

"Sorry." He paused and studied the pink polish on her toes.

Her brow furrowed as she looked down at him. "Hon? Something wrong?"

Colin gave himself a shake. "No, no, it's fine. I was just... thinking."

"About what?"

"You, me. Us. Emily's only going to be here for another few weeks, so you wouldn't need to stay here any longer."

"Do you want me to move out?"

Blue eyes lifted to meet green. "No. I don't. I want you to stay forever."

"Forever?"

He ducked his head and cleared his throat, reaching a hand into his pocket. "I, uh... I don't know how to say this. I had a bunch of prepared speeches, but they all sound stupid now."

Colin pulled his hand out of his pocket. He held his hand out, fist closed. Hesitantly, Jaina placed her open hand under his. Something small but heavy fell onto her palm.

She looked at the gold band, adorned with a solitaire brilliant-cut diamond. Her eyes flew to his face. He was watching her carefully, cautiously. When Jaina just stared at him, Colin glanced down at her hand as he placed his in hers.

Then he looked back up, blue eyes more earnest and intense than she'd ever seen them.

"Marry me?"

Shocked beyond words, Jaina slid off the bed and threw her arms around him. He let out a nervous laugh.

She drew back, giving him a teary smile. "This is unexpected, but..."

"Uh... is that a yes? I really hope so."

Jaina placed the ring in his hand, then presented her splayed fingers. "That's a yes."

His fingers shook as he slid the ring on her finger, accidentally scraping her knuckle. She didn't even notice. Jaina wrapped her fingers around his, and leaned forward to kiss him.

Feeling as though a huge weight had lifted from his shoulders, he kissed her back.

Epilogue

Two Months Later

The last day of filming, not just the show but of the series itself, was the wedding of Officer Keith Wilson and Nurse Diane Sorensen. Everyone dressed up in formal wear for the shoot.

When the director called "Cut! That's a wrap!", there was a long moment of silence, before everyone broke into applause. It was hard to believe that it was over.

Colin, in his tux, waited until the applause had died. Then he stood up and motioned for silence. He started off with a few words about how wonderful it had been to work with everyone. "But I'm sure that we'll all see each other next week when we all get cast in the same series. Again."

Everyone laughed.

"But seriously… working with you all has been a pleasure. True, we've had our ups and downs, but this has been an experience that I don't think a one of us would trade."

A couple people clapped, and nearly everyone was grinning. Colin quirked a smile and continued, "Three years we've been working together. At times, it's felt like we've become… family. I count some of the people here among my dearest friends. I know I'm going to miss this, but we're taking a bit of it with ourselves when we leave. Some more literally than others."

"I get Alex's car!" someone in the back shouted, and the room dissolved into laughter.

"No, you don't!" John shot back.

Colin waited until the laughter died down. "It's with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to Waybridge. But… I can think of no better occasion on which to make this announcement."

He held up his glass, full of sparkling… something… and said, "While Alex may have ended a bachelor…" Colin cleared his throat. He drew Jaina to her feet. She’d been an extra for the wedding scene, and wore a floor-length burgundy gown with a scatter of beading, her brown hair in an elegant coif she’d done herself.

"Some of you know already, some do not. But I'd like to share with you all one last thing, before we go. Jaina McGregor, our talented makeup artist, has done me the honor of agreeing to be my wife, and we will be following in Keith and Diane's footsteps this January."

There was a surprised silence that lasted a moment or two longer than the one that had followed "It's a wrap".

Then, across the room, Sara burst out, "I knew it! I
knew
it! Rob, you owe me twenty!"

There was more laughter, and a multitude of applause and congratulations. The director decided to hold the wrap party then and there.

As someone put on some music, and the caterers scattered to gather party food, Colin held his hand out to Jaina. He admired that she had been able to come today; only a week had passed since they’d received her positive diagnosis of Lupus, and she’d been a mess. But whatever happened now, they’d be in it together.

“Dance with me,” he said.

“Always,” she said, and let him pull her out to the floor.