Worth the Fall: A Single Dad, Romantic Comedy (Flirting with Forever Book 2)

The sound of champagne popping is so unexpected that I nearly drop the stack of files I’m carrying. I glance toward the break room, where a burst of laughter and applause spills into the hallway. For a second, I hesitate. Linda had said she needed me in there, but the day’s already been packed, and I’m half tempted to slip back to my office and tackle the next round of work.

Before I can turn away, Linda appears in the doorway, holding a bottle of champagne in one hand and a mischievous smile on her face.

‘Don’t even think about it, Mason,’ she says, pointing at me with the bottle. ‘Get your butt in here.’

‘What’s going on?’ I ask, letting her steer me into the room.

‘What’s going on?’ Linda repeats, her voice rising theatrically. ‘Only the fact that you crushed that presentation yesterday. And as of this morning, you’re officially heading up the Simmons account!’

The room erupts into cheers, and my heart skips a beat. ‘Wait,’ I say, looking around at the grinning faces of my colleagues. ‘You’re serious?’

Linda rolls her eyes, setting the champagne bottle on the counter. ‘No, we threw this party as an elaborate prank. Of course I’m serious! Greg overheard the partners talking this morning. Simmons loved your pitch—they signed off on everything. You’re officially running the account.’

For a moment, I can’t speak. The Simmons account is one of our biggest clients, a cornerstone of the firm’s portfolio. Landing it is the kind of opportunity I’ve been waiting for—the kind that can change everything.

‘Come on, Mia,’ Linda says, handing me a glass of champagne. ‘Don’t get all shy on us now. This is your moment!’

I take the glass, laughing nervously as the group clinks their drinks in a toast. ‘Linda, I haven’t even heard from the partners yet,’ I say, lowering my voice as I glance toward the door. ‘What if they didn’t mean for this to be official yet?’

Linda snorts, clearly unimpressed with my worry. ‘Relax. The partners won’t care that we’re celebrating a little early. They’re probably too busy patting themselves on the back for hiring you in the first place.’

‘Still,’ I say, glancing over my shoulder again.

Linda notices and rolls her eyes. ‘Okay, fine,’ she says loudly enough to catch everyone’s attention. She waves her glass in the air, addressing the room. ‘Listen up, people. Let’s keep this quick and quiet, just in case the partners aren’t as fun as we are. Got it?’

Each person in the room laughs, but there are a few exaggerated shushing sounds as everyone lowers their voices—though not by much.

Linda raises her glass dramatically, commanding the room’s attention.

‘To Mia Mason!’ she declares. ‘Our very own profit portfolio whisperer, Simmons account superstar, and—most importantly—future firm legend.’

The room erupts into cheers, and my cheeks flush. ‘Okay, that’s a little much,’ I protest, laughing nervously.

‘It’s not enough,’ Greg quips, raising his own glass. ‘I say we rename the break room after her.’

Linda snorts. ‘Yeah, because nothing says ‘career milestone’ like your name on the coffee pod cabinet.’

‘I’m just saying,’ Greg continues, grinning. ‘The way you broke down their profit margins yesterday? Flawless. If I had half your focus, I’d already be partner.’

Linda doesn’t miss a beat. ‘Greg, if you had half her focus, you’d still only be two-thirds as good. Let’s be real.’

The room bursts into laughter, and Greg throws his hands up in mock surrender. ‘Fair point. Can I at least get dibs on the leftover cookies?’

‘Not a chance,’ Linda says.

Back at my desk, I can barely sit still. The buzz of the celebration in the break room lingers in my chest, and my mind is spinning with everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. Landing the Simmons account feels surreal, like all the hard work and late nights are finally paying off. And then there’s Miguel, with his warm smile and the way he looked at me last night when he said he wanted to spend his life with me.

I grab my phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe. My fingers hover over his name for a moment before I type out a message:

I stare at the message, grinning like an idiot, then hit send. For a second, I imagine his face when he reads it—the curious tilt of his head, the soft laugh he does when he’s intrigued.

The screen stays quiet, no immediate response, which isn’t surprising. Miguel’s been busy settling into his new job, not to mention juggling everything with Felicity. Still, the tiniest flicker of disappointment dances in the back of my mind. I shake it off, slipping the phone into my purse.

‘Focus, Mason,’ I mutter to myself, turning back to the stack of files on my desk.

But focusing feels impossible. Between the adrenaline from the celebration and the lingering warmth from last night’s conversation with Miguel, my thoughts keep drifting.

I unlock Miguel’s apartment door, practically bursting with excitement. My heels click against the hardwood as I step inside, already imagining his reaction when I tell him about the Simmons account. He’ll be proud, grinning that slow, warm smile of his, probably teasing me for downplaying it.

But my triumphant mood lasts all of two seconds before I’m hit with a wave of something acrid.

Smoke.

The smell is unmistakable—burnt something. My nose wrinkles as I take another step in, and that’s when I hear it: the high-pitched beep-beep-beep of the smoke detector.

‘Miguel?’ I call, coughing slightly as I wave at the faint haze in the air. ‘What’s going on?’

There’s no answer, so I drop my bag on the couch and head toward the kitchen, my heart racing slightly. I round the corner to find Miguel standing on a chair, fanning the smoke detector with a cookie sheet like his life depends on it.

‘What the—’ I start, coughing again.

‘Mia!’ he exclaims, jumping slightly at the sound of my voice. His head jerks down, and he nearly clocks himself on the ceiling.

‘What’s happening?’ I ask, trying not to laugh as I take in the scene: the smoke detector blaring, a pan on the stove emitting a pitiful wisp of smoke, and Miguel’s face somewhere between panicked and guilty.

‘I can explain!’ he says, frantically waving the cookie sheet.

‘Is something on fire?’ I ask, coughing again as I step closer.

‘No! Well, not anymore,’ he mutters.

That’s when I spot it—a charred lump on the counter that might have once been food. It’s unrecognizable, but the smell leaves no doubt.

I burst out laughing, unable to help myself. ‘Oh my God, Miguel, did you try to cook?’

He shoots me a look, the kind of look that says, “Not helping, Mason.”

‘It’s not funny,’ he says, his voice tight as he keeps fanning the alarm.

‘It’s a little funny,’ I say, grinning. ‘I didn’t even know you used your kitchen for anything other than coffee.’

‘I use my kitchen,’ he says defensively, hopping down from the chair to glare at the still-blaring smoke detector. ‘It’s just⁠—’

‘You’re not good at it?’ I offer helpfully.

He points the cookie sheet at me. ‘You’re supposed to be supportive right now.’

I laugh again, stepping closer to inspect the carnage on the counter. ‘What even is this?’

‘It was supposed to be chicken,’ he mumbles, his shoulders slumping slightly. ‘And risotto.’

‘Risotto?’ I repeat, trying and failing to keep a straight face. ‘Who are you, Gordon Ramsay?’

‘Apparently not,’ he mutters, and the sheer look of distress on his face makes me stop laughing—mostly.

‘Hey, it’s not a big deal,’ I say, reaching out to touch his arm. ‘We can order takeout. Or I can cook something. You know, something edible.’

But instead of laughing, Miguel groans, rubbing a hand over his face. ‘No, Mia, it needs to be perfect.’

That throws me. I blink at him, my own laughter fading. ‘What do you mean?’

He exhales sharply, looking at me with a mix of frustration and something else I can’t quite place. ‘I just—I wanted tonight to be special.’

‘Mia!’ Felicity squeals, running toward me and grabbing my hand. ‘Daddy was making a special dinner!’

My heart melts a little, even as I cough from the smoky air. ‘Oh, you two are so sweet,’ I say, smiling warmly. ‘You didn’t have to do all this because I got the Simmons account.’

‘What?’ Miguel freezes mid-wave, his face morphing from panic to sheer excitement. ‘You got it? Seriously?’

I laugh, nodding. ‘Yeah, I did! Wait…’ I blink at him, realization dawning. ‘Isn’t that what this was about? Because of my text earlier?’

Miguel’s eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights. Before he can say anything, Felicity pipes up, ‘No, it’s because of⁠—’

‘Let’s order dinner!’ Miguel blurts, his voice an octave higher than usual as he spins toward the counter. ‘Celebrate with takeout! Great idea, right? Wine! We’ll have wine!’

I blink at him, thoroughly confused. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Me? Perfect!’ He practically lunges for the wineglasses, setting them out with a flourish. ‘Sit down, relax. Felicity, help Mia pick out some… uh… napkins! Or… something.’

Felicity giggles but doesn’t argue, clearly enjoying the show. I sink into one of the chairs at the dining table, shaking my head as Miguel pours the wine. ‘I don’t know what’s going on with you tonight,’ I say, ‘but I’ll take the wine.’

As the minutes tick by, Miguel’s behavior only gets weirder. He’s fidgety, checking his watch every five seconds, and keeps adjusting the wine bottle like it’s a centerpiece in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

I sip my wine, watching him with amusement. ‘Are you expecting someone? You keep looking at the door like a pizza delivery guy owes you money.’

‘No! No one,’ he says quickly, sitting down across from me before immediately standing back up. ‘Just… hungry, that’s all. Long day.’

‘You sure you’re okay?’ I ask, raising an eyebrow.

‘Totally fine,’ he says, his voice tight.

Felicity, sitting beside me, giggles into her stuffed bunny. ‘Daddy’s being weird,’ she whispers loudly.

I laugh. ‘You’re not wrong.’

‘I’ll be right back!’ Felicity announces suddenly, hopping off her chair and darting out of the room before I can ask where she’s going.

Miguel’s face pales. ‘Oh no,’ he mutters under his breath, standing up. ‘Uh, stay here. I’ll be right back, too.’

But before he can make it to the door, Felicity reappears, proudly dressed in a makeshift ‘Ring Security’ outfit—her tiara slightly askew, sunglasses perched on her nose, and a bright-pink sash across her chest that reads Ring Security in sparkly letters. She’s clutching what looks suspiciously like a Ring Pop in one hand and grinning like she just saved the day.

‘Ta-da!’ she announces, posing like a superhero.

‘Oh my God,’ I say, laughing as I glance at Miguel. ‘What is happening?’

Miguel groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘Felicity…’

‘Daddy, you’re being weird,’ she says, crossing her arms and looking up at him with an exaggerated sigh. ‘Just do it already!’

‘Do what?’ I ask, looking between them, completely lost.

Miguel looks at Felicity, then at me, and suddenly he starts laughing. Not just laughing but dissolving into full-blown, shoulders-shaking laughter.

‘You’re right, baby girl,’ he says, his voice softening as he kneels down to Felicity’s level. ‘You’re absolutely right.’

Felicity is practically vibrating with excitement as Miguel stands, his laughter fading into something softer, more profound. He takes a step closer, his eyes locking with mine as he pulls a small velvet box from his pocket.

My breath catches, and my hands fly to my mouth. ‘Oh my God.’

Miguel smiles, his nervousness melting into warmth. ‘Mia,’ he begins, his voice steady but thick with emotion, ‘you are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. You’ve brought so much love and light into my life, into Felicity’s life, and I can’t imagine a future without you in it.’

He kneels, opening the box to reveal a stunning ring—a delicate vintage-inspired design with a brilliant solitaire diamond set in an intricate platinum band. The diamond sparkles in the light, catching every glimmer in the room like it was made to shine just for this moment.

‘Will you marry me?’ he asks, his voice full of hope and love, his eyes never leaving mine.

For a moment, I can’t speak. The lump in my throat is too big, the emotions too overwhelming.

Felicity tugs on my sleeve with wide, eager eyes. ‘Say yes, Mia! Say yes!’

That does it—I laugh through the tears streaming down my cheeks. ‘Yes,’ I finally manage, my voice trembling. ‘Yes, of course I’ll marry you.’

Miguel grins, slipping the ring onto my finger with a careful touch. It feels perfect, like it belongs there, like it’s been waiting for this moment. As soon as he stands, I throw my arms around him, pulling him close as Felicity cheers, jumping up and down and tossing her bunny into the air like a victory flag.

‘You did it, Daddy!’ Felicity squeals, bouncing around us like she’s celebrating a team win. ‘You asked her!’

Miguel laughs, holding me close for a moment before letting go to scoop Felicity into his arms. ‘We did it, kiddo,’ he says, kissing her forehead. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’

‘I helped pick the ring, Mia!’ Felicity announces proudly, wriggling out of Miguel’s arms to grab my hand. She tilts it up toward the light, admiring the way the diamond sparkles. ‘Aunt Becca and Uncle Hector helped too!’

I stare at her, blinking. ‘Wait—Becca and Hector were involved in this?’

‘Oh, they showed up,’ Miguel says with a chuckle. ‘They all stormed the jewelry store like it was a team mission. Felicity here declared herself ‘Ring Security’ and insisted on inspecting everything.’

‘I made sure it was perfect!’ Felicity says, beaming. ‘And the unicorn committee said it was the best one for you.’

‘The unicorn committee?’ I echo, laughing as I crouch down to her level.

Felicity nods solemnly. ‘They’re experts in rings, Mia. They told me this one would sparkle the most for you. And they were right!’

I look back down at the ring, twisting my hand slightly to catch the light. It’s breathtaking, simple yet elegant, with a timeless beauty that feels so me.

‘It’s perfect,’ I whisper, tears welling in my eyes again as I glance between Miguel and Felicity. ‘Absolutely perfect.’

Felicity grins so wide I’m surprised her face doesn’t hurt. ‘Told you!’

‘Thank you,’ I say, pulling her into a tight hug. ‘Thank you so much, Felicity. You’re the best Ring Security in the world.’

She giggles, squeezing me back. ‘I know.’

Miguel crouches down beside us, his hand resting on Felicity’s shoulder as he smiles at me. ‘I told you we’re a package deal,’ he says softly.

‘You’re the best package,’ I reply, my voice catching as I lean in to kiss him.

The rest of the night is a blur of laughter, pizza, and stories about the ‘great ring mission.’ Felicity insists on giving a toast, holding up her juice box and declaring, ‘To Daddy and Mia, the best team ever!’ Miguel and I clink our glasses of wine with her juice box, laughing as she beams with pride.

Later, after Felicity has fallen asleep on the couch with her bunny clutched in one hand and her Ring Security sash still draped across her chest, Miguel and I curl up together. The city lights glow softly through the window, and the weight of the day—the joy, the laughter, the love—settles warmly in my chest.

‘So,’ Miguel says, his arm around my shoulders, ‘how does it feel to be the future Mrs. Ramirez?’

I smile, resting my head against his chest as I toy with the ring on my finger. ‘It feels like everything’s finally falling into place.’

He presses a kiss to my forehead. ‘It is. And whatever comes next, we’ll figure it out. Together.’

‘Together,’ I echo, closing my eyes as I let the moment wash over me.

Miguel shifts beside me, his arm tightening around my shoulders. The warmth of his body seeps into mine, and I feel him press another kiss to my forehead, lingering just a little longer this time.

‘The future Mrs. Ramirez,’ he murmurs again, his voice low and filled with awe. ‘My wife.’

A shiver runs down my spine at the way he says it—soft, reverent, but with an edge of excitement that makes my pulse quicken. I tilt my head up to look at him, and the intensity in his gaze sends another wave of heat through me.

‘My wife,’ he repeats, this time with more conviction, his lips curling into a slow, teasing smile. ‘You have no idea how good that sounds.’

I grin, feeling my cheeks flush. ‘Oh, I think I have some idea.’

He chuckles, the sound low and delicious, before leaning down and brushing his lips against mine. The kiss starts soft, but there’s a hunger behind it, a deep sense of longing that catches me off guard in the best way.

‘I’ve been wanting to call you that for so long,’ he murmurs against my lips, his voice thick with emotion. ‘To know that you’re mine—not just in my heart, but in every way.’

I laugh softly, my hands sliding up to rest on his chest. ‘I was already yours, Miguel.’

His eyes darken at my words, his hand sliding up my back to cradle the nape of my neck. ‘Not like this,’ he says, his voice a little rougher now. ‘This is different. This is forever.’

The weight of his words settles between us, heavy and electric, and before I can respond, he captures my lips again, this time with more urgency. His free hand slides to my waist, pulling me closer until there’s no space left between us.

The kiss deepens, and I lose myself in him—the way his lips move against mine, the way his hand grips my hip like he can’t bear to let go, the way his heart pounds beneath my palm.

‘Miguel,’ I whisper when we finally break apart, my forehead resting against his. My voice is breathless, my cheeks flushed, and I know I probably look as dazed as I feel.

‘Yes, Mrs. Ramirez?’ he teases, his lips brushing against mine again in the lightest of kisses.

I laugh, swatting at his chest playfully. ‘You’re really leaning into this, huh?’

‘Oh, you have no idea,’ he says, grinning as his hand slides to my thigh, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. ‘I’ve waited long enough, Mia. I’m not holding back now.’

I’m about to respond—probably with a sarcastic comment to keep things light—but the intensity in his eyes stops me. There’s something raw there, something vulnerable and deeply loving, and it makes my heart ache in the best way.

‘I love you,’ I say, my voice soft but steady.

He smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he presses a kiss to my temple. ‘I love you too, Mrs. Ramirez. More than you’ll ever know.’

And with that, the rest of the world fades away. In this moment, it’s just us—two people who have finally found their forever.