Urgent Mission

‘That’s why I thought of asking her out for a drink,’ Lemuel mumbled. ‘You know how alcohol loosens tongues.’ ‘Not her. She can drink three of you under the table.’ Elias tapped a finger on his thigh. ‘So, you are not romantically interested in her?’ Lemuel shook his head vehemently. ‘Absolutely not, sir. Any interest I might have had in her was crushed when she broke two of my ribs. Besides…’ Lemuel cleared his throat. ‘I’ve already got my sights on someone.’ A knowing glint danced in Elias’s eyes. ‘I think I have an idea who you are talking about.’ ‘Sir, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you manage to sway Callie?’ ‘Sway?’ ‘Apologies, wrong word choice. I meant, how did you get her to marry you? What was your secret?’ Elias contemplated, a smile tugging at his lips at the memory of Callie’s blushing reaction to his impromptu proposal. ‘I think it was a mix of timing and charm...’ ‘Charm?’ Lemuel glanced at his own face in the rearview mirror. ‘I think I’ve got some of that.’ ‘But