Page 52 of Strictly Pretend

“Water a…” I trail off as I realize what he’s saying. For the first time, Brooks smiles.

“What are you grinning at?” I ask him.

“You.”

My lips curl, because I can’t help but smile either. It’s been the strangest day so far, but somehow having him here has made it bearable. Even if he has the best resting bitch face of anybody I know.

“You can smile all you want,” I tell him. “You’re holding the horse.”

“The horse isn’t going anywhere,” he tells me, looking in the animal’s direction. If horses could have expressions, he’d look bored.

“I’ve always wanted to see bisons or buffalos up close,” I tell Brooks. “I used to be obsessed by them.”

He tips his head to the side. “You were? Why?”

“They’re so beautiful. So proud and strong. And we just…” I shake my head. “We kind of ruined them.”

There’s something strangely soft in the way he looks at me. “You never cease to amaze me,” he tells me. “You’re extremely unpredictable.”

“Am I?” I frown. “I thought I was completely predictable.”

“You howl at the moon. You’re obsessed by bison. I’m thinking you’re more wild animal than human.”

I narrow my eyes. “That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

“It is,” he says, sounding assured. “I’ve always liked animals better than people.”

I open my mouth to ask him if that means he likes me. But I’m not sure I want to hear the answer. Instead, I stare at him, and he stares right back, a light wind ruffling our hair as the horse lets out a tiny snort.

And that’s when I decide. I’m going to do this.We’regoing to do this. I take a step toward him until our bodies are inches away from each other. Those little frown lines appear between his eyebrows, like he’s still trying to work me out. I close the gap between us and loop my arms around his neck.

“By the way, baby,” I murmur. “The answer is yes.”

The corner of his lip quirks up. “Baby?”

I widen my eyes at him.Get with the program, Salinger. If we’re going to do this, we’ll be doing it properly. “Baby,” I confirm.

He blinks, those thick lashes sweeping down, then before I can say anything else his mouth is on mine. It’s the softest, sweetest kiss. The kind a boyfriend who’s stupidly in love with you would give you. It sends a shiver of delight through my body.

“Hey, did I just hear what I thought I heard?” Tex says, walking back toward us with the biggest grin on his face. “Did you just accept his proposal? Cos I heard you say ‘yes’.”

What? My mouth drops open, and the pleasurable shiver disappears completely.

“Um…” Brooks looks like he’s the cornered animal now.

“That’s so romantic. I can’t wait to tell the others.” He claps his hands together, looking like all his Christmases have come at once. “That’s my first proposal. Holy Moses, I’m delighted for you both.”

Brooks slides his hand into mine, squeezing it tightly. “Thank you,” he says, his voice completely serious. “But if it’s okay with you, we’d like to keep it on the down-low. We wouldn’t want anything to overshadow Cassie and Derek’s wedding.”

“Hey sure. No problem.” Tex is still grinning at us. “Hey, where’s the ring?”

“We don’t have one,” Brooks tells him. “It was a spur-of-the-moment proposal.” How does he sound so convincing? I swear the man’s either the best actor in the world or a complete sociopath.

“Well we can’t be having that.” Tex frowns. “Hey, I got an idea.” He pulls a chain from around his neck. Looped onto it is a silver ring. “This was my mom’s. I think she’d like you to have it.” He unclasps the chain and slides the ring off, handing it to Brooks. “Do it again, man. Let me watch this time. I can’t get enough of this romantic stuff.”

Okay, so now I really am horrified. “We can’t take your mom’s ring,” I tell him.

“Of course you can. I want you to. She’d love it. She’s an old romantic too.”

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