Page 11 of Marry Me

“Dad barely sleeps he’s so worried.”

Ally nodded. “Mom has been stress gardening.”

“God, I hope this goes through.” Betsy paused them for a car to cross the intersection. “If it doesn’t, I don’t know what’s going to happen. They can always move in with me, I suppose.”

Allison turned to her sister as they resumed their walk. “Well, we can’t think like that, because it sounds like it’s all moving in the right direction. I’ll check with Brent tonight. We’re having a late dinner after his conference call with the board. The new BeLeaf is opening in Oak Lawn, and deadlines are tight.”

“He’s been pulling late hours?”

“Sure, but that’s not new.”

“That might have to change once you two start a family, which I recommend you get to immediately.”

Allison laughed. “No, no, no. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Betsy tossed her a glance over her double-timing shoulders. “I’m quite serious. A man like Brent is going to want children and likely soon.”

A man like Brent? The thing was, Allison knew Brent and Betsy didn’t. At least not that well. Her sister was more worldly than she was, but sometimes her proclamations came without merit. Brent was a Carmichael, sure, but he wasn’t aCarmichael. He would never demand anything of Allison that they hadn’t thoroughly discussed and agreed upon.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she told Betsy, not really one to make waves. Ally preferred to keep things comfortable, and sometimes that meant agreeing with her sister for the sake of peace.

They finished their walk, and after a quick shower, Allison made the drive to Brent’s house in Highland Park. Correction, her future home. It was honestly too big for two people, but gorgeous nonetheless, a custom remodel spanning two and a half stories over a sprawling five thousand square feet. The circular driveway made for a regal arrival, and the soaring ceiling of the entryway into the living room was only the first wow factor. A person could easily get lost there, Allison often reminded Brent, who would laugh at how cute she was. Coming from the complete opposite of her humble upbringing, Brent had always hadmoney at his fingertips and very much took it for granted. She didn’t blame him for what he hadn’t experienced, but sometimes she worried that he couldn’t relate to a large part of the world.

“There you are,” he said, when she made her way into the great big living space. He wore dark jeans and a forest green sweater. Even after a long day, he looked bright, focused, and ready for more. “I ordered Mr. Eggroll. Is that cool?” He leaned down for a quick kiss. “The usual.”

“I will forever be in your debt. Betsy made me do one of those speed walks, and I feel like I should be rewarded.”

“What? Like the women in the mall in the jogging suits?”

She followed him to the gray and white kitchen. “But with extra added intensity. Her shoulders move like Mighty Mouse, Brent. I’m not built that way. I was lucky to survive.”

“Betsy doesn’t mess around. Reminds me of the hard-core girls from Penn. Crab rangoon?”

She snagged one as he plated the rest of the food. “She was floored that Megan Kinkaid is personally planning our wedding. I still am, too, if I’m being honest.”

“Oh, I gave her a call today. Just to say hello. Courtesy, you know.”

“She mentioned you were friends.”

“We ran in the same social circles for a while, back when I was a gentleman about town.” He adjusted his imaginary tie.

“Oh, you mean the wild and crazy days.”

He kissed her lips with a smack. “Until I met the woman who tamed me for life.”

They both knew that wasn’t the case. Brent did everything on a timeline, and when the alarm clock in his head went off, he knew, probably because his father once told him, that he needed to settle down and look toward the next phase of his life. And here she was. “I can’t take credit for that. You have a plan for everything. What did you two talk about?” She slid into the sleek leather bench seat that surrounded the large square kitchen table, big enough for eight.

He took a swig of his beer. “We shot the breeze for a bit, and I let her know how much you enjoyed meeting with her. Gave her our budget and some special liquor requests. We’ll need the good stuff for my guys.”

“And I wouldn’t have a clue what that would be, so I’m glad youstepped in.” A pause. “So…what’s she like? Outside of work.” She couldn’t help but wonder after having been so struck by the woman.

“Megan? Smart and always the responsible one in any group. Killer dancer and hot as hell when she’s doing it. Likes the ladies, though.”

“So she said.” Ally chewed her food. “I wonder what it’s like to be so put together? I’m envious.”

“Of Megan? Please. I much prefer my everyday girl.” He squeezed her hand and went back to his food. Brent liked that she wasn’t overly glamorous or complicated, and she had no problem owning it. Not everyone could be special.

“Speaking of meetings, I heard the one with my parents went well,” she said, moving them out of it.

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