Page 20 of Securing His Family

Was he reaching for his phone?

Had it buzzed while they were talking? But that didn’t make sense because if the information just came in he wouldn’t know that he needed to talk to her.

Lauren’s eyes bugged out of her head when she saw what he was holding out toward her.

“Reed? What the heck!” she exclaimed.

In between his thumb and forefinger was a ring. A ring that looked suspiciously like an engagement one.

“I want you to have this.” For the first time since she met him, there was a hint of nervousness about him.

She looked from the ring to his face and back again. Probably taking way too long, but her brain had short circuited. “Are you proposing to me? Like for real? Because if you are then it’s a pretty bad proposal.”

She really must be losing her mind if she could joke about it with him.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling in the corners. Seems her lightness eased his nerves. “Trust me, if I was serious you’d know. But I figured, in case Patrick shows up and I’m not around, you can show him this. You can wear it or not. I don’t mind.”

Was this a dream? It was the only thing that made sense because there was no possible way any of this could be serious.

“Did you go out andbuyme a diamond ring?” Having a closer look at it she could see that the diamond wasn’t small. No way was she an expert on the size of diamonds, but the one in the ring was big.

He chuckled. “No, this was my mum’s. Why don’t you try it on?”

Lauren tucked her hands beneath her legs, as if the ring was a snake. “I couldn’t. It was your mum’s ring. She gave it to you so you would give it to the woman you love, not someone who has a creeper ex. Someone you have no feelings for. No,” she shook her head, “I’m not taking the ring.”

Reed twisted the ring left and right, the sun glinting off the stone casting small rainbows around them. Was he looking for answers? If so, what was the question? It really was beautiful and if this was real. If Reed loved her and she loved him, she would grab that ring and put it on her finger without a single qualm. But that wasn’t the case. This was all make-believe. Something you’d read about in a book.

“I don’t think Mum will mind,” he said quietly. Then glanced at her face. “If she knew the reasoning behind it, the fact that it was going to offer you a semblance of protection, then she would be fine with you wearing it.” He took hold of her left hand, rubbing his thumb over the top. “Please Lauren, will you at least take it. You can wear it around a chain if it will make you feel better. The fact you work with food, wearing it around your neck wouldn’t be too much of a stretch should Patrick come to the café.”

Not something she wanted to even consider. What if he came when it was full of their regulars? Would he do something to hurt them? She couldn’t let that happen. Couldn’t let someone ruin all that Tabitha had worked for.

Lauren glanced at the ring again. Reed still held it between his fingers. He wasn’t twisting it, he was just looking at it. Was he remembering it being on his mum’s finger? Was it a good memory?

“What happened to your mum?” she asked quietly.

Reed glanced away at the trees before returning his attention to her. “She and Dad died within six months of each other. Dad passed first, he had a stroke and the ambulance arrived too late to help him. Mum was devastated. She and Dad had been together since they were fourteen. High school sweethearts. No one said they’d last. Everyone in Mum’s family were convinced they would break up a year or two after they got married. But Mum and Dad’s love was so strong that nothing could break them apart—except death.”

Reed closed his fingers around the ring, as though he was trying to imprint the love his parents had for each other into his soul. “After Dad died, Mum was lost. She didn’t have her best friend anymore. We tried to get her to do things at the community center, but it was like she’d lost her reason to live. Anyway, I came to see her one day and found her collapsed on the ground in the kitchen. She was clutching one of Dad’s shirts.” His breath hitched for a moment. “We didn’t bother with an autopsy. Ben and I knew that she’d died of a broken heart. We didn’t need a report to tell us what we already knew.”

Lauren’s heart broke at the pain in Reed’s voice. “I’m so sorry, Reed.”

“Thanks.” He gave a short nod of appreciation. “I know they’re together and happy, that’s all that matters. They were what a marriage should be. A team. They supported each other in whatever they wanted to do. They traveled, and they laughed and loved hard.”

“This is why you should give the ring to someone you love, Reed.” She touched his face softly. “That ring deserves the same love story that your parents had.”

His hand closed over hers where it rested against his cheek. “I want you to have it Lauren. Please. I know that Mum will be okay with me giving it to you. My reasons are pure and solid.”

Could she believe him? That his mum would be fine with the reasons for giving her a ring that signified pure love.

The pain of talking about his parents burned in his eyes along with a sincerity that said this was what he wanted. It was impossible to fight him anymore.

“I’ll take it,” she whispered.

His smile chased away the sadness, and she felt a little better about her decision. Without saying anything he took her left hand and slid the ring home—it fit perfectly, as though it was destined to be on her finger. He then lifted her hand, kissing just above the ring. “See I knew it would look perfect on you.”

“It does.” And it really did, and for a moment Lauren wished that it was real.

ChapterNine

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