Page 151 of Banter & Blushes

“You built this?” she whispered.

“I stayed up all night,” he said. “I couldn’t stop thinking about the future you’re building, and how I want to be part of it.”

She stared at him. “You’re already on the bingo card, Beck. Although I think you’ve been replaced by a new man.”

“What do you mean?” Beck pretended to be offended.

“It appears Max is at the top of the bingo card now.”

“You and Max? Should I be worried?”

“Oh, it’s not me. Gigi didn’t drop details.” She bit her bottom lip and looked at the man she loved across the desk. “Did you hear Boomer this morning?”

“They heard Boomer two counties over. Quite the news this morning.”

She looked up slowly. “You’re taking this remarkably well.”

“At least he didn’t follow you. Can you imagine a tuba serenade outside the township building? Word is, Boomer’s available for private concerts.”

“Then I should call him. Maybe I can put him to work at the gala.”

“Don’t temp him.” He laughed again, closing the laptop. “When do people start arriving?”

“Faye said the reporter should arrive sometime this week. She wanted a few days to walk around before the events start.”

Beck put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward. “I think you should give Gigi one more square to fill.”

“Why should I? She’s had enough fun tormenting me.”

Beck stood and walked around the desk, stopping just in front of her. “Because for once, the town got something right.”

Her heart skipped. “Beck?—”

“I know it’s fast. And messy. And possibly going to end with Gigi handing out ‘TeamBeckline’T-shirts at the gala.”

“Oh no.”

“I told you I love you, Hollis. I went to my parents really for one purpose.”

“You told me. You invited them down for Memorial Day.”

Beck shook his head. Dropping to his knee, he pulled a small box out of his pocket. “My parents knew each other for five days when my dad proposed. They were married ten days later. Now they’ve been married for over thirty-five years.”

“What are you saying?” Caroline asked, her voice catching.

“I’m saying I don’t want to waste another day.” He opened the box, revealing a ring which sparkled almost as much as the sly grin in his eyes. “Will you marry me?”

Caroline felt the world tilt, then it settled in a way it hadn’t before. She was breathless; the words caught in her throat, a rush of unexpected tears pressing at the corners of her eyes. “Beck…” she said, exhaling his name like a prayer. She could barely believe this was happening. “Ask me again,” she managed, her heart hammering with possibility.

“Caroline Hollis, will you?—”

“Yes.” She cut him off with a kiss, throwing her arms around his neck, and dissolved into a fit of laughter and tears. “Yes, yes, yes! I hope you know what you’re getting into,” she said, a playful tremble still in her voice as she looked at the ring on her hand.

“A perfectly planned life with you?” Beck said, running a finger along her jaw. “It’s exactly what I want.” He leaned in to kiss her.

Boomer’s voice broke through the window. “ATTENTION, BLUEBELL BAY—Max Bennett’s girlfriend has officially arrived!”

When they finally pulled apart, Beck tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Poor Max.”

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