Page 85 of Take Me
Is that?—?
Did Neil?—?
“God, that’s gorgeous.”She peers in the box Parker shows her.“Is that one of your grandmother’s diamonds in the middle?”
Parker looks proud as he hands her the box for a closer look.“Yep.”
Naturally, Annabelle knows the whole story.How my grandmother left us a broach with a stone for each Spencer-King son to use when he found the person he wanted to marry.Kaleb and Jake have used theirs, and it’s Parker’s turn next.
“It’s stunning, and so personal,” Annabelle says.
“Thanks.”Parker points at the setting.“That’s Alaska jade around the band.I had it custom made in Ketchikan, since Callie grew up there.It’s where we met.”
“So amazing.”She hands back the box as I pick up a pint glass from the dish rack and dry it.“You plan to live in Alaska after you get married?”she asks Parker.
“Yep.”He stuffs the box in his pocket and knocks back the last of his beer.“Assuming she says yes.”
“She’ll say yes.”I have no doubt about that.“Any idiot could watch you two at Jake’s wedding and know you belong together.You’re a great guy, and it’s obvious Calliope loves the shit out of you.”
Parker stares at me, one edge of his mouth ticking up.“Huh.”Slapping a twenty on the bar, he stands up and shrugs on his coat.“Weird how other people can pick up on shit like that.”
He throws us a wave as he shuffles off, hitching his collar against the rain.I pivot to pour Annabelle’s ginger ale, wishing Parker would move back to town.I know that’s not possible, since his heart’s in Alaska, and so is his work.But a guy can still dream.
“He’s doing great, huh?”Ignoring the drink that I set down in front of her, Annabelle folds her hands on the bar.
“Yeah.You get a chance to meet Calliope at the wedding?”
“I didn’t.”She looks at her hands and yep—that’s a big rock on the third finger of her left one.
She must sense me staring because she looks up and gives me a sheepish smile.“Neil proposed Sunday night.”
“Congratulations.”I wait for a pang of emotion, but nothing happens.
“Thanks.”She sounds as excited as someone accepting a pat on the back for a dental cleaning.“I, um...told him I’d think about it.”
“What’s to think about?”I can’t believe how chill I’m being about this.“I thought you said Neil wasthe one.That everything worked out like it was supposed to.”
“I did say that, yes.”She stares at her hands again.When she looks up, there are tears in her eyes.“I might have made a mistake.”
“Sorry to hear that.”I don’t think she’s talking about transplanting Doberman testicles onto a chihuahua.“Anything I can help fix?”
“I don’t think so.”She squeezes her eyes shut and sighs.“Actually, that’s not true.”
“Oh?”
Drawing a breath, she opens her eyes again.They glitter as she flattens her hands on the bar.“I took it for granted how easy things felt with you.We were always laughing together, having such a great time, doing silly things.It was just so—so?—”
“Fun?”
“Yes!”She smacks a palm on the bar, and I jump.“I thought that meant you weren’t the one.There’s supposed to be drama and passion and a romance so big it sweeps you off your feet.”
Well, now I feel misrepresented.“I won’t claim I’m real big on drama, but I planned a helluva lot of romantic, candlelight dinners.And technically, there’s that one time I carried you to bed like a caveman?—”
“Yes, that’s it exactly.”She laughs like I’ve said something funny, though I’m not sure I meant to.“Sex between us was amazing.”
“I mean?—”
“No, seriously, give yourself credit.You’re pretty damn great in the sack.”
