Page 58 of Ocotillo Kisses
“I know you said that about the Fourth of July celebration, but you found some places. I’m looking for help to get the proposal just right. I was just wondering if you could help me.”
“A proposal?” Had she misunderstood?
“Yes, I want to propose to her on the Fourth. You know, with the fireworks and everything.”
“I’ve never done a proposal before, but it could be fun.” Her mind was already spinning. She shifted to face him. “Do you want to, I don’t know, involve other people? I mean to help out?”
Austin looked down the table at the group. “I don’t know how good any of these are at keeping secrets.”
She laughed, drawing the attention of Ginny and the others. Ginny narrowed her eyes at the way Austin was leaning toward Britt.
“I think you’re probably right. Let me look into some ideas and see what I can come up with. I’ll see if I can offer options.” She was already thinking of something with sparklers. Maybe a song.
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” He popped off the bench and went to sit by Ginny.
She was surprised a few minutes later when Caleb set a bottle of beer in front of her and sat where Austin had been.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“Listen, I’m thinking about proposing to Sofia at the fireworks.”
She turned all the way around on the bench to face him, just to make sure she hadn’t already spoken to him.
Nope, completely different guy.
“What are you thinking?” And how had she become an expert in this all of a sudden? She didn’t even plan weddings, as a rule and had never actually been proposed to.
“I don’t know. We’re not having the high school marching band or anything, are we?”
“Yes, as far as I know. Do you and Sofia have a song you want them to learn?”
His brow creased. “Not really.”
“So what did you want the band to play?” she asked, trying to keep the exasperation from her voice.
“I don’t know, something romantic. I’m sure I could think of something.”
A marching band playing a romantic song. Somehow she didn’t see it. “So where do I come in?” She wondered if she should tell him that Austin had just asked for similar help. Could she plan two separate proposals for the same night in the same fifteen minute window?
“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” Caleb said, meeting Sofia’s eyes down the table. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
Before she could respond, he was gone, but thankfully, not long after, Con walked through the gate.
The lift in her chest was only part relief. She watched him greet his friends, but when his gaze zeroed in on her, well, her heart just turned right over in her chest.
Damn it. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Did you get anything to eat?” he asked her when he got closer.
“No, ah.” Did she want to admit in front of everyone that she was waiting for him? That if he hadn’t shown up, she was going to make her escape?
He didn’t wait for her to expand, just motioned with his head toward the bar. “Let’s go get something. I’m starving.”
When they returned to the table after placing their order, they sat on the edge of the gathering, part of the group but not, and Britt had to remind herself this wasn’t really a date, wasn’t really anything but two friends—well, friends again—getting reacquainted.
With a side of intense attraction.
They didn’t stay long after they finished eating. Con contributed a little to his friends’ conversations, but between the band playing over her shoulder and really just not feeling too welcome, Britt didn’t make much of an attempt. When Con looked in her direction and she read in his eyes—how funny how she could still read his expressions—she gave a short nod and rose.
