Page 81 of Tide and Seek
“Royce.”Max’s voice cut into my spiraling thoughts.“This might seem out of the blue, but I need to ask you something.”
My stomach dropped, but I kept my expression neutral.“All right.”
Max walked to the patio table and set the champagne bottle down with enough force that I worried the glass bottle might crack.He stared at it for a moment, then looked back at me with an almost expectant expression.
“I’ve thought long and hard about us,” he said huskily.“About our relationship.About what I need in the person I love.”
Somehow I managed to sound calm as I asked, “And what did you decide?”
He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.His face was flushed, and there was obvious worry in his blue eyes.“I love you,” he said hoarsely.“I need you to understand that.”
Oh, God.This is a kiss off, right?
He stammered, “I… I… I love you more than I thought it was possible to love another person.”
I waited for the but.It just felt like there was definitely going to be a but in there somewhere.
Max ran his hand through his hair, and the result was a few silky tufts sticking up.“Look at the bottle, Royce.”
“What?”
“The bottle.Look at it.”
I glanced at the champagne, then back at his increasingly agitated face.“Okay.I looked at it.”What in the world was happening?Why did I need to look at the bottle when I was on the verge of hyperventilating?
“Really look at it.”
A fat raindrop hit my shoulder as I stepped closer to the table.I glanced up at the dark clouds, scowling.“It’s raining.”
“That’s okay.”Max pointed at the bottle again.“Look at the bottle.”
What is his obsession with the damn bottle?
I glanced at the bottle but winced when a few more drops hit my face.“Should we go inside?”
Max blinked at me, looking flustered.“Go inside?But I pictured this happening out on the deck.”
“Well,” I flinched when more drops splattered on my cheek.“But, it’s raining on us.Your suit’s going to get ruined.”
“I have other suits,” he said tersely.“Just hurry up and look at the bottle, Royce.I don’t want to do this inside.I planned this for outside.”As he finished speaking, the rain really started to come down.“Ugghh,” he growled.
Bewildered, I stayed where I was being pelted by rain.“You sure you don’t want to go inside?”
“Shit,” he hissed, shielding his head with his arms.“This was supposed to be romantic.The rain is ruining everything.”
Romantic?
The same time that word sank in, my eyes fixed on a thin band of gold tied around the bottle’s neck with red ribbon.The metal ring caught what little light remained as more drops began to fall.
“Max.”My voice came out gravelly.“Is that a ring?”
“Yes.”He was watching my face intently, rain beginning to darken his suit jacket.His dark hair was plastered to his head.“I bought it for you today.”He scowled up at the dark sky, swearing under his breath.“It never rains in California.Why is this happening?”
Staring at him in complete astonishment, I mumbled, “Are you proposing to me?”
“I’m trying to,” he cried, fumbling with the wet ribbon tied around the neck of the bottle.He finally managed to get the ring loose and he held it up, as water streamed down his grim face.“Royce, will you marry me?”
I stepped closer, covering his hands with mine.The relief that flooded me was so intense my eyes stung.“Jesus, Max, I thought you were going to break up with me.”
