Page 81 of The Sexy Part
He slides the ring on my finger, rises to his feet, and hugs me tight. Cheers and applause surround us.
I pull back to look at him. “You were very tricky with the birthday party thing. You even bought a birthday card!”
“Oh my goodness!” Hailey exclaims, hurrying over with the pearl necklace I gave her. “Rowan, this is too much.”
“It was my mom’s. I wanted you to have it because you’re more than just my employer and friend. You’re like a mom to me.”
She hugs me and places the necklace around my neck. “Then this is a gift from mother to new daughter. Welcome to the family, Rowan.”
My lower lip trembles. She folds me into her arms, and I sigh, relaxing. And then everyone’s rushing up to congratulate us.
“This is so wonderful!” Mackenzie exclaims, hugging us both at the same time. “Now I’ve got a sister!”
I give her a watery smile. “I’ve always wanted a sister!”
Harper hugs me next. “Looks like a taste of his own medicine was exactly what he needed. Congrats to both of you.”
“Thank you!” I say.
A waiter stops by to give us both champagne.
Josh raises his glass. “To the happy couple! Congratulations!”
I clink my glass against Cooper’s, and then Mackenzie and Harper clink glasses with me too. I take a sip of the bubbly drink.
“We miss our roommate,” Harper says to me.
“Aww, I see you guys all the time,” I say. I moved in with Cooper last weekend.
“Not the same,” she pouts.
“Felix misses you too,” Mackenzie says.
“I promise to visit all of you regularly,” I say.
“Come see the shot glass display,” Cooper says.
I walk with him to the bar, where a new display case holds his Lucky Shot shot glasses. “Very cool.”
“I didn’t want them to get dusty. People wanted to use them, but I said no. I want to keep them in perfect condition because that’s the day when we got together for good.”
“Sweet. I love it.”
He goes behind the bar. “This is like the first time we met. Me right here, you right there.” He gestures to his cousin Rafael, who comes over and takes our picture.
“Thanks, man,” Cooper says to him.
“No problem. I’ll just be in the background getting some candid shots to surprise you with later.”
“Nothing too compromising,” Cooper says.
“Don’t stifle the artist,” Rafael says. “Naked photos are some of my best work.”
“Right,” I say.
Rafael grins and gives my arm a squeeze. “Congrats again.” He walks away, but I’m sure his telephoto lens will still capture us.
A woman with long light brown hair smiles at us. Her hazel eyes sparkle with good humor. “I didn’t know I walked into an engagement party.”
