“And will you?”
Her penetrating gaze was unnerving me, and I took a deep breath to settle my nerves. It didn’t work.
“No. I love Bronson with everything I have.”
Veronica twisted a ring on her right hand. “You haven’t known each other very long.”
I nodded. “But sometimes you know. Maybe it’s destiny or chemistry, but I fell in love with Bronson at first sight.”
“It sounds like the plot of a romcom. But life isn’t like the movies. There are dirty socks on the floor and morning breath.” She covered her nose and her eyes had a faraway look.
Awww, she was recalling a happy memory.
“And the under-the-bedcover farts!” Her cheeks paled.
I was lost for words. Really, I couldn’t speak, but what burst out of me wasn’t a gassy burp, but a giant belly laugh. I couldn’t help it. The thought of Veronica being gassed in bed was too funny. I held my stomach because laughing so much was painful.
For a moment I thought she was going to throw me out of the house, but she smiled before giggling and holding a cushion against her belly.
“That felt good,” she admitted. “And if you love my son as much as you say you do, call me Ronnie.”
Whew. That was a giant step in the right direction. “Thank you, but I was also coming to you for advice, which was why I didn’t tell Bronson.”
She tilted her head, and I wondered if she thought we were already experiencing problems in our relationship.
“I want to marry your son, and I was hoping to run some ideas past you on how to propose.”
“You really are serious about him, aren’t you?”
“He’s my everything.”
She asked me to tell me ideas, and I had to confess I didn’t have any. “I’ve never proposed before.”
She grinned. “I’m glad.”
We went back and forth about Bronson’s likes and dislikes, and Ronnie told me he adored grand gestures.
“Something very public that he’ll be able to talk about even at the end of his life.”
Doing something in front of a horde of people wasn’t my style. My panther and I preferred to stay in the background, but it wasn’t as though I had to shift and reveal the existence of my kind. I didn’t fancy parachuting onto his office building or proposing while rocking climbing on a sheer cliff.
“I know.” Ronnie was sitting on the edge of the sofa. “A flash mob.”
That sounded not what I wanted, but this was about my mate and what he preferred.
You can’t dance.
I’ll have to take lessons.
“We could do it at the park nearby and have music and dancers. It’ll be amazing, and you could get down on one knee at the end.”
I gulped and pictured the amateur dancers on those reality shows. Some had real skill and rhythm, while others had two left feet.
“Wonderful.” Ronnie clapped. “I’m so excited, and thank you for agreeing to do the flash mob. Most people would have said that was ridiculous, but you’re willing to do it because Bronson will love it.”
I didn’t recall agreeing, and I was terrified.
Two hours later, I left my future mother-in-law’s with a wad of notes. The proposal would be in three weeks, and I had to takedance lessons, write a speech, and attend rehearsals all without Bronson suspecting what was up. Ronnie suggested we have a violinist too.
