Walker shoots me another glare before giving a polite smile to Lila. “Good to meet you.”
Then I nod at Rafe. “Rafe’s the good brother.”
Rafe lifts his whiskey glass our way. “Nice to meet you, Lila.”
Then I look at my Dad, whose gaze is flickering between me and Lila, a little bit curious and whole lot delighted. “And that’s my dad, Daryl.”
“Lila,” he says warmly. “Welcome to the family.”
Her smile turns hesitant again. “Th—thank you.”
“I told them everything already,” I explain to her. “They know what we’ve got going on.”
Tanner just laughs again. “Boy do we ever.” He waggles a finger at me. “Slade, you dog. It’s all making sense now.”
I know better than to dig into whatever the fuck he’s implying withthat.
Chapter 12
Ton of Bricks
SLADE
The rest of the family dinner goes peacefully. Over half a dozen appetizers and cuts of filet mignon and many a glass of red wine and whiskey, my family gets the story out of Lila. Growing up in Newport, Rhode Island, going to design school, bouncing around the country before settling in Marble Falls.
“It’s just a magical place,” Lila explains about her decision to settle here. “Maybe this sounds hokey, but some places just have that good energy to them, and this is one of them.”
Rafe, who’s been mostly quiet, pipes up, much to my surprise. “I agree. As the only other non-native here, I’ll say I felt it too, from the second I came here. Been all around the world but there’s no place like Marble Falls. And especially no place like Wild Rose.”
“Here here,” my dad says. He lifts his glass in a toast. “To Wild Rose. To family, old and new. And to the future bride andgroom, and the matrimonial adventure you two have awaiting you.”
Dad winks at me.
There’s a chorus of cheers and glasses clinking. I take a sip of my whiskey, then let myself glance over at Lila. I’ve been rationing my glances at her all night. One every few minutes. Any more than that and I’d never look away.
She’s laughing at something Tanner said, her whole face open and glowing, and before I can stop myself I lean close, tap her on the shoulder. I jealously want her attention on me.
She turns. Those pretty brown eyes of hers remind me of my favorite whiskey, just as warm and rich. Her skin seems to glow from within in the candlelight.
For a moment I’m just stunned speechless once again. This woman is going to be my wife.
As I gaze at her, she gives me a small smile, one that’s different from the ones she’s been giving my family all night. Softer. Just for me.
“What is it?” she asks.
I honestly forgot what I was going to say.
The words tumble out of me, unbidden. “You’re so beautiful.”
Her cheeks flush. “Thank you. You, um. You look very handsome too.”
The conversation goes on around us and I don’t hear any of it. I can’t keep my eyes off my fiancée. My gaze lingers on the delicate jewelry sparkling at her throat. I’ve been sitting next to her all night trying not to look at the curve of her graceful neck. Trying not to imagine putting my mouth there.
I let myself look now.
I want to lick beneath the gems resting atop her skin.
Gemstones. That reminds me of the small box that’s been sitting in my jacket pocket for a week now. I bought it four daysafter she said yes. It’s just practical. She’s going to need a ring if this is going to look real.
