Jo left the stage and Adrian and his friends played again. She cut through the crowd to Blue and her family.
“I’m so happy you made it,” she said. “But you’ve all got some explaining to do.”
“I hope you’re not upset with us,” Rose said. “I thought I’d given away Blue’s surprise last night when we spoke.” Her grandmother hugged her tightly. “This handsome young man drove all the way to San Diego to fetch me.”
“You said you weren’t feeling up to coming,” Jo said, looking between her grandmother and Blue.
“Blue called us yesterday afternoon and arranged it all,” Hugo said, coming in for his own hug. “We wanted to surprise you. My exam isn’t until next week.”
Jo looked up at Blue, who watched her with a loving expression. “You drove all the way to San Diego and back?”
“I knew you would want your family here.” Blue smiled and gave a small self-effacing shrug.
Mamie Rose patted Jo’s cheek. “How could we miss this? Now, I want to taste every one of these coffees.” She glanced at the stations. “Are those my cookies?”
Jo gestured to her baker. “Dulcie makes them from your recipe. They’re a huge hit here.”
“My goodness, thank you for sharing them,” Rose said, nodding her appreciation to Jo and Dulcie.
Jo led Rose and Hugo toward the tasting stations, aware of Blue falling into step behind them. She helped her grandmother onto a stool and made sure she had coffee and cookies. Blue’s gaze shifted toward Rocky.
The two men stared at each other. Blue’s jaw tightened, and a territorial glare flickered across his face before he caught himself and looked away.
Please, not tonight, Jo thought. Blue was showing great restraint.
Rocky, seemingly unbothered, crossed the room and clapped Blue on the shoulder like they were old friends.
“Relax, Officer Blumenthal,” Rocky said, low enough that only they and Jo could hear. “You’re the one she loves. Even when she was pretending otherwise.”
Blue exhaled, and most of the tension left his shoulders. He offered his hand, and Rocky shook it.
“Congratulations on your job with Ryan,” Blue said. “I heard about it.”
Rocky grinned. “Congratulations on not being an idiot anymore.”
A hushed moment followed, then Blue broke into a laugh. “You’re alright, I guess.”
The two men shared a bro hug, and Jo smiled, noticing that Maileah had recorded the entire exchange on video. Maybe they would all laugh about this later.
“Thank you,” Jo said to Blue, her hand on her heart. “Bringing them was the best gift I could have asked for.”
“For you, anything.” Blue reached for Jo’s hand and kissed it.
As she gazed into his eyes, the noise of the party seemed to recede.
He leaned closer to her. “Have you thought about my question?”
His warmth drew her in, and her skin tingled at the nearness of him. From the corner of her eye, Jo saw Junie watching them with excitement and Maileah lifting her phone to record again.
She glanced at her grandmother, almost feeling the waves of support.
“Ask me again,” Jo said with confidence.
Her words rippled to those surrounding them, and Junie and Maileah took a step back. Knox picked up Penny so she could see.
Blue knelt on one knee and took her hand.
As the circle around them widened, people turned to look and parted to give them room.
