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“The ring. You. Us. All of it.” She looked down at her hand again, her smile brighter now and maybe a little stunned. “Maybe I should try it out for a while.”

I leaned in and brushed my lips over hers. “I think that’s an excellent idea.”

“Very practical of me.”

“Extremely.” I kissed her again, lingering this time. “And while you’re trying it out, you could maybe think about some dates.”

“Dates?”

“For a wedding.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “And possibly where you’d like to honeymoon. No pressure, obviously.”

She giggled. “Right. No pressure. Just casual wedding dates and honeymoon destinations.”

“Completely casual.”

“Yeah, I could do that,” she said coyly. “That seems logical. Maybe even necessary.”

“I definitely think it’s necessary,” I murmured against her lips, ready to kiss her senseless.

That was when someone pounded on the front door.

I groaned, holding back several four-letter words as George started barking and tore down the stairs like he wasn’t basically a fluffy teddy bear with delusions of grandeur.

“Let’s ignore it,” I suggested.

“Normally, I would agree with you,” Rory said, already pulling back, “but what if someone needs help? Who would come out in a storm like this?”

Unfortunately, she had a point.

“You stay here and keep warm,” I said. “Maybe consider those dates, and I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” She pecked my lips.

I climbed out of bed and pulled on a T-shirt.

Damn, it was cold.

I rushed down the stairs.

George stood in the entryway, barking as if he could take down an army of full-grown men. I rubbed his head as I passed by.

“I’m sure they’ll be terrified when you lick them to death.”

It was the only weapon he had in his arsenal.

I padded toward the door, the old floorboards cold beneath my bare feet. But I didn’t have to open it to know who was standing on the porch.

My dad’s face appeared in the small window of the door, his shoulders hunched against the storm.

My first thought was that something had happened to my mom. It was the only reason he would possibly be there.

The snow whipped around him even though he was under the cover of the porch as he stared blankly at me, apparently at a loss for words.

I opened the door. “Is everything okay?” I asked through chattering teeth. “Is Mom all right?”

“Yes, she’s fine,” he said gruffly over the howl of the wind. “She wanted me to check on you.”

I stared at him.