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“We can pick a date this morning,” he said.
“Yes,” Gerty said, wondering what it would feel like to say that same word to him when he did ask her to marry him. When she stood across the altar from him and said she’d be his wife.
Gerty looked around her kitchen as if a calendar would manifest itself and she could circle the date she’d become a Hammond. That didn’t happen, and she looked back at him. “Couple of questions.”
“I’d be shocked if you didn’t have any,” he teased.
She half-rolled her eyes. “One, can I see the ring before you propose?”
“Mm, no.” He didn’t qualify the answer. Didn’t explain why. He simply told her no, and while it brought a flash of irritation to her gut, Gerty calmed herself quickly.
“Fine.” She couldn’t pretend to be mad at him very well, and she broke down into laughter as he stood there with that stoic smile on his face.
“What’s the second question?” he asked.
“Where’s your shirt?” She scanned the room for it and found a wad of fabric draped over the back of her brand-new couch. “You’re distracting me with that broad chest.”
When she picked up the shirt, she discovered it was really two T-shirts, and she dropped one back to the couch as she caught the other one. Mike pressed in behind her and took it from her. “This one’s yours.” His deep voice made her cells tingle in anticipation, but she stayed still as he shook out the shirt and she read it.
She burst out laughing, and she picked up the second one. His was black and said,She’s minewith an arrow pointing to the side. Hers was a light blue—she detested white T-shirts—and said,He’s minewith an arrow pointing the other direction.
“Let’s put them on right now,” she said.
“Like I said,” he said. “I needed your help.”
“I’ll bet you did.” Gerty turned into him and very slowly, she reached up and pushed his jacket off his shoulders. He stood there, doing absolutely nothing to help her, though his shoulder was very nearly better now. He still did physical therapy and saw his doctor often, but his range of motion was good, and he was almost pain-free.
Her eyes tracked along the scars on his shoulder, and she ran her fingertips along them. She cut her eyes over to Mike’s, but he’d closed his. He breathed in, almost like he was trying to memorize her touch.
Gerty sure did like the affect she had on this man, and she ducked her head to get the T-shirt and help him into it. But she grabbed hers first. “Keep your eyes closed,” she whispered.
“Why?” His eyelids fluttered.
She watched him while she stripped off her sweatshirt and pulled the T-shirt over her head. With it all pulled down so she was covered, she said, “Okay, right arm.” She slid the sleeve of that arm up while he lifted it slightly, and when it was in place, she pulled the shirt over his head.
He usually took over here and lifted his left hand to get the other half of the shirt on, but today, he didn’t. “Left hand,” she prompted, and he did it. She tugged the hem down so it covered his belt, and then she stood back.
“Okay. Eyes open.”
Mike complied, and Gerty cocked her hip and grinned at him. His face split into a smile, and he caught her around the waist. They both laughed as she collapsed into his arms.
“I love you, baby doll,” he whispered.
She managed to say, “I love you too,” before he kissed her. Gerty hadn’t just gotten engaged, but she and Mike had done something far better.
They’d promised themselves to each other, and she knew without a doubt that Michael Hammond kept his promises.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Mike flipped open the ring box for probably the twenty-fifth time. He knew what sat inside, because he’d looked at Gerty’s engagement and wedding ring every day for the past three months.
She hadn’t seen it once—but she would tonight. His parents had been in town for a week now, staying in a cabin on Uncle Gray’s farm.
Hunter had transitioned the Chief Executive Officer position over to Mike on January first, and he’d then moved his family into the farmhouse where he’d grown up with his father.
Jane and Deacon had moved into Hunter’s sprawling mansion closer to the city, and they both had a commute now.
Jane opened the door and entered. “She’s here.”
