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“How long will Em need to plan the wedding?”
“Dunno. I’ve never planned a wedding before. But Zara is looking to cater weddings, and Em convinced Kim to do wedding photography for certain clients. Both want to be involved with our wedding—if that’s okay with you—so that will save us time looking for those two things.”
Simone stops walking and types on her phone. “We should arrange for the local newspaper to post our engagement announcement.” She continues typing. “Given the gossip chain in Maple Ridge, news about the announcement will quickly reach Tuuli and Robert. But I’m sure they will have already heard the news by then from your mom. The announcement in the newspaper will make things more official.” She shrugs. “Or I’m assuming it will.”
Her phone pings, and she checks the screen. Types something else. Another ping. “Em said she ideally needs about four weeks. She wanted to know what’s the rush, so I told her we’ve waited long enough to be together as husband and wife. Given that she wants to get her business up and running, she’s more than okay with us having a short engagement. So, we could have the wedding next month. Or if you want to wait longer, that’s fine, too. I’m good with whatever works for you. As long as we get photos of us together for my social media accounts in the meantime.”
We continue walking and holding hands.
“If we’re aiming for a normal marriage,” I say, “I get that will involve holding hands in public. But what will it entail when it’s just the two of us alone? I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“Are you asking me if sex is on the table, Cannon?”
“Table. Bed. Shower.” I know that’s not what she meant, but she must know she was setting herself up for that answer.
She snorts a laugh. “Cute.” Then she releases the long sigh I recognize to mean she’s thinking things through. “I don’t want to have sex just because we agreed to marry for business reasons. I have to care about the guy enough to want to have sex with him.” She shakes her head. “That probably sounds silly to you because you’re a guy. Guys don’t need to be emotionally involved for sex to be great. And well, we have had sex before. You and me. Together. Lots of times.”
Her cheeks redden, and now she’s the one who is damn adorable.
“So you want to wait?” There’s no judgment or disappointment in my tone. Just straight honesty and understanding.
She nods, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “That’s probably not what you want to hear…”
Given how that move with her lip is making me hard, she’s right about that. But I do respect her wishes. Always have. “No, that’s fine. If you want to wait, we can wait until when and if you’re ready.”
Simone looks over my shoulder. “Uh, oh. Is Beatrice Lewis still head of Maple Ridge’s Gossip Grapevine?”
“As far as I know…” It’s not something I keep track of. “Why?”
“She’s standing on her porch, watching us. Maybe we should kiss. That will help our engagement appear more believable.”
“Good idea, Trouble.” I pull Simone to me, moving our bodies so Beatrice gets a better view. I cup the back of Simone’s head.
Then our lips meet in a kiss worthy of the gossip grapevine.
“I knew it!” Mom says, next to Dad on the couch. Simone and I have just announced our engagement.
“Knew what?” I ask, linking my hand with Simone’s and resting them on the arm of her chair.
“That you two were in love in college. Anyone with two eyes could see it. Can I see the ring?” Mom’s eyes are as shiny as the diamond in Simone’s ring.
Simone leans across the coffee table to show it to her. Mom inspects the ring. “This is gorgeous.” She smiles. “I used to think of you like my daughter, Simone. But now you really will be.” Mom releases Simone’s hand, letting my fiancée sit back in her chair.
Fiancée. That’s one word I never thought would be part of my vocabulary. It feels odd. Foreign. It’s also a word I won’t have to think about for long. Soon, it will be “wife” I’ll need to wrap my brain around.
“Have you picked a date yet?” Mom asks.
“We were thinking next month,” I reply.
“Next month? So soon?”
“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” Simone sounds like she’s reciting a passage from a book she needs to know for a test.
Mom sits up straighter, grinning. “Oh. When Harry Met Sally. I love that movie.”
I glance at Dad to see if he knows what the hell Mom’s talking about. He just lifts his shoulders in a shrug.
15
