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“No. Not now. She’s in London. It’ll be late over there.”
“Your dad, then?”
“No. I’m fine, really. I have you. I don’t need anyone but you. You’ve made me just so happy, Mason.”
“Then don’t cry. Please?” He tucked an errant strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. “I hate it when you cry.”
“I’m not crying.” She blinked away tears.
His frown deepened. “And don’t try to give me that nonsense about happy tears. Tears are tears, Molly, and I don’t like ’em. Seeing you cry gives me heartburn, and I left my antacids in the pocket of my jeans.”
Molly smiled at him lovingly. Her nerdy engineering grad student rarely wore anything other than jeans, but he’d dressed in khaki slacks to propose. His effort touched her. Other guys went to elaborate lengths to create big events out of their marriage proposals. By keeping it simple and private and beautiful, Mason had done it just right and made it a perfect moment.
Well, almost perfect. He couldn’t do anything about her folks. But Molly had a BFF who was right here in town. Joyous excitement burned away the remnants of her tears. “Let’s go find Lori and share the news with her. She’s going to be so excited.”
“Um . . .” Mason rubbed the back of his neck, his grin turning sheepish. “About Lori. She sorta already knows.”
“You told her?” Molly folded her arms and tried to look dismayed, though he looked so darned guiltily cute that she doubted she pulled it off.
He was quick to explain. “I wasn’t about to choose a ring you will wear for the rest of your life without doing the research. Since Lori is your roommate and best friend, I figured she’d be the one to ask for help. She gave me suggestions about the diamond's style and cut, but I didn’t show it to her, Molly.”
“I wouldn’t have cared if you had. I’m glad you asked Lori. It’s exactly the ring I’ve always wanted.”
“Well, good.”
“Does she know you were going to propose this afternoon?”
“No.” He scowled in affront. “This was private, just for you and me.”
He’s so perfect for me.“I love you, Mason Malone.”
“I love you, too, Molly-Stapleton-soon-to-be-Molly-Malone.” He hesitated, then asked, “You will take my name, won’t you? So, we won’t have the hyphen thing going on?”
“No hyphen thing.” She gave him a playful kiss on the mouth.
Mason, being Mason, took it from playful to passionate, and when they finally broke apart, he spoke with strain in his voice. “Honey, I think we probably better move to a more public place, unless”—he shot her a hopeful look—“you want to find a private spot?”
“Later,” she promised, happiness rushing through her. “It’s almost three-thirty now. Lori and I planned to meet at four and shop for last-minute bargains before the Christmas in August festival closes. Want to tag along?”
“Sure. I need to be there at five, anyway, because I promised Celeste I’d help her break down the Angel’s Rest booth.” He stole one more quick kiss, then reaffirmed, “Later.”
They held hands while walking from Angel’s Rest to the center of Eternity Springs. This was Molly’s second visit to the little Colorado mountain town home of her college roommate, Lori Reese. Despite being three years older, Molly had become fast friends with Lori when they’d both worked at the university bookstore the previous year. Lori had walked into the stockroom one afternoon to find Molly crying following a phone call with her dad. They’d shared absentee-father stories and bonded while restocking racks of T-shirts.
Molly had adored Eternity Springs when she first visited the previous summer. Celeste Blessing called the town a little piece of heaven, and Molly agreed. She’d been delighted to return this year for ten days between the end of summer school and the start of the fall semester. Celeste had cut them a super-cheap deal on rooms at Angel’s Rest. Lori’s mom had supplied them with most of their meals. That Mason had managed to rearrange his work schedule and make the trip up to the mountains for eight days, too, made it the best of vacations.
The three-day Christmas in August event added to the small town’s charm. Holiday trimmings decorated the streets, and Molly could almost believe it was Christmas with the scent of roasting chestnuts and the songs of strolling carolers drifting in the air. Well, Christmas in Texas, anyway, where it could be a balmy sixty-five degrees in December. She recalled that Lori had said that last year on Christmas Day, the thermometer had topped out at a frigid five degrees in Eternity Springs. Today the beautiful August weather had brought the tourists out in droves. For Molly, seeing so many families enjoying the festive atmosphere was bittersweet. Her family quit vacationing together years ago.
Molly saw Lori seated on the bench in the park where they’d planned to meet. Lori spied the ring before Molly even had a chance to show it off, and her squeals of delight all but drowned out “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” coming from a nearby trio. “It’s gorgeous,” Lori said. “Oh, Mason. You did a fabulous job.”
“Didn’t he?” Molly beamed up at her fiancé. Her fiancé. She clasped the word to her heart. She had a fiancé! “He tells me you gave him guidance, so props to you, bestie.”
Eyes twinkling, Lori blew on her knuckles and brushed them against her shoulder.
Lori then launched into a series of wedding plans questions for which Molly had no answers. Finally, laughing, she looped her arm through her roommate’s and said, “Enough! Nothing has been decided about our wedding. We’ve barely had time to discuss it. Once we get things figured out, I promise you’ll be one of the first to know. After all, as my maid of honor, you’ll need to have all of the intel.”
“Maid of honor? Me?”
“Of course, you. If you’ll do me the honor, that is. I want you…no, I need you…in that role. I’ll do an official bridesmaid invitation once we get some of the wedding details nailed down, but please, Lori. Will you be my MOH?”
