Nick proudly wore the garter around his upper arm the rest of the night. We danced some more, drank some more, celebrated some more. Finally, it was time to send the bride and groom off.
The wedding guests formed two lines on either side of the flagstone path outside. A limo waited at the end of the path to whisk the two off to the wedding suite at the Magnolia Hotel downtown. We tossed red rose petals at Alicia and Daniel as they made their way down the row, smiling and laughing and bidding good-bye to their guests.
Before climbing into the limo, Alicia stopped to give me a tight, warm hug. “Thanks for everything, Tara.”
I hugged her back. “Have fun tonight, Mrs. Blowitz.”
“We will,” she whispered. “I packed the handcuffs.”
They slipped into the back of the car and the chauffeur closed the door. We waved good-bye as the car pulled away.
My mother and father stepped up next to me and Nick.
“That sure was fun,” my mother said. She gave me a peck on the cheek. My father did the same.
“Are y’all sure you don’t want to stay the night at my place?” I asked.
My mother waved a hand. “After all this excitement, you need to get some sleep. We’ll be fine in a hotel.”
“All right then.”
My mother turned and gave Nick a hug.
My father shook his hand. “Always good to see you, son.”
“You, too,” Nick said.
I returned to the dressing room and gathered up my things, adding them to my bridesmaid’s bouquet and the bridal bouquet I’d caught earlier.
Nick helped me carry the stuff to my car. Once everything was safely packed in my trunk, he reached out and toyed with a lock of my hair, running a thumb along my cheek. “Stay at my place tonight,” he suggested softly.
Knowing the wedding would run late tonight, we’d both taken the day off from work tomorrow so that we could sleep in.
I leaned into his warm, strong hand, savoring the sensation. “Okay.”
“Stop by your place first and pick up some of those leftover biscuits. Gravy, too.”
“Forget it.” I pushed his hand away and treated him to a scowl.
“Aw, come on,” he pleaded. “I’ve got your favorite coffee creamer in my fridge.”
I raised my brows in question. “You’ll get up and start the pot?”
“For your mother’s biscuits and gravy? Hell, yeah, I will.”
“All right then.” Did this guy know how to play me or what? Of course, I knew how to play him, too.
I drove back to my place, stepping inside to grab the biscuits and gravy and check on my cats. They were both asleep. Annie opened her eyes to peek at me, yawned, and promptly returned to her slumber. Henry didn’t move a muscle.
“Where do you want all of this?” Nick asked as he came in the door, his arms loaded with the things from my trunk.
I pointed upstairs. “My bedroom.”
When he returned, we climbed into his truck and drove down the street to his place. As we stepped inside his town house, Daffodil danced around in the hallway, happy to have her daddy home. Rather than turn on the light in the living room, Nick lit a candle that sat on the coffee table. Looked like this romantic night wasn’t over yet.
Still wearing the garter around his arm, Nick took the dog out back for a few minutes while I flopped down on the couch. I supposed I’d have to get out of this pretty red dress at some point, but I wasn’t quite ready yet. The suits and blazers I wore for work made me feel strong and capable, but this dress made me feel flirty and feminine. After making two busts this week, both of them involving violence, it felt good to indulge this softer side of myself.
The back door opened and Daffodil darted in, the garter now around her neck. She bounded over to me, her fluffy tail whipping back and forth, creating a stir of air that set the candle’s flame flickering.
I ruffled the fur around her neck. “You silly girl. That garter is supposed to go on your leg.”
Nick leaned against the door frame that led from the kitchen to the living room, a smile playing about his lips. The top two buttons of his tuxedo shirt were undone, the sleeves pushed up, the bow tie hanging loose. He looked sexy and classy at the same time. His eyes went from me, to Daffodil, and back to yours truly.
“What?” I looked down at the dog. At first all I saw was fur and fangs and a pink tongue intent on licking me to death. But then I noticed something else. Tied to a thin ribbon on the garter around her neck was a ruby ring in a platinum setting.
Oh, my God.
Though I’d known Nick and I were likely headed in this direction, I hadn’t known that he’d planned to propose tonight, that he’d already chosen a ring for me. And what a beautiful, perfect ring it was.…
“Nick,” I said on a breath.
“Your father gave me his blessing when we were out on my boat. Of course I threatened to throw him overboard in the middle of Lake Ray Hubbard if he refused.”
“But you’ve got money in the office pool!” I squeaked, choked with emotion. “You bet you’d propose in September.”
“What’s another twenty bucks?” He chuckled. “Besides, I don’t want to wait anymore.” His face grew more serious. “I can’t wait anymore.”
My heart soared as he stepped toward me, untying the ring from the ribbon and dropping to a knee next to Daffodil. He took my left hand in his, holding up the ring. The ruby glimmered in the candlelight. Nick’s amber eyes looked into mine as he put the ring to my fingertip. “I think you and I should get hitched. What do you say, Tara?”
Tears of joy sprang to my eyes. What do I say? I said, “Yes!”
A fresh grin graced his lips. “That’s just what I’d hoped to hear.” He slid the ring onto my finger, sealing the deal, and pressed his mouth to mine.