Chandler slipped into the hospital room with a brightly wrapped package and a vase filled with coral-colored roses. He hoped Molly might be resting but was thrilled when those brilliant green eyes smiled a greeting the moment she saw him.
“You look much better today,” he said, kissing her forehead above and below the bandage wrapped around her head.
After adding his flowers to the rapidly multiplying collection, he scooted onto the side of the bed.
“You look incredible today,” she replied, winking and presenting her lips for a kiss of their own. “But then, you always look incredible.”
She tasted of bittersweet chocolate. “You are very good for my ego, Molly.”
“I’ve noticed that’s a problem with you Landrys.”
“You aren’t supposed to care about the other Landrys. Only me.”
Amusement danced in her eyes as she reached out and ran her finger along his cheek. “All the Landrys have been very nice to me. It isn’t fair to ask me to pick a favorite.”
“Actually—” he paused to press his lips against the palm of her hand “—family rules state that you must declare your favorite.” He placed the box in her lap. “Besides, I brought you a nice present.”
“You brought me a nice present yesterday.”
“That was a robe. You needed that, so it doesn’t really count as an official present.”
“And the day before that.”
He stroked his chin, pretending to forget about the basket of tropical fruit he’d overnighted from Hawaii. “Food. Perishable. Doesn’t count, either.”
When she reached for the bow, he placed his hands on hers. “Did you hear the news?”
He saw a flicker of pain pass across her face, and he wished more than anything he could make it go away. “Gavin’s autopsy? Yes. Chance came and told me. He was afraid I’d hear it through the hospital gossip mill.”
“Pretty weird, though, huh?”
She nodded. “But the tumor explains a great deal. Practically everything. Gavin was very nice to me once, and I think I’d like to remember him like that.”
“It’s still weird.”
“A right-frontal-lobe tumor can cause the loss of ability to control urges and the failure to anticipate and appreciate consequences.”
He moved to give her a long, deep, lingering kiss. “I get really hot when you talk doctor to me.”
“You get hot if I scratch my nose.”
“That hurts, Molly,” he teased, clutching his heart. “It’s completely true, but it hurts all the same. Open your present.”
She tore into the fancy pink paper, shredding it until the box was revealed. A little laugh gurgled in her throat when she saw the day’s reward. “A new cell phone. Thank you, Chandler.”
“It comes with a new wall, too,” he joked.
“I heard you went a little nuts in my office.”
“A little.”
Her expression stilled and grew more serious. “I can’t believe everything you did to try to find me.”
“See, there are times when a large family is a plus.”
“I’m a changed woman in that respect,” she swore. “I will never doubt the wisdom of having so many strapping Landry men in my life.”
“Really?”
Oops, she thought, I’ve crossed that imaginary line. Time to backpedal. “Don’t look so panicked, Chandler. It was a figure of speech.”
“Open the box.”
“Why?”
“This phone has some special features, and I want to make sure you can use them.”
She felt an awkward tension in the air. Nothing she could define, but something was off. “I’m very capable, Chandler. I can read the manual. I’m going to be here another week, thanks to you.”
“We don’t know that it was me.”
“Face it, Chandler, you shot me in the head.”
“You were grazed,” he groaned. “And we all had guns up there.”
“Except me,” she joked, waving her bandaged hand. “I had to rely on my wit and cunning.”
Though his eyes rolled, she saw the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Kudos for creativity, honey, but what made you think you could make a shiv out of a credit card?”
“It was all I had,” she reminded him. “I wasn’t about to do nothing.”
“I’m glad,” he said, his voice smooth and inviting. “You don’t know what it was like watching you through the binoculars, knowing I might not make it in time.”
She felt his involuntary shiver and it touched her. “I’m glad you came, and I’m glad you brought the cavalry.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not real thrilled that you shot me in the head.”
“Molly!”
“Sorry,” she said, swallowing her laughter. “I just like to see the way you get all frazzled and blustery when I say that.”
“Little-old ladies get frazzled. Men get pissed.”
“Sorry, I wasn’t challenging your testosterone level.”
“Finish opening your gift,” he urged.
After removing mounds of protective wrapping, she finally pulled the phone from the box. “Very nice. It takes pictures, too! Thank you.”
Chandler took the phone and pressed buttons as he spoke. “This one turns it on.”
“I never would have thought to use the power button.”
He slipped off the bed, kneeling closer to her so they both had the same angle, “Sarcasm is not appreciated. Pay attention.”
“I am.” Though it was difficult to keep her mind focused when he was close enough for her to smell his cologne. His breath tickled the small hairs on her arm as he continued to press buttons. She sensed him growing more frustrated. “I really can read the manual.”
“Hush.” He worked some more, then smiled. “Push the down arrow.”
“Okay.”
She did, and a very silly photograph of Clayton appeared on the small screen. He was holding a sign with her name on it. “‘Molly.’ Very creative.”
“Push it again.”
She did. Her heart skipped. It was a picture of Chance this time. His sign read, Will.
“Again.”
There was a slight tremor in her finger as she scrolled to the next one of Sam. His sign read, You.
Shane appeared, holding the word Please.
It could be, “Molly, will you please get well soon?” Or “Molly, will you please forgive me for shooting you?” Do not get your hopes up.
But she couldn’t help herself. She sucked in a breath and hit the key. Seth appeared, and the word Marry was crystal clear.
“And again.”
Her eyes welled up with tears when Chandler’s image appeared. He was down on one knee, holding a small jewelry box in one hand, and the word Me in the other. Oh, man. This is so sweet! I love him.
“If you do it really, really fast, we look like a homemade comic strip.”
She laughed through her tears. “This was a very elaborate proposal.”
“It’s not over yet.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box from the photograph. Slowly he eased open the top to reveal the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. A large emerald surrounded by diamonds, set in platinum.
He cleared his throat, looked deeply into her eyes and asked, “Molly, will you please marry me?”
“I…I,” she couldn’t believe it.
“Wait a second.” He scrambled up off the floor and went to the window.
“Don’t you dare throw that ring out the window! Give me a minute to think first.”
He turned and laughed. “I’m not throwing the ring away. I just realized I forgot a pretty big part of this.” He tossed back the drapes and she gasped.
The five other brothers were standing on a raised platform outside her window. Stretched between them was yet another sign.
He didn’t read the words to her. Instead Chandler turned, his head slightly tilted, and flashed a brilliant smile. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Chandler came over and kissed her lips as he slipped the ring on her finger.
It was the most incredible, most wonderful proposal in the world. Made even better when, on cue, the outside Landrys, sporting bullhorns, started chanting in unison.
“We want Molly. We want Molly.”