“I do. Since you’re so good with these phone cameras, I was hoping you could take a little video for me.”
“Yeah. I can do that.”
“Great. Bluebonnet is on her way over, and I want you to video her reaction when I give her a ring.”
His eyes go wide. “You’re getting married too?”
“Yep. But you can’t say anything until after I give her the ring, okay?”
His head bobs up and down, and an eager smile spreads over his face. “But then I can tell everyone?”
“Yes. I’ll give her the ring, then kiss her. And after that, you can spread the news.”
He dances a jig. “Awesome. When will she—” He points behind me, then sticks his hand out.
I give him my phone, then turn around. “You made it.”
Bluebonnet glances around and smiles at Mason who is pretending to video a dandelion blowing in the breeze. “Is everything okay?”
“How was your day?”
“Good.” With Mason near, she’s guarding her words.
I’m not sure why I’m nervous. It’s not like she’s going to say no because we’ve already talked about it. After squeezing her hand, I lead her to the steps at the far end of the porch. “Mind if we walk for a minute?”
“Sure.” She drops her voice to a whisper. “And if you’ve changed your mind. I understand.”
I let her words hover until we are a ways off the porch and behind a cluster of trees. Here, we won’t be interrupted by people arriving at dinner, and it feels private.
Hopefully Mason is on top of things and getting a good angle.
When we stop, I drop to one knee. “I know I’ve done this part before, but now I’m doing it right. Bonny Blue, will you let me love you for the rest of my days? Will you marry me?” I flip open the ring box and hold it out.
She gasps and steps back. “You bought a ring?”
“That’s pretty standard when people get engaged, I think. You still want to marry me?”
“Yes.” Her cheeks rise as her smile widens, and nodding, she holds out her hand as she inches closer.
I slide the ring on her finger, then pull out the second box. “With the work you do, I know you can’t always wear a ring, so I got you this too.”
She gapes, and her gaze bounces between the necklace, her ring, and my face. “They’re beautiful. Both of them. And the color is just... amazing.” Turning, she pulls her hair over her shoulder and lets me fasten the chain around her neck. When she spins back around, she rests a hand on my shirt. “Oh, Dumplin’, I don’t even know what to say.”
“You like it?”
“I do. A lot.”
We don’t have an audience besides Mason, and I don’t even know where he is. Bluebonnet isn’t aware that he’s filming, but kissing her feels right. I lean down and brush my lips on hers. One small kiss. But when her fingers touch my beard, I tug her closer. Not small is good too.
She must’ve noticed Mason recording.
Maybe one day she won’t have to pretend.
Chapter 11
Bluebonnet
When Parker breaks our kiss, I rest my head on his chest, willing my heart rate to resume its normal rhythm. I know this is all for appearances’ sake, but dang, this man can kiss. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
