“Well, when you put it that way.” My eyes were distinctly leaky, and my vision was blurry, but Knox’s hand on mine anchored me, as usual. “Yes, I will. Fuck, I love you.”
Knox snorted a little as he lifted the ring from the box and slid it onto my finger. It fit exactly right, because of course Knox had made sure it would.
“I love you, Gage Goodman,” he said solemnly. Then he tugged my hand until I was kneeling on the rug beside him and kissed me until we were both breathless for the fourth time that day.
“Just remember,” I told him later, when my head was nestled on his shoulder and I’d lifted my hand so the dying sunshine struck bright sparks off the metal. “Who asked who first.”
It was a sign of just how tired—and, okay, blissfully happy—Knox was that he didn’t even argue.
“You’ve been surprising me since day one,” he said. “Frankly, I should have anticipated that you’d surprise me in this, too.” He pulled back and gave me a mock glare. “But don’t try surprising me with a wedding, understand? I want something gaudy as fuck. White doves, prissy wedding colors, the whole nine.”
I snorted. “Maybe next summer, in the orchard. No doves, just apples. And the cows can watch… but only if they maintain a respectful distance.”
He laughed… then yawned. “Deal.”
“And in the meantime…” I hesitated. “Maybe… Boston? I think I might like it. Temporarily. As long as we’re back in plenty of time for Hawk and Jack’s wedding.” I frowned. “Unless you think they’ll need our help?”
Knox closed his eyes and laughed sleepily. “Hawk’s been planning his wedding since he was four, I think. He’ll be fine without us. Besides, Webb and Luke are here. Assuming they haven’t combusted from stress by then.”
I made a considering noise. Webb had been wound tighter than a spring lately, which wasn’t totally off brand for him. But these days, his normally easygoing, laid-back husband was getting in on the act.
“Luke nearly bit my head off yesterday at the science booth,” I told Knox. “And then apologized profusely a second later, but still.” I traced a finger up Knox’s chest. “Do you know what’s going on?”
Knox’s shrug made my head bob up and down. “Webb loves sharing his deep feelings with me about as much as he ever has. If I had to guess, I think it’s about them having a baby.”
I nodded. Webb and Luke had first talked about having a brother or sister for Aiden nearly as long ago as Knox had first mentioned marriage to me. But as far as I knew, theyhadn’t done anything about it. “Do you think they need money? Because we could?—”
“I offered once before,” Knox admitted. “A few years ago. Webb said he had it covered. You know how stubborn he can be.” He shrugged again, but I noticed that his eyes were open now and thoughtful. “He and Luke will work things out. They love each other too much not to. Just think how much those bugle-blowing fools have overcome already.”
“I know. I wish we could help, that’s all.” I held my ring up again. “I’m pretty fucking happy right now. I want all my people to be happy, too.”
“I know.” Knox kissed the top of my head. “But without a magic wand, I’m not sure we can conjure them up a baby.”
I froze. “Knox. I don’t have a magic wand, but I do have a possibly magic rooster…”
“Goodman,” Knox groaned. “Baby. No. You really don’t.”
“But you said yourself that Pecky inspired you,” I reminded him.
“I don’t care how inspiring your sex chicken is. Webb can’t get Luke pregnant!”
“Pecky’s not a sex chicken,” I said reproachfully. “He’s the Cock of Good Fortune. He makes dreams come true.”
Knox opened his mouth to protest further, but I waved the ring on my left hand in his face—all the evidence I needed, really—and he shut his mouth with a clack.
“You’re seriously suggesting we pass the sex rooster to Luke and Webb?” he asked instead.
“Yes. Or, if you’d prefer…” I laid my head back down on my boyfr—myfiancé’s—shoulder. “Pecky could stay on our mantel and keep an eye on us permanently.”
I didn’t have to turn my head to know that Knox had opened his eyes and glared at Pecky… or that he’d noticed Pecky’s golden eyes positively glowing in the setting sun.
“On second thought,” Knox said a moment later. “You might have a point.”
“Uh-huh.” I grinned. “Stick with me, Sunday. I have all the best ideas.”
I did turn my head then and found Knox watching me, his green eyes soft and crinkled at the corners.
“I’ll stick with you, Gage Goodman,” Knox vowed softly. “Always.”
