Page 177 of Lucky Bounce: Game On: Part Two

After eating two big slices of birthday cake, Holly patted her stomach. "If I eat anything else, I won't be able to button my jeans."

"Everyone should get as much cake as they want on their birthday," Eli told her. "It should be a law."

"Eli Donnelley’s law?"

"And so it shall be called," he said, holding up his fork. "From here on out."

Holly snorted. "You're ridiculous."

"I know." He took her hand and stood. "Come on. I want to show you something."

"Where are we going?"

"Upstairs."

"You do realize it's roped off again?" she asked, getting up from the table.

"And you realize it's never stopped us before, right?"

"Touché."

He led her up the back stairwell after she hooked the rope behind her.

"Eli, if your goal is to get busy in the bathroom, I have to tell you straight up it's not happening after all that cake. I'll need a rain check."

He laughed. "No, it's not that." She followed him through the empty dining area and over to the hallway that led to the bathrooms.

"Okay, we're here."

Holly looked around. "Um, do I need to clarify that sexy times aren't happening in the hallway, either?"

Eli smiled. "No clarification. I just wanted to give you your birthday present."

"Here?" She gave him a dubious look.

"This place is special."

"A hallway of bathrooms is special?" She bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "You're going to have to explain."

He gave her a mock wounded look. "Kitten, don't you remember? This was where we had our first kiss. Well, after seven long years, anyway. And right here is where we made our deal. We wouldn't be here now if we hadn't kissed that night."

"True. That was a really great kiss," she said wistfully. "My toes curled."

"Of course they did." He winked at her. "I know what the fuck I'm doing."

"No arguments there."

He pulled a small velvet box wrapped with a pink ribbon out of his pocket. "Happy birthday, Holly."

She peered up at him, biting down on her lip as she undid the ribbon. Opening the box, she found a beautiful, emerald-cut diamond ring inside.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "Is this...?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I was serious about that lifetime Team Eli membership. I hope you were, too."

"I was. Very serious." She choked back a laugh, and he raised his eyebrows.

"What's so funny?"

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