Page 93 of Resisting the Grump

“Care to elaborate?”

“I think it’s kind of lame when guys pop the question on a major holiday,” she said. “Seems lazy or something.”

“Lazy? Surely you have to do an extra special job to outshine Santa.”

“Maybe,” she said with a shrug. “But I’d rather have another day in the year to celebrate.”

“Seems reasonable.”

“Wouldn’t you prefer that?”

“I would,” I said, topping up our sakes. “But not for the same reason.”

She cocked her head.

“I’d avoid holidays so I wouldn’t have to share my significant other with family and friends seconds after she becomes my fiancée.”

“I like the way you think.”

“So are you going to do it?” I asked. “Hide in the bushes and capture the happy moment?”

“Absolutely not,” she said, recoiling as if she was surprised by the question. “I insisted he hire a professional.”

“That’s probably for the best. You may be ridiculously photogenic, but you’re no photographer.”

She scowled like she was torn between taking the compliment and admitting I was right. “Anyway, I said I’d hire a professional photographer as my engagement present to them.”

“That was generous of you.”

“I know,” she said. “That’s where you come in.”

“Me?” I hadn’t taken a decent picture of anything but Simba in years. Surely she wasn’t suggesting—

“You must know a good photographer.”

My ribcage relaxed with my relief. “I do.”

“So will you call one for me or give me a number?”

“You realize a good one won’t be cheap, right?” I didn’t wait for her to answer. “How about it’s an engagement present from both of us?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Trust me,” I said. “It’s worth it to me to not have to think of another idea.”

She smiled. “Okay. You’re in.”

“Great.”

“I’m sure Noah will want them to scout out the location first, and he’ll have all kinds of ideas for—”

“How about I get you a number, and you sort out the details?”

“Deal,” she said, smiling at the server when she arrived with our dumplings.

“So, who are you taking to the wedding?”

Her lashes cast shadows on her rosy cheeks as she poured soy sauce into the crescent-shaped saucer to her left. “You don’t waste any time.”

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