Page 100 of Forever and Other Lies

“Yeah!” First, Tommy had questioned his ability to win over Jayna. Now Leighton was. Or were they questioning his ability to settle down? He pulled out the little black box.

“Is that a ring?”

“Yeah!” he muttered. “It’s what a guy uses to propose to a woman. That’s why I’m here. I need advice on how to do it.”

“So, this isn’t about shampoo?” Leighton asked.

He blew out a breath. “No, it’s not about shampoo! How can I get Jayna to agree?”

Leighton pulled a basket off the shelf behind her and filled it with pink shredded paper. She carefully arranged the bottles of shampoo, stuck in a candle, and sprinkled rose petals around. “Give me the ring.”

He handed over the black box, and she tucked it in the center. Pulling a large sheet of cellophane from the roll behind her, she wrapped it around the basket and tied it with a large red bow. “Give her the basket and have her open it. Then, when she pulls out the ring, drop to one knee and ask her to marry you. Just don’t act like your normal idiot self.”

“That’s it? That’s your advice?” He gaped at her. Don’t act like his normal idiot self. Fantastic!

Chapter 51

Fantastic advice! ‘Don’t act like his normal idiot self.’ Not at all helpful. Get down on bended knee. Like that was going to happen!

Derek stared down at the straw mat at Jayna’s front door and smiled at the message: “The dog’s friendly, but the owner’s not. Go away!” His smile faded. What if Jayna told him to go away? There was a very good possibility he would act like his normal idiot self, and she’d tell him to get lost.

He adjusted the basket on his arm and knocked on the door. Jayna pulled it open on the second knock. She looked pissed. Or maybe it was hurt. He was never great at reading expressions. Which ever it was, he had probably caused it.

Her eyes narrowed, and she slammed the door in his face. His first guess had been accurate. She was pissed. And he’d definitely caused it.

He shifted from foot to foot. Should he turn and leave? Leaving would be easier. He could avoid using that stupid ‘sorry’ word. Although Jayna did deserve an apology and an explanation.

So instead of bolting, he knocked a second time.

“What, Brennan? What the hell do you want?” she demanded, pulling open the door again. She lifted her chin and pinned him with those challenging, gorgeous blue eyes.

“Don’t be that way,” he scolded.

“I’ll be any damn way I please. We’re over. You walked out the door.”

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

“But you did. So why are you here now? What do you want?” she testily repeated.

“You.”

Her lips parted, but nothing came out. He’d shocked her.

“I want you, Jayna,” he repeated.

“You want me?” Confusion mixed with anger flashed through her expressive eyes. Then those baby blues rolled. A Ben-worthy eye roll. “You don’t have a clue what you want!”

“I didn’t, that’s true,” he admitted. “But I do now. And it’s you.”

She placed both hands on her hips and shook her head. “Until you wake up tomorrow and change your mind.”

“Nope, not going to happen. And I’m not the indecisive one. You are.”

She blinked. “I am?”

“Yeah, and that’s the reason for this gift I brought you.” He held out the basket that Leighton had expertly wrapped.

Jayna hesitantly took it and turned, walking back into her house. The door was left open, so he guessed that meant he was supposed to follow her. He shut the door behind him and walked down the hall toward the kitchen.

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