Page 45 of Too Delicious

She sighs impatiently. Harmony deserves a gold medal for patience.

Finally, we reach the bench at the small clearing at the lake’s edge.

“I think it’s there. Under the bench,” I say.

“I don’t see any blueprints,” she says flatly.

“Are you sure? Look under there.

Rusty sniffs the area. Harmony clucks her tongue as she squats down.

And finds the little black velvet box.

“Cooper, what is this?”

She goes from squatting to landing on her knees, holding the box.

“My blueprint! You found it!”

I was supposed to be the one on my knees, but why quibble about technicalities?

I get to my knees in front of her.

Rusty barks excitedly because he thinks it’s play time.

“Are you high?” Harmony asks, her voice trembling, her lips shaking.

“No, I’m not high, Harmony. This is it. This is what I was looking for.”

I take the box from her hand and open it for her.

She covers her mouth, and her breath comes in long gasps as she stares at the ring. It’s a plain rose gold band, with a champagne diamond.

“It belonged to Aunt Gabby. So if you don’t like it…”

“Shut up! I love it, and yes, I’ll marry you!” Harmony shrieks.

“I didn’t ask yet!”

Harmony whacks me on the shoulder.

“Then ask me, dummy!”

“Harmony…dream girl…will you marry me?”

She nods, choking out the word, “Yes.”

“I didn’t prepare for tears. I don’t have any tissues.”

She sobs into my shoulder. “It’s fine, I’ll use your shirt.”

I laugh and hug her tight to me, my knees getting soaked in the sandy soil.

Rusty barks, wagging his tail excitedly.

Harmony pulls away and picks up the little mutt. He licks at her tears.

“You got me good, Cooper MacKenzie. You finally got me so good, I didn’t see it coming.”

---