Page 107 of The Grump

“Wow, that escalated quickly.” I felt myself blush, although that might be from the heat. The New Orleans humidity was no joke.

There was something different about him today. He looked like he waspreparingfor something, though I couldn’t explain how I knew it.

“Excited about today?” I asked as he walked toward me.

He grinned. “Yeah, I really am.”

I put my hands on his chest and then moved them slowly up to his shoulders. “I never would’ve thought that this secret restaurant discovery was going to become one of our favorite activities.”

“Honestly, I just like spending time with you. It doesn’t matter what we do. We could even be wrapping pralines.”

I barely bit back a laugh. “Hmm, that wouldn’t be my first choice.”

He smirked. “Are you insinuating that I wasn’t good at it?”

“Oh, you did try your very best,” I assured him. “And in a pinch, your skills will do.”

“In a pinch?” he asked, stunned. “Right.”

“Sorry. Did that hurt your ego?”

“Maybe. Actually, no, because it’s true.”

He kissed the side of my temple. The feeling that something was off intensified.

“Xander, is everything okay?”

He pulled back a bit, looking down at me. He placed his fingers on my cheek, moving in a soothing rhythm. “Yes. Why?”

“You seem a bit on edge.”

“You know me well.”

My stomach somersaulted. “So somethingdidhappen.”

“You’ll find out later tonight.”

I looked him straight in the eye. “You’re joking. You really think I’m going to be able to wait?”

“You don’t have any other choice.”

Ha. Well, he had another think coming. I could totally seduce him into telling me. Oh no, I couldn’t because his brothers were coming.

Hmm, how best to lure the information out of him?

Oh, I knew how. I could tickle him.

I didn’t give him any warning. He wasn’t particularly ticklish, but I’d learned his weak spots. I went straight for his underarms, of course.

“Bailey!” He doubled over with guffaws. I first attacked his left armpit, then the right one. He attempted to take a step sideways, but I moved with him.

I was laughing, too, even though I wasn’t the one being tickled. Hearing this pure joy somehow filled me with happiness,and it was contagious. My grumpy man rarely laughed out loud. He smiled, he grinned, and yes, occasionally he did laugh, but not like this. This was—

Thump, thump, thump.Something fell to the floor. I immediately stopped, glancing down.

Xander groaned. “Ah.”

I didn’t realize what was happening at first. Then I saw him bend down and pick up a velvet box that was open and empty. A foot away, he picked up a ring.

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