Page 45 of Someday You Learn

Parker stops the car and steps out, moving around to my side. He helps me out and then takes my hand, lacing his fingers through mine as he leads me toward the boardwalk.

“Where are we going?” I ask as he pulls me past a row of softly lit storefronts. Behind them is another row of small businesses—an ice cream parlor, a pet store, and then we come to a small, vacant space with aFor Leasesign in the window.

Parker stops in front of it, turning to face me. “I think this space would be perfect for your gallery.”

I blink up at him and then turn to the empty windows that are, unfortunately, lined with brown paper so I can’t see what’s inside. “What?”

He clears his throat. “After we talked about your gallery idea yesterday, I remembered this space was available. It’s close to the boardwalk, so you’d get a lot of foot traffic. It used to be a clothing store, and from what I remember, there’s plenty of space inside. I think you should look at it.”

“You brought me all the way out here to show me this space?” I whisper, staring up at him again in disbelief.

He nods. “Yeah, and to give you this.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring.

I gasp and my stomach flips. “Oh my God, Parker.”

His hands are trembling slightly as he holds it between two fingers, and I realize how offering this ring to me must make him feel. He never wanted to do this again—be engaged or even consider the idea of marriage—until I put him in this position.

But Parker bought me a ring, a gorgeous princess cut diamond flanked by amber stones. It’s stunning, unique, and something I would have picked out myself. And it’s too much.

“I—I can’t accept this, Parker.”

His brow furrows. “Why not?”

“Because it’s too much. It’s expensive and gorgeous and…” I take a step back from him as my stomach churns and my heart races. “I just assumed we’d pick out a simple silver band that I would pay for since this was my idea.”

He closes the space between us that I just created, his jaw tight as he reaches for my left hand and slides the ring onto my finger. “There’s no waymyfiancée would be walking around without a ring. And this one just…called to me. Besides, I don’t want anyone to question that this is real, okay?”

I look down at the ring, the diamonds catching the light like tiny stars. This isn’t some cheap placeholder. This is arealring—thoughtfully chosen, breathtakingly beautiful, and way too much for what we are.

“Are you sure?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

His eyes bounce between mine. “It’s done. Plus, I can’t return it, so you have to wear it.” The corner of his mouth lifts, putting me a little more at ease.

I nod shakily. Parker Sheppard, the man who claims to have sworn off relationships, bought me a diamond ring. He willingly picked it out, spent a fortune, and is now sliding it onto my finger like it’s no big deal.

I glance back up at him, at the guarded look in his eyes, and it hits me that Parker doesn’t do anything halfway. He committed to this arrangement just like he commits to everything else in his life—with his whole damn heart, even if he won’t admit it to himself.

“It truly is beautiful. I love the amber gemstones on the sides. It’s so unique. What made you pick this one?”

His gaze softens as he reaches up to push a strand of hair behind my ear, sending goosebumps down my neck. “The stones reminded me of your eyes.”

Oh. My. God.

I think my ovaries just wept.

I shouldn’t be thinking about how badly I want this man or how I’ll never forget the way he made me feel that night. How he acts so gruff on the outside but on the inside, he’s been hurt so badly that he’s determined to keep himself closed off.

Buton some level, I feel like he is opening up to me.

“That’s either incredibly romantic, or mildly disturbing.”

His lips curl up more now. “I thought it was veryBridgerton-like, actually.”

Chuckling, I look down at the ring that feels foreign but spectacular as well. “When did you get this?”

“This morning, when I was running errands.”

I nod, remembering he was gone for a while earlier today, leaving me alone at his house. I had the strongest desire to snoop but talked myself out of it. I wasn’t sure I’d find anything anyway since his house is so bare.

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