Page 82 of Between a Rock and a Hard Cowboy

“That’s because I’ve got it.” Ethan stood and reached his hand into his pocket, pulling out a box that could only be one thing. “I know it’s against Secret Santa rules, but I figure we can make an exception this one time if I give it to her myself.”

Everyone in the room held their breath and sure enough, Ethan dropped down on one knee.

“Holy shit,” Eva breathed.

“You can say that again,” Paine agreed.

Ethan, cocky as ever, just stared up at her with the ring box open and said, “Well? What do you say?”

Poppy covered her mouth but couldn’t seem to say anything. She did however nod her head enough there was no mistaking her answer was yes. Then her tears really started to fall.

“Here go the water works again,” Paine mumbled.

He stood and moved toward Ethan and Poppy.

“Congratulations, sis. And welcome to the Van Clief family, Ethan.” He wrapped his sister in a hug, then extended one arm toward his future brother-in-law.

Ethan shook his hand. “Thanks, bro. And welcome to the Wilder family. But I’m warning you. Things can get a little crazy.”

Paine laughed. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Good thing that was the final Secret Santa gift because Eva didn’t think she could take any more surprises. Or any more changes.

ChapterForty-Two

Linc was confused, to put it mildly.

He’d made love to an enthusiastic Eva last night and that very morning. But then she had sat near Paine the whole time during the gift exchange. The two had been chatting away together. Laughing, making little comments and inside jokes to each other about Poppy or New York. Making Linc feel like even more of an outsider in her world than he already did.

Then, in a complete one-eighty, she’d given him an unfathomable gift. A charity, in his family’s name, and a million dollars.

Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but he’d love to talk to her about that. And ask a few questions, such as where the hell had the money come from?

Was it stolen? Was she a cyber thief?

Wyatt was the businessman but Linc could decipher enough of the paperwork to gather it was all official, set up through an attorney in New York. The endowment was to remain invested. The full amount of the interest earned annually, minus administration fees not to exceed a specified percentage, must be dispersed to the charities or individuals that Linc, or any persons he chose to add to the organization, saw fit. If or when the charity was dissolved, the full amount of the endowment was to be donated.

As the room buzzed around him, he’d been staring at the papers for long enough the words were beginning to blur before his eyes. He glanced up and noticed that the festivities were breaking up. Wyatt must have helped Olivia back upstairs. Ethan and his father had turned on the television and were watching the football game, which had drawn Paine over to them and away from Eva, thank God. And Eva and Poppy, who was now wearing Ethan’s diamond on her left hand, were nowhere to be found.

They’d all have to get changed to leave for an early Christmas dinner at the Wilder. But they’d driven over together so he knew Eva hadn’t gone back to the cabin without him.

He stood, confounding papers still in his hand, unsure what to do with them or how important they were. Like was this the only copy and he needed to put it in the safe? Or were the official papers with the lawyer and these were more ceremonial, for his reference only? Until he was certain, he rolled them up and shoved them in the pocket of his jacket in the front hall to be stowed safely somewhere later.

Not too keen to go back in and rub elbows with Paine Van Clief, the man who was so funny he made Eva laugh twice as much as Linc ever could, he headed for the kitchen.

He heard Eva’s voice and quickened his step to be with her, until he heard Poppy say, “So Paine was asking about you.”

Stopping dead, his heart pounded as he stayed out of sight doing something his mother would be ashamed of if she’d been alive. Eaves dropping.

Nothing good ever came of it, she would tell him. He didn’t seem to care as he stayed hidden.

“Oh?” Eva said.

“He was asking if you’re single,” Poppy told her. “Hinting around, trying to see if you’re interested.”

“Pops, I love your brother…” Eva began.

Linc was going to vomit. Right there in the hall.

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