Page 2 of Summer Kisses

Grandma leaned forward to say," We'll have to plan an engagement party to celebrate."

Before I could respond, Grandma turned toward her friends, talking a mile a minute about an engagement party that was never going to happen because I wasn't actually engaged to mybest friend, and any minute someone was going to call us out on our blatant lie.

Brady sat next to me at the table, his arm flung casually over the back of my chair while everyone at the table talked animatedly about our engagement, our party, and even the wedding.

I should be in full-blown panic mode, but I was mesmerized by the sparkler on my finger.

I forced myself to look away from the diamond and hissed at Brady, "What did you do?"

His expression was amused. "You looked like you needed to be rescued."

My heart contracted that he'd read my plea for help correctly. "Yeah, but you made everything worse. Now Grandma thinks we're engaged."

A smile played on his lips as he leaned in close. "Trust me."

I trusted him as my friend. But could I trust him with something like this?

This was some kind of trick. Any minute someone would jump out and yellsurprise.But the longer we sat there, the more I wondered about how I'd feel if this situation was real. What if my best friend had proposed, and I was wearing his ring on my finger?

I gazed down at my finger, the sparkling diamond, the promise that he'd be with me forever. Grandma planning an engagement party and then a wedding. The entire thing felt like a dream come true, and for one night, I could pretend it was real.

Brady leaned in as the announcer read the numbers for bingo. "What's going on in your head?"

"I can't believe this is happening or that you went along with it."

Brady inclined his head toward Grandma. "Look how happy your grandmother is."

She was beaming at her friends as she occasionally checked her bingo cards for the numbers the announcer was reading over the microphone.

She was happy, and I had been worried about her. "Yeah, but?—"

He squeezed my shoulder again. "Nobuts."

I wanted to know what his plan was, because pretending to be engaged was not a sustainable plan. Not when we had no intention to get married.

But for now, I refocused on my bingo cards and the weight of Brady's arm on my shoulders. Occasionally, he'd lean into me, his warmth and masculine scent surrounding me.

My senses were heightened. His chuckle reverberated through my body.

For now, Brady seemed to have some kind of plan, and I'd have to go along with it until we were alone.

When the event was finally over, Brady and I walked Grandma to the shuttle.

"Are you sure you don't want us to give you a ride home?" Brady offered like he always did.

Grandma winked. "I'm sure you two lovebirds want some time alone."

I began to shake my head. "That's not nec?—"

Brady pulled me in close. "That's thoughtful of you."

Grandma beamed. "You two enjoy your evening."

With a wave, she got on the shuttle, and Brady tugged me toward his truck. I bit my lip, determined not to break character until we were alone.

When we were in the cab, I turned toward him. "What were you thinking?"

Brady shook his head. "I was thinking you needed saving, and I did the only thing I could think to do."

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