Page 46 of Silver Sanctuary
“It’s the least I could be doing, sugar. Thanks for these.”Dolly turned toward Lily and Sloane, who Lacy didn’t even realize was there. “You girls keep that one in line, you hear.” She nodded to Hawk, who was standing near the front window. Nash was insistent that one of the guys be with her at all times when he had to work.
“Trust me, Doll, you’re the only one who stands a chance of keeping me in check.” Hawk laughed as he threw a wink her way.
“Oh lord, get me outta here before I have to go home and jump on my husband. He’s already had one heart attack, and I don’t feel like giving him another today!”
Lacy reached over to grab a small box of ribbon, her side immediately flaring with pain.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” Hawk jogged over to take the box from her, setting it back on the counter. “I told you, I have marching orders today. You’re not supposed to be picking up anything.”
“Sorry,” she winced.
“You need me to call Nash? Maybe you should sit and Stone can come check on you?” Lily offered, looking worried.
“I’m fine. It’s all part of the healing process. You guys should have warned me that all these men are worrywarts, though.” She winked at Hawk.
“We only worry about the valuable things in our lives. You three are at the top of that list.”
“Awww,” Lily cooed.
“Very smooth there, Romeo,” Sloane teased.
“I really hate to break it to you, Lacy, but that gorgeous ring on your finger—which I still can’t get over how beautiful it is—means that these guys are going to make sure you’re safe, no matter how annoying it is to have them around all the time.” Lily held her hand out, doing “gimme” fingers like Embrie had when she was a toddler. “Sloane hasn’t seen the ring yet, you have to show itoff!”
“Oh, of course.” Lacy held her hand out, and the women immediately took a step closer to look at it.
“Wow. It’s beautiful. Seems like Nash really thought the design through. Very botanical.”
Hawk snorted. “That’s Mr. Botanical for you. Who knew he’d found such a passion for flowers?”
“Behave, Hawk,” Lily scolded, but there was no fire in her words.
“I have no idea how he was able to get such a beautiful ring in a day. He literally proposed to me the first night Embrie and I agreed to stay there.”
“That’s a custom ring.” Sloane said it with such clarity, but Lacy knew she had to have heard her wrong. A custom ring?
“What?” Lacy and Lily both looked at Sloane.
“Can I see the inside of the band?”
Lacy slid the ring off her finger and handed it over to Sloane, who immediately nodded.
“Yup. Like I said. Custom.”
“How do you know that?”
“Gage and I have been looking…”
“At engagement rings!” Hawk blurted out. When the women all turned to look at him, the poor guy’s cheeks flushed red. “Oh, fuck. Am I not supposed to be a part of this girl talk?”
Lacy couldn’t hold in her laughter, and she wasn’t the only one.
“No.” Sloane smiled. “You can be a part of it—we aren’t trying to keep it a secret. Gage knows I’m particular about things, and we want it to be something sentimental for the both of us. So, we’re designing rings together. When he’ll ask…” She shrugged her shoulders. “That part he wants to keep a surprise. I’m still working through so much stuff in therapy—trying to decide how to move on with my family, getting to know his… But that’s how I know this designer’s initials. It’s the same jeweler we’re working with in Rogersville. He only does custom designs.”
Sloane handed the ring back to Lacy, the weight of it doubling as she slid it back into place. He’d had a custom ring made for her. That wasn’t something that could be done in just a few hours. There were options to go over. Choices to be made and materials to be ordered. How long had he been planning?—
“Well, now that Lacy has that full love-struck look on her face.” Lily laughed. “I guess we can break the bad news to her.”
“Bad news?” Her stomach sank.
