Page 122 of Rules Of Engagement: St. Louis
Xander straightened from the wall. “She surprised you?”
“To the place I told her I wanted to visit again, when we first met. She remembered.” I couldn’t keep the wonder out of my voice. “She planned the whole thing, booked everything, and I didn’t find out where we were going until the captain announced we were entering Sicilian airspace.”
“Damn,” Elijah said. “That’s romantic as hell.”
“It was. We spent two days exploring, cooking together, and sailing. She looked...” I trailed off, remembering the pure joy on her face.
“Like a woman in love?” Xander finished, accepting his refilled glass.
“Like the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
My brothers exchanged glances over the pool table.
“Things are getting serious,” Elijah said.
“They are. At least, to me,” I said, settling into one of the leather chairs that flanked the game area. “She’s everything I want. She fits into my life like she was always supposed to be there.”
“You sound happy,” Xander said. “And I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, brother.”
I was reaching for my own glass when Xander’s eyes landed on something behind me. His expression shifted from casual to sharp attention.
“Is that what I think it is?”
I followed his gaze to the kitchen island, where I’d left the small Tiffany box when I’d grabbed ice for our drinks. Shit.
Before I could respond, both Xander and Elijah had abandoned the pool game and were staring at the unmistakable blue box.
“Brother, this is serious,” Xander said. “Are you going to ask Naomi to marry you?”
I froze, holding my glass of Brandy. I let out a long breath. “Nah, she’s not ready for that yet.”
“But you are?” Elijah asked, moving closer to the island where the ring box sat.
“It doesn’t matter if I am. She’s not.”
“How do you know that for sure?” Xander pressed.
“Believe me, I know.”
“So why do you have the ring?”
I set down my Brandy and picked up the box, turning it over in my hands.
“Because I saw it and I could picture her wearing it. And when the saleswoman asked if this was for someone special, I didn’t hesitate before saying yes. I’ve been carrying it around, hoping that someday she’ll be ready to hear what I want to ask her.”
Elijah whistled low. “You bought an engagement ring on impulse?”
“Not impulse. Hope.”
“Have you talked to her about marriage at all?” Xander asked, settling into the chair across from mine.
“We’ve talked about everything else. Her fears about relationships, her ex-husband who destroyed her trust, and the way she’s slowly learning to believe in love again.” I opened the box, revealing the solitaire diamond that had seemed perfect for Naomi’s hands. “But marriage is still too big a step for her now.”
“So you’re just going to carry that ring around indefinitely?” Elijah asked.
“Until she’s ready. Or until I realize she’ll never be ready.”
