Page 64 of Love to Hate You

“Oh, shit,” Tanner says and sits up straighter. “Congratulations?”

“Is that a question?”

“I don’t know. I never thought you wanted a family.”

“I didn’t. At least not until Charlie.” I sit on the edge of the desk and release a long, unsteady breath. “I love her. And I’m scared I fucked it all up.”

For a moment, Tanner can’t seem to find the words. I’m not sure if my confession made him speechless or my utter stupidity for screwing things up so badly.

“Please say something, Tan. I need advice.”

“Yeah, um, I’m not sure how helpful I’m going to sound here when I ask what the hell are you doing here talking to me when you should be hashing this all out right now with Charlie?”

“You think I can fix this?”

He nods. “I saw the way she looks at you, Nash. That night I cooked you two dinner, she had stars in her eyes. It was clear to me that you guys have something special. Don’t lose that,” he says.

There’s a sadness in his voice and I can tell that he’s thinking about Addison. I want to know what happened but now isn’t the time. Now, I have to save my own relationship. Because Tanner is living proof that once you lose the love of your life, you turn into a very lost and melancholy soul.

“I need to apologize,” I say. “But I want to do it right and I’m going to need your help picking out a ring.”

“Oh, shit, seriously?” He hops up. “You’re going to propose?”

“Yeah. I want all of her, all of the time.”

Tanner slaps me on the back. “Let’s get your girl.”

Hope flares inside me as my brother and I walk out of the office and head up the hall. Halfway to the elevator bank, Jordan Lowe steps out of the conference room and I abruptly stop short.

“Jordan, I didn’t know you were coming by today,” I say.

“I had mentioned it to Peter Briggs. Did you know we play golf together?”

“No, I didn’t,” I say through gritted teeth. Even though I know Jordan and Charlie never slept together, it doesn’t mean that I have to like him. The man may be a client, but he’s always going to be on my list.

“I had some technical questions, so he set me up with Samuel for an hour or so today.”

“Great,” I force out. “If there’s nothing I can do, then I really need to go.”

As I start to walk away, Jordan calls out, “So, Nash, have you and Charlie made it official yet?”

I turn around on my heel, confused. “What?”

“It’s pretty obvious that the two of you have a thing for each other. I didn’t mean to step on your toes, Nash. She’s a wonderful woman and I think you two would make quite the power couple.”

I let out a slow breath and nod. “Thanks.”

Tanner steps up beside me and throws an arm over my shoulders. “We’re going to get his woman right now.” I can’t help but chuckle as Tanner pushes me over to the elevators. “Let’s go, bro.”

I haven’t the slightest clue where to buy a nice engagement ring and Tanner takes me straight to Cartier over on 5th Avenue. I swear he’s done this before but, as far as I know, he never proposed to Addison.

The store is one big, glittering mass of confusion and I don’t know where to begin. Tanner points out the case with a shiny selection of stunning rings but I have no idea what to choose.

“What jumps out at you?” Tanner asks.

“You should choose a ring that reminds you of her,” the sales associate says.

I scratch my head and frown. “That’s the problem. They all look the same to me. None of them scream Charlie. She’s not like anyone else. Charlie possesses this unique fire like no one I’ve ever met. She’s more than just a diamond.”

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