Page 47 of Slow Kind of Love

Link considered his words carefully and then cleared his throat before doing what he’d learned to do so long ago. He got on with it.

“I love your mother.”

Boone was surprised. It was in the way his mouth fell open and then snapped shut again. His eyes widened, and then he reached for his ale. “Shit, that’s…shit,” he muttered.

Link waited until Boone had drained nearly half his mug and was somewhat composed. “I plan on asking her to marry me tonight.”

“Marriage?” Boone sat back. If he was surprised before, he looked decidedly stunned now. “That’s probably the last thing I expected to hear today.” His eyes narrowed, and he frowned, looking more than a little annoyed. “Does Poppy know? Is that what her big news is?”

Link shook his head. “No.” He wasn’t touching that one. Besides, it was Poppy’s news to share, not his.

Boone murmured something unintelligible under his breath. “I, ah, wow. That’s a big step. I didn’t know you guys were so serious.” He glanced at Link. “This is kind of fast, right? Don’t you think?”

Again, Link took his time answering Boone’s question. He had to get this right because Boone was Elise’s flesh and blood, and he mattered to her. A lot.

“I’ve been involved with your mum for almost a year, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was it for me. There was no one else, and there won’t be anyone else. Ever.”

Boone gazed up at the TV, and for a few moments, there was an awkward silence between the two men, broken only by the waitress appearing with a basket of piping-hot chicken wings.

“I make her happy, mate.”

Boone’s expression was still serious, his tone somber as he ate a wing. “She had a difficult life with my dad. We both did, but she was in it. Really in it. I checked out with sports and my friends, and as soon as I could leave, I did. I never looked back. It’s ironic I found everything I wanted back here in this town I couldn’t wait to get away from.” Boone tossed the remnants of his chicken wing into a bowl and leaned back. He toyed with his mug for a few moments.

“Look, I see the difference in her. I know she’s happy, and I know you have a lot to do with that. But she’s my mom, and if there’s even the slightest chance you’ve got this wrong, you need to step back and take another look at where you’re headed, because she won’t survive another bad situation. She won’t survive getting hurt.”

He looked Boone square in the eye so he could see the truth in his words. “I love her, and that’s not ever changing.”

Boone slowly nodded. “All right. I appreciate you giving me the heads-up.” Boone reached for another chicken wing and shook his head wryly. “I’m not calling you Dad.”

“Not even on special occasions?”

“Don’t push it, Major. I can revoke my goodwill at any time.”

Link chuckled. “Noted.”

“Another draft?” The bartender appeared as if on cue, and Link tossed a twenty on the bar as he got up from his seat. “That’s all for me.” He had an important package to pick up before heading home to shower and get ready for the gala.

“You guys still coming by for drinks?

“That’s the plan. See you in a couple hours,” he said as he shook Boone’s hand and left the pub, footsteps as light as his mood.

Link dropped by local courier office, which was surprisingly busy for a Saturday, and stood in line for nearly thirty minutes. After that, it didn’t take long to grab his overseas package, and less than twenty minutes later, he strode into the stone cottage, where he was immediately attacked by one very hyper dog.

He let Pepper out into the backyard and left the dog on his own while he stared at the package on the counter. It had taken a lot to pick up the phone and call his father the previous week, but he’d done it, and now that this prize was in front of him, he was glad he had.

He carefully cut open the wrapping. There, nestled inside a cardboard box, was a smaller, more delicate box covered in black velvet. He scooped it out and slowly opened it, a lump in his throat as he stared down at the diamond ring that had been passed down in his family for generations, always to the firstborn son to give to his wife.

His father had refused his new wife’s desire to wear the family heirloom, and for that, Link could be grateful. Gingerly, he pulled it from the bed of satin and held it up. The square-cut diamond was surrounded by emeralds and shone brilliantly in the late afternoon sun. He remembered it clear as day on his mum’s hand and couldn’t help but wish she were here.

“You’d love her too,” he said roughly, putting the ring back and carefully closing the box. It was time to get ready. He was to pick up Elise at four for drinks at Boone and Poppy’s place, and then on to the gala for six.

He let the dog back in and headed upstairs to shower. It was going to be one hell of night. The kind that changed lives. And Link Major couldn’t wait to meet it head-on.

---