Body Shot (Last Shot)(97)
“You’ll be fine. You have Beck.” Carrie’s smile was warm.
“That’s not the same. You’re my best friend.” Hayden reached for her friend’s hand and gripped it. “This is an amazing opportunity for you. But I’m going to miss you!”
“I’m going to miss you too.”
“When do you leave?”
“Not for a few months. The term starts in October.”
“Oh.” Hayden drew in a breath. “Okay.”
“I can teach you to speak Spanish,” Marco said to Carrie.
Carrie gave him a dismissive look. “They don’t speak the same kind of Spanish in Spain.”
Marco frowned. “Well, the way Spanish people speak is stupid.”
Carrie lifted an eyebrow. “Uh, no. You know who’s stupid? Y—”
“It’s going to be amazing in Spain!” Hayden broke in hurriedly. What the fuck? What was with Carrie and Marco?
“I have work to do,” Marco muttered, and moved away.
Carrie watched him walk away with a scowl.
Hayden met Beck’s eyes and they both made a face. “He’s been kinda pissy lately,” Beck said with a shrug. “Don’t know what’s up with that.”
“Let’s try some of the new chipotle chicken wings,” Carrie said brightly.
“Sure. I’ll put an order in.” Beck moved away.
“What is with you and Marco?” Hayden rounded on Carrie. “Why are you so rude to him all the time?”
“He’s an asshole.”
“No, he isn’t!”
“ ‘The way Spanish people speak is stupid’?” Carrie rolled her eyes. “He’s stupid.”
“No, he’s not! He’s a great guy.”
“Whatever.”
Hayden sighed. “Okay, tell me more about this school in Madrid.”
An hour later, they had talked about Carrie’s scholarship and moving to Spain and had consumed some not-bad chicken wings and a couple more cocktails. Marco was staying away from them, and Hayden was still trying to come to terms with Carrie moving across the world. Sure, she had Beck, but Carrie was her best friend. God! What would she do without her? The idea made a panicky band tighten around her chest.
“Hey.” Beck stood across the bar from her. Carrie was talking to Dussen. “I have something special for you to taste back in the office.”
Hayden gave him a slow smile. “Oh, really.”
“Yeah.” Their eye contact was sizzling. “Come on.” He jerked his head.
She slid off her stool and touched Carrie’s back. “Be right back,” she murmured.
She followed Beck down the hall to the office. Where this had all started, in a blaze of fiery sexual chemistry.
He closed the door to the office and she smiled, sauntering across the room to hop up and sit on a desk. “So. What is it you want me to taste?” She licked her lips. “Is it big and hard?”
“I’ve taught you so well. And yet, you’re the professor.” He grinned. “And yeah, it’s getting big and hard.” He glanced down at his crotch and she giggled. “No, wait. That’s not it.” He produced a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.
Her head tipped to one side. “Champagne? Not tequila?”
“Nope. Not tonight.”
“Are we celebrating something?”
“I hope so.”
Curiosity had her eyes widening.
“Did you know you can make diamonds out of tequila?” Beck moved closer and set the champagne on the desk.
She smiled back. “I’ve heard of that.”
“Oh yeah? So you believe it?”
“It’s science. Sure, I believe it.”
“Do you believe I made this out of tequila?” He held out his hand and she dropped her gaze there. And went very, very still.
In the middle of his palm, a gold ring with an enormous diamond gleamed and glittered in the office light. Her mouth dropped open and she stared at it, then slowly lifted her eyes to meet his. “Beck?”
His warm gaze fastened on her, a hint of tension tightening his eyes and mouth, he said quietly, “I love you, Hayden. Will you marry me?”
Her heart contracted, then expanded in her chest so fast she couldn’t breathe, then tripped into a rapid, unsteady beat. She swallowed. “Oh my God.”
He waited patiently for her response. She drew in a shaky breath and let it out. “Yes!”
Relief eased his features and he flashed a grin that probably was trying for cocky but came across as vulnerable and sweet. He picked up the ring with his other hand and reached for her left one. Her fingers trembled as he slid the ring onto her fourth finger. It fit.
Vibrating with excitement and joy, she held her hand out and gaped at the ring. “Holy shit, Beck.”