Daughters Of The Bride(52)

He’d learned enough about how her mind worked to figure out what she was asking.

“More than a little. But drunk is not my style.”

She beamed. “It’s so nice that you have standards.”

He was sure there was a compliment buried in there somewhere. “Thanks. Good night, Courtney.”

“’Night.”





12

SIENNA STARED AT the ring David held out. “You got it sized so quickly,” she said, hoping he couldn’t hear the disappointment in her voice. “I’m surprised.”

“I paid extra for a rush job. Put it on. I want to take a picture to text my folks.”

Sienna took the small ring with the ugly setting and slid it on her finger. It fit perfectly and looked even worse on than off.

She’d never thought of her hands as oversize, but the petite setting seemed lost on her finger. The diamond was nonexistent. David, who sat next to her on her sofa, beamed.

“It’s perfect.”

She glanced down. “It’s unique.” And oddly heavy, for something so tiny. Or maybe it was just guilt and unhappiness that made it feel as if it weighed fifty pounds.

He took several pictures of her holding out her hand, then put away his phone and faced her.

“We have a lot to talk about,” he said.

“We do.”

He took her hands in his and stared into her eyes. “I know you were surprised by the proposal.”

She squirmed. “We hadn’t discussed marriage at all.”

He nodded. “I should have said something. It’s just you’re the one, Sienna. You’re beautiful and caring, and every time I’m with you, I know in my gut that we’re meant to be together.”

He moved his thumbs against the backs of her hands. “I know you’re scared. Of us, of the future. I know you’ve been engaged before. I get that you’re having second thoughts.”

She hoped she didn’t look as shocked as she felt. “You do?”

“Of course. You lost your dad when you were what, six? Then your mom had a tough time. You’re scarred by that. You’re afraid to believe in a happy future. This has to terrify you.”

She managed a slight smile. “Maybe a little.”

“I’m here for you. I believe in you and I believe in us. I want to make you happy. I want you to realize you can trust me with every part of you. The good and the bad. I’m all in. Can you give us a chance? Can you take a leap of faith?”

He really did understand, she thought, both shocked by his insight and shamed by her own doubts. He got her. Okay, sure, there wasn’t a lot of the superhot chemistry between them, but weren’t steadiness and acceptance more important than a few fleeting chemicals?

David believed in her, believed in them. He was a really good guy with roots and a desire for them to have a future together. He was right—she’d had a tough childhood, and that had influenced her all her life.

“I think I’m really lucky to have you in my life,” she told him, then leaned in to kiss him.

He released her hands. “I’m glad. Because like I said before, we have a lot to talk about.”

She leaned against him and studied the ring. Maybe it wasn’t so very awful. “Like what?”

“My mom’s been calling every day. She’s going to want to talk to you as soon as possible.”

She straightened. “About what?”

“The wedding. She wants it to be in St. Louis, but I told her I thought you’d prefer to have it here. Do you agree?”

She’d barely accepted the fact that they were engaged and he wanted to talk weddings?

“Um, I don’t know.”

“If you don’t have a preference, then St. Louis would be better for me.” His voice was eager. “Although I have to warn you, between friends and family, my half of the guest list will be about four hundred.”

“People?” she asked faintly. “That’s huge.”

“I know, but it’s a big deal for me and my family.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “Now, Mom had a crazy idea this morning. I told her it wasn’t possible, but I have to admit, part of me is thinking maybe it would actually work out.”

“W-what?” she asked, genuinely afraid to hear the answer.

“A Christmas wedding.”

She sat up and stared at him. “Christmas this year?”

He nodded.

“That’s only seven months away. I couldn’t possibly pull a wedding together in that short a period of time.”

“Your mom’s doing it in three months and my mom would help.” He leaned toward her. “Or we could skip the big event and have a destination wedding. The Caribbean or Hawaii. Then have a giant celebration party in the spring. That way we could invite everybody.”