“We had words. It was no big deal.”
Ryan reclined in his chair and crossed his arms. “That’s not how I heard it. Harry Evans said he expected some blows. Said he heard McDonald warn you to stay away from Lauren.”
Harry Evans had always acted like an eighty-year-old busybody. It looked like some things never changed. “Evans is an ass.” He wasn’t sharing what he learned that night with anyone.
Ryan shrugged one shoulder. “Never said he wasn’t, but he usually knows what he’s talking about when it comes to rumors.”
Had others heard Matt’s outburst? They’d raised their voices but not until later in the conversation, after Matt dropped the news on him.
“Yeah, Matt told me to leave her alone. He made sure he reminded me she was with someone.”
“Yeah, I heard she’d been dating some wealthy business executive from Rhode Island. So what’s your plan?”
“She asked for time, so I am giving her that.” He left out the particulars of why and when she’d made the request.
Ryan stood and clapped him on the back on his way to the grill. “Anything I can do to help. Say the word.”
His brother could not do anything, no one could. Still, he appreciated the offer. It helped to know his family wanted them together, but he wasn’t going to tell his brother that, either.
“Yeah, you can get those steaks off the grill before we need a sledgehammer to cut them.” Now seemed like a good time for a change of topic. Especially before his sister-in-law came home and started poking around.
Chapter 8
“You’re quiet tonight.” Kevin took the seat next to her, a glass of white wine in each hand. She’d driven to his estate in East Greenwich and they’d driven into Providence for dinner and a play. Now they were back at his house for the night. Or at least that had been the original plan.
Unease about spending the night nagged Lauren. In the months they’d been dating they’d never spent the night at each other’s home. Doing so now gave the impression she wanted to take their relationship to the next level, to something more serious. Before Nate walked back into town, she’d wanted that with Kevin. Or at least she’d thought she had. Now, she had her doubts.
Lauren accepted a glass, a forced smile on her face. “Just tired. I’ve had a lot on my mind that’s kept me up at night.” She spoke only the truth. She just left out some key information.
Kevin’s hand settled on her shoulder, his skin smooth and warm. “One of those weeks? Well, tonight you can relax.” He pulled her closer and kissed her.
She held her breath and waited, hoping for a rush of heat or excitement. Kevin’s touch brought nothing. Not a single ounce of emotion sparked with him so close—unlike with someone else. Nate merely entered a room and her body reacted.
Stop comparing the two. Lauren snuggled closer. “I’m glad you invited me for the weekend.” His invitation had come out of the blue. Before his phone call, she hadn’t expected to see him until sometime the following week.
“I hated not making the trip to New York with you, so I thought we could spend this weekend together. I’ve missed you.”
He moved in for another kiss, taking her by surprise. Lauren responded, hoping that at any minute fireworks would go off or doves would start to sing, but she got nothing. Not even a pigeon chirped.
She went with the flow when he coaxed her lips apart. When he shifted his position so he could wrap both arms around her, she moved and looped her arms around his neck. All the while, though, she remained strangely detached. Her body went through the motions, yet her mind remained elsewhere, passing the time until the kiss ended.
The cool metal of his watch brushed against her back when he slipped a hand under her top. Still, her body remained unaffected. And when Kevin pulled back, her eyes popped open, and she found him staring back at her. His eyes searched her face. Exactly what did he see? Could he tell the kiss had no effect on her? Did he somehow know her thoughts were filled with images of Nate?
“Lauren, I want to ask you something.” He held her gaze, his voice confident and business-like. Leaning back he reached into his pants pocket.
In slow motion, Lauren watched him pull out a ring box.
Popping open the box, he held it up to her. “Will you marry me?”
She heard the words. Saw his lips move but her brain couldn’t put the two together. For years she’d dreamed of a handsome man proposing with a beautiful ring. Now she had her dream in front of her, yet she couldn’t reply. Couldn’t comprehend the situation.
Lauren glanced down at the intricately set diamond then back up at Kevin as her utter confusion set off warning bells in her head. Nothing had prepared her for this. He’d never once hinted that he loved her. That he wanted their relationship to be permanent. Heck, she didn’t know if she wanted their relationship to become permanent.