“You seem a bit tense.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Stupid shit. Want a tour?”
She grinned. “Okay.”
It didn’t take long. The living-slash-dining room was where they stepped into, then the kitchen was behind it, and two bedrooms and a bathroom were off a short hallway. Someone had left flowers in his room, too, and he was thankful he’d been caught up on laundry before he left. The last thing he needed was Dani or Olivia washing his socks to help him make a good impression on Liana.
“Nice big bed,” she whispered, climbing onto a duvet cover he’d never seen before.
Okay, maybe he did need their help.
“I want to ask you to marry me,” he blurted out. “I’ve got a ring, and it’s nice, too. But then I brought you here and I don’t know what I was thinking, honestly.”
“Honey.”
“So let’s put that in the same category as when I told you that I love you. Good to know, save it for later.”
“Sweetie.”
“And I don’t have anything to take to Jake and Dani’s tonight.”
“Babe.”
He just stared at her.
She stared right back. “Dean…” She laughed.
Laughter wasn’t good, right?
“Are you freaking out because you want to ask me to marry you? Or are you freaking out because you brought me home?”
“Uh…” He swallowed hard. His throat was too damn dry. “Do you want some water?”
“I want to marry you.” She reached out her hand and gave him a beseeching smile. “Come here.”
He took it, but he felt like shit. “This is the worst proposal in the history of proposals.”
She just shrugged. “You’ve done a lot of sweet and romantic things for me already. This is a way better story than the usual blah blah blah down on one knee.”
“I was gonna do that.”
“You would have rocked that. You can try again if you want.”
“I’m sorry my house is so small.”
“Because there isn’t enough room for you to get down on one knee?” She looked around in confusion. “There’s lots of room.”
“Because it’s not big enough for…” He trailed off. He wasn’t sure anymore. “Because it’s not big.”
“But you’re just one guy. I mean, you’re a big guy, but what do you need a big house for?”
“You.”
“Oh.” Her face softened and she swayed against him. “That’s pretty sweet right there.”
