I groan. “I don’t want to think about it.”
“Well, looks like some orgasms have done them good,” he says, ticking his head toward my parents, who look like they’ve always been here and belong around this nice family that’s always so full of love.
“You said he was nice when you called them.”
Brax begged for me to let him call my parents and invite them to town to meet everyone. I wasn’t sure it was the right time, but then again, there would never be a good time with my parents the way I knew them to be. When he got off the phone with my father, he said it was a good talk and my dad was a cool guy. I thought he was lying to make me feel better, but now I’m not sure what to think anymore.
“He was.”
My gaze travels across the bar to where my mother and father are. Tino’s shaking my father’s hand, but his eyes are locked on my mother. He doesa funny bow and then scoops her hand up, kissing the top of it. He’s a flirt, and how Betty hasn’t knocked him over the head a time or two is beyond me.
“Oh boy,” I mutter.
“The man never changes. He lays it on thick, thick,” Brax says as I snake my arm around his back and press my body into his side.
“You’re a lot like him.”
He peers down at me and smiles. “You think?”
“All the good stuff, of course,” I place my hand on his chest, looking out across the bar to where my parents are melting into his family easily.
Tate walks out of the kitchen with a massive tray of champagne flutes, something they never do for normal family dinners.
“What’s with the champagne?”
“Special occasion,” he says as he takes me by the hand and makes his way through the bar, weaving in and out of family members.
“What’s the special occasion?” I ask him, following close behind so I don’t walk into anyone.
“You’ll see.”
A moment later, we’re in front of the bar and everyone in the room. Before I can ask another question, Brax drops down on one knee and is holding a box in his hand.
If I thought I was breathless outside, I’m more so now.
Brax takes my hand as the room goes quiet. “Iris,the last few months have been the best of my life, and that’s because you came into this bar and sat on the stool behind me. I never want to spend a day without you. When you’re not with me, all I do is think about you. I crave you. I want you. I need you. I was yours from the moment your lips touched mine, and I want you to be mine forever.” He lifts the box higher and flips open the top. “Will you do me the honor of marrying me and being mine forever?”
I cover my mouth with my hand as tears prick my eyes. The ring is stunning. I couldn’t have picked out anything prettier myself. It’s a simple princess cut diamond that’s so big, it may look weird on my thin fingers, but I’ll deal with it. Though, none of that matters. He could’ve made a ring out of pipe cleaners and my answer would be the same.
“Yes,” I whisper and throw myself against him before he has a chance to slide the ring on my finger. “Yes.”
Brax wraps his arms around me as he stumbles backward, falling on his ass. His mouth finds mine, stealing any other words I have immediately.
The room erupts around us into clapping and congratulations, but the sound is light and distant because every fiber of me is lost in the kiss.
I thought that if someone ever asked me to marry them again, I’d hesitate to give an answer after what happened with Lucas. But there is something about Brax that makes everything that came before the daywe met not important or such a distant memory that it plays no part in how I react.
When we finally break our kiss, I look him straight in the eyes and shake my head. “That’s why you wanted my parents to come here.”
“I had to ask your dad for your hand.”
“So old-fashioned.”
“I’m a gentleman,” he whispers against my lips.
“Lies,” I say, laughing at all the times he’s tossed me around and been very ungentlemanly in the bedroom. It’s one of the things I like most about him.
Tate stops next to us with the tray. “Champagne?” she asks.
