“Yeah. Dumbass.” One hip cocked, he stood with his normal, lazy grace. His warmth wrapped around her, and she burrowed her shoulder into his chest. “I thought Gracie was going to kill him. Would’ve served him right if she’d said no.”
“Thank you for not doing anything public or fancy.” She glanced around the secluded garden, their only companion the bartender, wiping down from the pre-concert crowd. “This is wonderful.”
Her phone burbled with an incoming video call, Lorraine’s name on the screen. With a bright smile at Colt, she swiped to answer, immediately greeted by Lorraine’s excited scream. Holly’s smile widened. Poor David, if he was trying to sleep before or after a shift.
“Girl!” Lorraine’s ecstatic smile creased her face, crinkling her eyes. “He did good. Hold it up so I can see it.”
“It was his grandmother’s ring.” Holly complied, cheeks aching from the joy, so far removed from her earlier moody despair. She slanted an apologetic glance at him. Later, she really needed to make up for that.
“It’s beautiful. Does your mama know?”
Lips pursed, Holly shook her head. “Not yet.”
“You told me before your mama?” Lorraine flattened a hand on her ample bosom. “Oh, Holly.”
“Don’t you dare let her know that.” Holly glanced toward the auditorium. “I’ll tell her right after the concert.”
“And Colt’s mama is with y’all, too.” Lorraine laughed. “That’s brilliant.”
“He’s a smart guy.” Holly shifted the phone to her left hand and wrapped her arm about his waist, hugging herself into him. He made a smartass noise in his throat.
“Well, I’m thrilled for both of you.” Lorraine blew her a kiss. “Congratulations. Love you, girl.”
“You, too.” Killing the call, Holly tucked the phone in her pocket and pressed into Colt. “Okay, doing this so we can tell our mamas at the same time was brilliant, Colton.”
“I didn’t plan this for tonight.” He touched a pair of fingers to his chest. “I’ve been walking around with that in my pocket for days, trying to figure out how to do this right, the way you deserved.”
“I don’t care if you planned it or not.” She folded her arm across his belly and stepped in to kiss him. “Tonight was exactly what I needed. You’re so good at that.”
Circling a finger at the base of her spine, he smiled. “You’re kinda good for my ego.”
Laughing, she lifted her face again, hope and happiness fizzing through her as he closed his arms about her.
They made their way back to their seats for the final few songs, and sure enough, the trio of their mamas and his aunt appeared oblivious to them, focused on the performance. With his arm slung along the back of her seat, Holly relaxed into the warm shelter of his body, turning his ring on her finger with her thumb.Hewas exactly what she needed.
Once the last song ended and the musicians left the stage, the lights came up, their companions giggling and chattering like schoolgirls, in no hurry to rush from the auditorium. Fromhis aisle seat, Colt watched them, an amused smile curving his thin mouth. Finally, with much of the crowd thinned out, Mama, who hated fighting traffic, deigned they could start “moving that way.”
“And I thought you were bossy.” Colt’s murmur rushed over her ear as they followed the trio up the aisle.
“Careful.” She elbowed his belly, smiling at his muffled grunt. “That’s your future mother-in-law.”
Their mamas and Mrs. Lenora awaited them in the lobby, still chatting about the evening’s highlights.
“Mama.” From behind, Holly draped her arms about her mother’s neck, a familiar gesture between them. She fanned her left hand, lights sparking off the diamond solitaire. “We should go get coffee.”
“Coffee this late? I won’t ever get to . . .” The words trailed off, and Mama grabbed her wrist. An excited whoop rose from her lips, and behind Holly, Colt startled. “Oh, my Lord!”
“Mona, what on earth . . .” Sue stopped, staring at Holly’s hand. Her wide-eyed gaze jerked to Colt’s face, and he grinned. Sue covered her mouth, excitement vibrating off her. “Colt . . . seriously?”
“Seriously, Mama.” He opened his arms, and Sue wrapped a hard hug around his neck. Holly caught Lenora’s soft smile as Mama turned to embrace Holly, squeezing the life out of her, before she and Sue swapped places.
“Oh, I’m so excited.” Mama hugged Colt side-to-side, slapping the center of his back. Holly hugged Mrs. Sue, kissing her cheek, receiving a kiss in return.
“Holly.” Mrs. Lenora stepped forward, cradling her face before folding her close. “Congratulations.”
She hugged Colt, too, although Holly didn’t miss how still and awkward he was in the embrace.
“Now, coffee sounds like a good idea.” Linking her arm with Holly’s, Mama lifted a finger, a wide smile lighting her face. “So we can make plans.”
