Flash
“Are you really goingto make me wait?” Tate asked, for the fiftieth time since we’d left the jewelers.
“Yeah, baby. The ring has to be sized, and I still want to talk to your dad.”
“Not even a hint?”
I grinned. “Nope.”
The jeweler had pulled several engagement ring options out for Tate to try on, and then she’d narrowed her choices to three. In the end, there were two she loved the best, but couldn’t decide between the two.
But I could.
Because when she tried on the sixth ring, her whole face lit up. She bit her lip, her cheeks pinked, and she couldn’t stop staring at it.
“It’s really expensive,” she whispered.
“Baby, pick the one you want,” I said. “I’ll worry about the money.”
The ring was in white gold and had a three-dimensional flower design with diamond accents that extended down the band. Petals of pavé diamonds circled the center stone, and I had chosen a one and a half carat round diamond, which I planned to surprise her with when I proposed properly.
Tate had chosen two others, almost half the price, but I knew her enough to know they didn’t make her heart sing, so I’d sent her out the door to wait for me. I told her I’d make the final choice and surprise her.
“You’re gonna talk to Dad today, right?” she asked.
“Why am I taking you home?” I teased, taking her hand. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes, of course, I’m nervous,” she said. “Can I talk you out of this antiquated tradition?”
“I’m not asking him for his permission, baby.”
“I know. I just...” She sighed. “If my dad gives you any grief, I’m—”
I squeezed her hand. “You’re not gonna do shit, Tate. I’ve got this.”
We stopped at a red light, and I glanced at her. “Do you trust me?”
“This isn’t about you,” she said.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “You don’t think?”
She let out a huff. “I mean, it’s about me and my stupid grudge. He’s going to want to protect me, and that means he might say something—”
“Quit,” I growled.
She pressed her lips into a thin line, and I noticed tears forming in her eyes as the light turned green.
I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her fingers. “Trust me to take care of this, baby.”
She blinked, nodding before turning her face toward the window. I felt like an ass, so I turned down a side street and pulled the truck over before turning to face her. “Baby, look at me.”
She shook her head, so I undid both our seatbelts and tugged her toward me.
“Flash,” she ground out as I cupped her neck.
“Look at me,” I ordered.
She faced me as tears slid down her face and she slapped them off in irritation. “I’m fine.”
