“Stop it, Owen.” Summer’s almost in tears.
“I haven’t asked her to marry me,” I say, setting him straight. I had no clue she knew I’d bought a ring, let alone brought it with me to the ranch.
“Come with me.” Violet turns to lead the women out the back.
“Let’s go get that ring off your finger.” Kelsey props an arm around Summer’s shoulders and takes her hand. She squints at the ring. “Too bad. It’s stunning.”
What have I been waiting for? This weekend isn’t ideal, but there have been plenty of times since I bought the ring when I could’ve given it to her. Why did it take seeing it on her finger to realize I can’t wait another second? “Summer.”
“Is that...?” Ivy asks as she returns to the room with Dizzy. She takes in the ring Summer is trying to twist free of her knuckle before she turns to me. “Did you finally propose?”
“No.”
“Congratulations.” Dizzy runs across the room, colliding with Summer as she frees the ring from her finger.
The whole group seems to catch its breath as the metal and stone flies sideways across the room.
Collectively we launch into action. Owen and I almost bust heads as we lunge to pluck the tiny ornament out of the air. Jett belly flops on the hard wood like he’s a catcher in a baseball game. Storm trips over his feet and lands face first in Violet’scleavage. He lets out a mumbled “damn,” that could be taken as awe as much as defeat.
There isn’t enough silence in the world to hear where the ring lands. Not enough light to catch the glimmer from the precious stones.
Summer gapes at me, then slaps a hand over her mouth. Her watery gaze locks with mine. “Shit.”
43
Summer
For a long moment the room stays hushed. No one speaks. All gazes are turned in the direction the ring went flying.
His shoulders drooping, Rebel stares at me. He lifts one hand and then lets it fall. “You went through my stuff.”
“I... did...” My face is impossibly hot. I wish I’d never seen the stupid ring. I could still be blissfully unaware that he considered marrying me and decided he wasn’t ready to be committed forever.
His mouth turns into a stern line. “You weren’t supposed to know.”
“Don’t be a dick, Hollywood.” Owen grumbles as he drops down on his hands and knees and starts searching for the stupid ring.
“Stay out of it,” Rebel and I turn on him at the same time.
“It was an accident,” I tell Rebel when he waits for my explanation. I cross my arms over my chest, tightening themaround my emotions in the hopes I can keep them from welling up.
“How long have you known?” He sounds irritated.
“Well.” I lift and drop a shoulder.
“That long?” He rubs a hand over his face.
“Christmas,” Ivy calls out as she joins in the search along one of the skirting boards.
Kelsey presses her cheek to the floorboards to look under the tiered shelves. “Yeah, what’s taking you so long?”
It’s a good question, with an answer I don’t want to hear. I close my stinging eyes and take a deep breath.
“This better not be like searching for the damn goat,” Jett says. “Can’t believe you didn’t tell us about Stains. But then again, you didn’t tell us you had a ring, Hollywood. You’re a closed-mouth motherfucker, aren’t you?”
“Sure is.” Storm moves a cupboard away from the wall so he can look behind it. “You’d think he would have asked us for her hand instead of telling us he wasn’t going to propose to our sister when he had a ring all this time.”
“I was never and will never ask you for your sister’s hand,” Rebel growls. “I will not take goats, pigs, or horses as payment for marrying your sister.”
