Page 6 of Final Proposal

I make her nervous. That’s interesting. Or is it the fact I caught her checking me out while she has a ring on her finger that has her unsettled?

“So . . . where were you headed, Ford-named-after-a-university? Does it have anything to do with the pity party we’re throwing?”

“Sag Harbor,” I say gruffly.

“Nice.” She raises her eyebrows but then narrows them when she notices I’m not sharing the same enthusiasm. “Not nice then?” When I don’t respond, she continues, “You have to pick one or the other. Indifference isn’t an option when you’re throwing a pity party. But Sag Harbor. Huh. You’re close but oh-so-far from it with this weather.”

“I am.” I nod but don’t say anything else as Ellery sips her wine and makes small talk with the bartender.

I observe their interaction. She’s definitely sexy. Indisputably gorgeous. And that easy smile of hers that lights up her face when she offers it.

She’s taken, Ford.

And by the size of the rock on her finger, her man wants everyone to know that she is. Understandably so.

It’s late. The whiskey is starting to hit me. And I’m no closer to figuring out why tonight and everything that happened earlier hit me so hard. I take another sip of my drink before closing my eyes for a beat.

I could buy her a bigger diamond.

Jesus. Where the hell did that thought come from?

I shake my head and chuckle. It’s the alcohol talking. Hands down.

But when I look over at Ellery, those blue eyes sparkle with curiosity and her brow furrows as if to ask me what I laughed about.

“I was contemplating whether I should switch to beer,” I say as if that will explain my random laugh.

“Beer?”

“Yes. It’s going to be a long night, and I’m thinking I should pace myself.”

“It all depends on what you’re pacing yourself for.” Her laugh is rich as she shrugs, while my mind ventures to a few places and all of them have to do with her. She crosses her arms over her chest. “So lay it on me. The story. The culprit of the pity party. Tell me who I’m supposed to hate on because they upset you.”

I walked in here not wanting to talk to anyone and now, for some reason, she’s made it so I don’t mind so much. My initial hesitancy is gone.

“It’s stupid really—”

“Clearly it upset you, so I wouldn’t say it’s stupid.”

“I had a fight with my brothers,” I finally say.

“Okay. So family stuff. That’s always a tough one. What was the fight about?”

“It’s a long story.”

She looks around the room and takes in the scene before shrugging as she meets my eyes. “It’s not like we don’t have time for one since we’re basically stranded for the time being. Does it have anything to do with that?”

“With what?” I ask, looking down to where she’s pointing.

“To the bow tie hanging around your neck. I mean, I’m very curious what idiot would follow through with a black-tie event in weather this dreadful.” She mock shivers but her smile is playful.

I snort. “Me. My brothers. We’re the idiots.”

“Oh. Whoops. I guess now would be a good time to insert my foot in my mouth.”

“Being called an idiot is definitely the nicest of all the insults I’ve been called today . . . so I’ll take it.”

“That bad, huh?”