Now Ash stood, holding her close, the ring burning a hole through his pocket, trying to muster the courage to ask—plead if need be—to give their babies the family they deserved.
“I found a place I like today. The old Gruber place?”
Her blue eyes widened. “I used to call it the fairy-tale house.”
Ash knew that, courtesy of Teddy. The Grubers used to host parties throughout the years and, according to her father, Renata had looked forward to them most. She’d been entranced by the house’s dramatic steepled rooftops, gabled windows, stained glass and carved wooden doors—all imported by Charles Gruber’s relative sometime back in the early eighteen hundreds.
“I was sad when I heard the family was selling it.” She paused, frowning. “It’s a lot of house for you, isn’t it?”
He shook his head. “Big enough for half a dozen kids, me, the wife and the mothers. We’ll put the mothers in the carriage house, of course.” He ignored her shock and kept right on talking. “It’s mostly renovated. The kids will be spoiled, getting their own bathrooms. The living room and dining room are large, built for a big family.” He waited.
She blinked. “A half a dozen kids?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I want a big family. The wife can decide, since she’s the one who has to carry them for nine months.”
She blinked again, stiffening in his arms. “I’m sure she will appreciate that. Very considerate.”
“I’ll always do my best to be considerate of your thoughts and feelings.” He meant it.
She froze, in the middle of the dance floor, her blue eyes wide.
It had been a long time since he’d felt anything but pain in his chest, but now he felt something else. Panic, maybe. A little fear. And something else. A tug. In his chest. Deep down. He cared about Renata—making this far easier than he’d expected. “Renata Boone, I need to ask you something.”
She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No, you don’t, Ash. Not here.”
“Yes, here. In front of your family.” He leaned closer. “And four brothers that might very well string me up if this goes wrong.”
She shook her head. “Ash, please—”
He stepped back, putting enough space between them to end her plea. There was no going back now. He pulled the ring from his pocket and held it out, the red stone sparkling under the hundreds of lights strung overhead—
It happened so quickly he didn’t have time to react. One minute she was shaking her head, wide eyes fixed on the ring, the next she was throwing up all over the dance floor and his polished shoes.
The whole tent seemed to erupt.
“Oh God,” Renata groaned, covering her face with her hands.
He was too startled to do much more than pull her close. “Are you okay?”
“No,” she whispered. “No, I’m not okay. I can’t believe you... Why did you do this?” She pushed away from him and straightened, attempting to hide how shaken and upset she really was.
“Oh, Renata, honey.” Clara was there, leading the Boone women onto the dance floor for a group rescue.
All he could do was stand there while they took her away, feeling like an ass. He’d expected shock. Possibly resistance. But there had been betrayal on her face—and humiliation.
Teddy Boone was doing his best not to laugh as he crossed the dance floor, offering Ash a handkerchief. “I’m pretty sure that’s not how you imagined it.” He chuckled then.
“No, sir,” he agreed, waving off the offer of his handkerchief as he surveyed his shoes. “I should check on her.”
“Let Clara take care of her.” Teddy sighed, his gaze sweeping the tent. “I’m afraid Renata’s...reaction will require some damage control.”
Ash frowned, assessing the room.
Winnie Santos was smiling, animatedly talking to a group of women—Lola Stephens among them.
“Dammit,” he ground out. “She’s not going to be happy.”
“No, son, she’s not.” Teddy sighed. “But you can make it a little easier.”