“I don’t think it should be anytime soon,” Landon mused. “Especially with it still being posted about in the media.”
Nodding, I replied, “I agree. Plus, I really want to go to this one venue and check it out. It’s fairly new.”
A deep rumble came from his chest. “Truth be told, I want to go to the cake tasting.”
I lifted my head to look at him once more. “Really?”
His cheeks flushed some. “Yes. I know that’s terrible to admit.”
“I don’t think so! I’ve already started my post about it!”
We both fell into a fit of laughter.
“Aw shit,” Landon said on an exhale. “We might as well have fun with it, right?”
“Right. I mean, no one’s getting hurt. If anything, and if I’m being honest, it’s brought so much attention to my business. I’m actually thinking of hiring an assistant to help me out with some things, especially emails. All these businesses have been emailing me to use their services or products for the wedding.”
He pulled his head back, so he could look at me. “That’s great, Emme.”
I smiled, then bit down on my lip. “I do feel sorta bad, though, that the stuff they’re sending will never actually be used.”
“Well, share them with some of your brides.”
“That’s a great idea, Landon.”
He smiled, and I nearly sighed at the sight of those dimples. They seemed to catch the rays of moonlight filtering through the tree.
“What about this engagement party?” I asked. “Do I still let Autumn throw it?”
Landon reached over to a small bag that was sitting off in the upper corner of his truck. He reached inside and pulled out a small ring box.
He held it up and looked at it. “It would be a shame not to show off this ring I got for you.”
I quickly sat up, allowing the quilt to fall and expose the upper part of my naked body to the chilled air. Landon’s eyes went down at my breasts, and I was almost positive I saw his nostrils flare.
“Let me see it!” I said in an excited voice.
He laughed and opened the box. I gasped as I looked down at the ring and then snapped my gaze back up to meet his.
“Landon. How did…when did you…” I was staring down at the exact ring I had described to him two years ago. I had seen it in an antique store in Italy when I was there with my mother, Addie, and Hailey on our annual girls’ trip.
“After you told me about the ring and talked nonstop about it, I asked my mom if she remembered you seeing an old antique ring in Italy. She said she remembered and told me the name of the town. I started calling all the stores there and finally found the right one. I paid for it over the phone, and they mailed me the ring.”
My mouth fell open. “They mailed you the ring? Landon, this ring was expensive! Very expensive! And wait…”
I let everything fall into place in my mind and then gasped again. “You’ve had this ring for two years, and you’ve just been holding onto it? Why?”
He shrugged. “I never knew the right time to give it to you. It’s technically an engagement ring, and well…I never thought I’d be asking you… I mean, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t dreamed of asking you to marry me…” Landon’s voice trailed off. “Anyway, we’re in a fake engagement now, and I’ve been wanting to give it to you, so this is perfect. When we call the engagement off, it’s yours to keep, of course.”
I smiled, but a part of me grew sad at the idea of calling off our fake engagement. I suddenly wanted this fake engagement to be a real one. The thought was crazy, but a part of me wondered if maybe Landon felt the same way—though now was not the time to ask him.
I brushed those feelings to the side and held out my hand. “What are you waiting for? Put it on!”
Landon laughed as he pulled the stunning ring out of the box.
“I can’t believe you had them mail this, Landon.”
He laughed. “They insured it, and it was sent express.”
I shook my head, staring down at the ring. It was a platinum band with a cushion-cut diamond surrounded by mine-cut diamonds. I couldn’t keep my eyes off it.
“The setting is so ornate and classic,” I said softly. “But Landon, you paid so much for it. Why?”
When I looked up from the stunning, nearly two-carat diamond, our eyes locked.
“Why? Because when you talked about this ring, I could hear the happiness in your voice. You fell in love with it the moment you saw it, or at least that was what you said. I knew I had to get it for you, even though I knew it was an engagement ring. I guess I figured I could give it to you someday. I just wasn’t sure how you would feel about your best friend giving you an engagement ring.” He laughed, but it didn’t reach his eyes.