One Beautiful Promise (Very Irresistible Bachelors 4)

The reason I’d let it slide was simple: I just planned to lure the information out of someone else from the group. They were together again outside, and Cole wasn’t with them. He’d gone back inside with Tess.

Hmm... deciding on my victim wasn’t easy though. Tess or Skye would have been my first choice, because I was closest to them. Neither of them had been there, though.

I studied the rest of the group... and zeroed in on Ryker. I obviously couldn’t ask him in front of everyone, but maybe I could find a reason to pull him away. I tiptoed toward the group again and froze when I distinctly heard the words “Cole’s proposal.”

My breath caught. Ryker groaned, dropping his chin to his chest.

“Laney is right behind you, Hunter.”

Hunter turned so quickly that he sent some of his beer flying away. “Oh, shit. Umm... don’t tell Cole.”

I looked from him to the rest, my heart beating so wildly that I couldn’t form words at all. It thumped in my chest, and my throat was closing up. I clasped my hands behind my back, breathing in through my nose, out through my mouth.

Okay, silly heart! Behave.

Smiling brightly, I asked, “Don’t tell him what?”

Hunter nodded, relief obvious on his face.

Ryker grinned. “That’s our girl. Thanks for saving our asses.”

I smiled, ready to take a leaf out of Tess’s detective book and prod them with questions, but I didn’t get the chance because Cole came up to me.

Our gazes locked, and my breath caught as my heart seemed to be in my throat again. I could keep my cool even under extreme conditions during surgery, or generally during emergencies. But pretending that I didn’t know Cole wanted to propose was my biggest test yet.

For the rest of the afternoon, my expression was permanently between a smile and a grin—mostly the latter, especially when I looked his way. I decided not to ask the group for any more intel, because I was having enough trouble playing it cool as it was.

I’d thought about this, for sure. Knew I wanted it, knew I was ready—mentioned the possibility of it all to my mom and dad during a call. But still, knowing it was about to happen made me want to do a happy dance.

Toward the end of the party, we split into groups to help clean up. The caterers were in charge of the food containers, but there were still plenty of decorations and furniture to be taken inside.

I was just unfastening the balloons tied to the top of the swing when Cole slung his hands around my waist from behind. I startled.

“Laney, you’re jumpy. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“But something’s up.”

“Just an exciting day.”

“Turn around.”

“But the balloon—”

“Doc. Turn. Around.”

I turned, slowly, licking my lips. His gaze was searching me, intense and unrelenting. His grip on my waist was tight.

The smell of his cologne was intoxicating.

“Now... I’m glad it’s just the two of us out here.”

Everyone else was busy inside the house. Oh my God. This was it. He was going to ask.

I couldn’t pretend for longer. I just couldn’t.

“YES! I’ll marry you,” I exclaimed, a little breathless.