Yum. For some reason, he looked even hotter than usual, which was saying something. My mouth went dry.
“And what did I do to earn that nickname?” His lips curled in a breathtaking smile as he swam to me.
I tilted my head, considering an appropriate answer. “Hmm... something about the way you look in board shorts.”
He laughed. “I can’t be blamed for being too good-looking.”
“Or humble. Can you fasten the knot of my bra?”
He stepped behind me, running his fingers over my bare shoulder blade, then lingering on the patch of skin just under the knot. I shivered, licking my lips.
“I’d rather take it off.”
“See? And you’re wondering what you did to earn that nickname. You, mister, will not make me late to my brother’s wedding.”
If I was honest, being late was impossible; Lori was running everything with an iron fist. But I never knew what this handsome devil could talk me into.
“We have time. There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
“And it has to be right now?”
“Afraid so.”
He took a step back, spun me around. What was going on? My pulse sped up, the muscles in my belly clenched.
“What is it?”
He kissed one of my hands, then brushed his thumbs over my knuckles.
“I’ve been wondering for a while how to best do this.”
“Do what?”
He flashed my favorite wolfish smile, which was when I realized that he was teasing me.
“Reid! What’s going on?”
His smile widened, and he pulled me toward the pool bar, where our breakfast was laid out.
I took stock of all the delicious treats. Hard-boiled eggs with vegetables, pancakes, waffles, fresh orange juice, coffee, apple—
Oh my God.
Right between the coffee and the apple was a small jewelry box with the Bennett Enterprises logo embossed on the clasp. My entire body strummed tight in anticipation. Was he—Oh God, yes, yes, he was. As if in slow motion, I watched him take the jewelry box in one hand.
My vision was blurry before he even opened the lid, but then, at the sight of the beautiful diamond ring, I became wobbly. There went my determination not to shed tears today.
“Hailey, you’re the one, baby. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to share everything this crazy life has in store for us with you. I want to love and spoil you for the rest of our lives. Will you be my wife?”
“God, yes. Yes.”
I nodded, and the second the ring was on my finger, I threw my arms around him, laughing when he lifted me off my feet, kissing me as if he wasn’t planning for us to leave the pool for the next month or so. I didn’t care about breakfast, being late, or anything in particular, really, except losing myself in this beautiful man. My man.
“I can’t believe I didn’t see any signs,” I whispered.
“Well, that was the point. Jace advised me not to look for a ring from a laptop you have access to. Something about online retargeting spoiling surprises.”
I laughed, because that was exactly how I’d deducted that my baby bro wanted to propose to Brooke.