Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Even though I’m exhausted after the fun I had last night, I couldn’t refuse. Telford has always been there for me when I’ve needed him, so the least I could do was show up here for him.
“I returned the engagement ring I bought for Cam.”
Those words fall off his lips with absolutely no emotion attached to them. It’s so startling that it feels as though my heart freezes up in my chest.
I sip the lukewarm coffee in the mug in front of me.
“Hold on.” Telford shoves a hand through his hair, messing it a bit. “I should have prefaced that with something else.”
Trying not to smile because this may be the first time I’ve seen him without his hair neatly styled, I widen my eyes. “You think?”
A bark of laughter escapes him. “When I first bought it, the jeweler told me she does custom designed pieces.”
Telford is not a ‘custom designed’ kind of guy, so I take a minute to absorb that.
While I do, he leans back in his chair and dips his hand into the front pocket of his pants.
It reappears with a small square box in it. It looks like it’s covered in crushed blue velvet.
“I present the one-of-a-kind ring made exclusively for my future husband, Cameron Gleason.”
He opens the lid to reveal a gorgeous, thick black band with a single diamond embedded in it.
“It’s made out of titanium,” he says. “He’ll wear it on his right hand.”
He shifts again to tug another box out of his other pocket. “This will be his wedding band.”
I almost tear up at the unmistakable sound of confidence in his voice. He’s gone from doubting whether Cam will say yes to knowing he will.
The second small box matches the first, but the ring inside has subtle differences. The band itself is crafted of titanium, too, but it’s bordered with white gold on the top and bottom, and smaller diamonds line the middle.
“Wow, Tel.” My voice trembles. “These are beautiful.”
“They’re more his style than the ring I bought to begin with.” He laughs. “These scream Cam to me.”
“To me, too,” I add to reassure him, although I don’t think he needs it. “They’re perfect.”
He grins from ear to ear. “They really are.”
“You have to send me a picture of the big moment,” I insist, keeping my tears at bay. “Right after he says yes, I expect to see a picture on my phone.”
“No can do.” He shakes his head. “I can’t do that, Carrie.”
That stings, but I don’t show it. I know engagements are deeply personal. I get that, but my sister sent me a deluge of pictures right after Declan proposed. Granted, the happy couple took the time to get dressed before they started snapping all the images Abby had sent me.
“I get it.” I pat his hand. “Maybe you can show me one at work when you’re ready.”
His gaze searches my face before he pushes his eyeglasses up the bridge of his nose. “No, Carrie. I want you there to record it. I plan on doing it at the lab one day, right after work. I already talked to Mr. Black about it. He offered to arrange a string quartet and a floral delivery to set the mood.”
“That’s incredible,” I whisper. “This may be the most romantic proposal this city has ever seen.”
“It’ll at least be the most romantic one that ever takes place at Matiz.”
“Absolutely,” I agree with a soft nod.
“When you get engaged, I can be there to record it all for you, too.” He grins.
“I’ll remember that when the time comes.”
He shoots me a knowing glance. “When you’re thirty-two, right?”
“That’s the plan.” I take another sip of the coffee.
“After what I saw earlier at the diner, you may want to consider ditching that plan.”
The mug almost falls out of my hand. “What are you talking about?”
“Rook’s daughter kind of fell in love with you today.” He pushes on one of the lids of the ring boxes to snap it shut before he follows with the other. “I think her dad likes you, too.”
I shouldn’t ask, but I go for it because the curiosity he just awakened will burn a hole inside me until I know exactly what he meant by that comment. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” He wags a finger at me. “That mini-speech he gave in honor of you was something else, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off you right through lunch.”
I don’t say a word because I’m at a loss to find the right ones.
He closes his eyes briefly before he levels his gaze on my face. “That man is not only in awe of your professional achievements, but he likes the woman under the lab coat.”
I can’t help but laugh softly.
“Laugh all you want, Carrie.” He rests an elbow on the table. “I know what I heard and saw today, and that’s a man interested in a woman. That woman just so happens to be my very best friend.”