by Bria Quinlan
Once I convinced him I loved my propose-at-home plan, Mr. Antonelli had told me not to worry about the meal. That he’d send someone over with everything we needed by 6 p.m. and all I had to do was have a table to put it on.
And so, with a gift, a meal, and a plan in place, I called Connor.
“Hello?” he shouted into the phone over what sounded like a plane landing behind him.
“Connor?” Maybe someone had stolen his phone and was at the airport making their getaway.
“Yeah! Hold on!” The plane sound was muffled for a moment and then quieted. “Sorry about that, Hails. What’s up?”
I tried not to ask him the same thing since he was the one acting weird lately, but I figured, asking him about the weird would probably just bring on another round of weird acting’ness.
“I was just calling to say hey and see what you were up to.” Look at me being all nonchalant.
“Oh, you know. Hanging with Nick.”
Hanging with Nick? This seemed to be his number one activity lately. Which, why was it no longer Hanging with Hails?
“Where are you guys?” I asked, because the plane and Nick and the weirdness all seemed to add up to the idea that the two of them together could not be trusted.
“Oh, you know. Just hanging out.” He stopped talking and I wanted to just wait him out.
I bit back the, “No, I don’t know. That’s why I asked.”
It suddenly dawned on me he was being cagey about something. Something that I was not in on. Something…with Nick. Okay, that was all I had at the moment. Obviously this would be my next mission after Operation Proposal. And now that I found that Abby was an excellent adventure sidekick, I’d suck her in on the mission as well.
But that was Future Hailey, and Future Hailey was happily engaged to the man of her dreams and doing silly things like dressing up in all black with her partner in crime, Future Abby, and pretending to be cat burglars to solve the case.
“I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight?” As soon as I asked the question, my heart kicked up to an insane pace, rushing around inside my chest and bouncing off every rib and internal organ like some out of control pinball.
“Tonight?” He sounded like he was actually thinking about it. “Sure. Actually, tonight would be perfect. I can totally do tonight.”
Okay. So, sudden excitement after odd, drawn-out thought process. That was good. That meant this weird behavior wasn’t a way to avoid me after the maybe-proposal and then the never-mentioning-it-again actions and the new Nick bromance and out-of-character adventures.
Huh. That was quite a list.
“Great. So, how about six thirty? Does that work?” It dawned on me this seemed surprisingly formal for the two of us, but I guess that went with the whole proposing territory.
“Yup. See you at six thirty.”
We said quick good-byes and hung up.
Gift, check.
Dinner, check.
Potential groom, check.
See? I was moving right along on the how-to-propose checklist.
I bet Nick would have been helpful in this case.
Now…one last thing. I picked up the phone and dialed, afraid that chaos would suddenly rain down on me.
“Becca Freedman.” Becca always answered the phone like that even when I called from my cell which she definitely had programmed into her phone.
“Hi, Becca. It’s Hailey Tate.” Which meant that I had to introduce myself by my full name because…balance.
“Hailey, how are you?” She always sounded so enthusiastic. I was never sure how to take that, but I could sure use some enthusiasm right now. So… Sold!
“I’m great. I have a last-minute sort of thing tonight and I just wanted some suggestions from the binder. Something…something not obvious but special.”
“Ohhh that sounds intriguing. I can’t wait to see what you guys are up to now.”
I took a deep breath. Saying it out loud to Becca seemed like a bigger deal than to Abby. Oddly, I’d known Abby would have my back. But, Becca…
“So, tonight I’m kind of going to have a catered meal for me and Connor at my place and…” More deep breaths. It was totally normal to tell your personal shopper about the intricate and personal details of your life, right? “And, I’m going to propose.”
“Propose what?” Becca asked sounding confused and now way less enthusiastic.
“Um, marriage?” I meant it to sound sure and exciting, but doubt was creeping back in.
“Really?” Becca huh’d and went on. “Good for you. Why wait around? They never get their butts in gear in time and he’s got that training stuff in the spring, right?”
“Yup,” I agreed, happy to have her back on board as her enthusiasm level ratcheted back up. “And, he brought up marriage last week and thinking we should get married, so I thought I’d just wrap this up…but, you know, romantically.”
“That’s great!” She was full-on enthusiasm again. I could hear the faint click-click-click of her heels tapping as she paced her office. “So something pretty and romantic. But nothing that’s going to set off warning bells. You want to feel like your best, most confident self, so it has to be very you. And something he’ll appreciate and want to hopefully tear off you so, nothing you’ll want to wear again.”
She went on, talking to me—or more likely herself—describing what sounded like the best thing ever. When she was done pacing and talking, she directed me to the binder.
“Have you worn the dress on page seventy-two?”
Yes, there were more than seventy-two pages in the binder. You can see why it was intimidating.
I flipped to page seventy-two and knew, just knew, she was right.
When I’d opened the garment bag this dress had arrived in, I’d thought it was the loveliest dress I’d ever owned. Nicer than all the fancy-schmancy event dresses, it was far more me than the other options. I had liked it immediately, I’d then forgotten it in the back of my closet since there wasn’t a lot of options for me between yoga pants and Connor’s events.
But, there it was. The cashmere fitted dress had cap sleeves and a boatneck cut that both balanced and enhanced my not so need for comfort and desire to look smoking for proposal night.
And yet, at the same time, it didn’t feel overdone. It was just a sweet, warm, giant sweater masquerading as a dress.
“This is perfect.” I could picture proposing in this. And of course he’d say yes to me in the dress.
“Oh, and, Hailey?” Becca interrupted my thoughts about future love and marital bliss. “Shoes. Don’t forget shoes.”
Killjoy.
After my call with Becca I cleaned the apartment like it had never been cleaned before, went to the store to make sure I had every possible thing in the kitchen I could ever want, and fielded three calls from Abby—who I was pretty sure was now more nervous than I was.
When I got back from running my errands, Security Dan handed me a package.
“This was delivered from Becca’s Beauties.” Dan gave me a little grin, a blush shooting up his cheeks.
“So, Dan… Becca, huh?” I asked, wanting love and happiness for everyone in the world.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Hailey, ma’am,” he said while not meeting my eyes.
“She works like crazy, is dedicated to her clients, seems a bit obsessive compulsive, has everyone’s best interest at heart, and looks amazing in those five-inch heels that might help her clear five-six.” I grinned at him as I took the box from his hands. “And, she’s perpetually single because of the obsessive compulsive and dedicated things.”
Dan nodded, still focusing on a spot over my shoulder.
“I have her number…when you man up.”
That finally got his attention. And a glare. I gave him a wink as I took my box and headed for the stairs.
Back in my apartment I opened the box and found a small, gold and pink bag tied shut with a big pink ribbon. Off
the ribbon hung a gold tag that read, “My good luck gift to you.”
I started to pull the gift from the bag only to realize it was very expensive, very skimpy lingerie. Totally not my thing. I wasn’t even sure how the bra went on. I turned it this way and that, realizing it was actually very pretty and more conservative than I’d initially thought. Becca obviously restrained herself for my sensibilities.
And it wasn’t polite to let a gift go to waste. I added it to the bed where the sweater dress was laid out.
As the day wore on I paced the apartment, cleaning it again and stalling until it was time to get ready.
The plan was simple: Mac was picking up Connor after a meeting with some potential sponsors who were in town. I was going to go with him, surprising Connor and taking over his evening. He thought he was hanging with Nick, but I’d already canceled those plans. Mac wasn’t big on kidnapping Connor on his own so I was here to smooth the way. Also, my absence would let Mr. Antonelli set up our dinner. The watch was already nestled in the oversized pocket of my dress, ready to shock and awe.
As I stood in the middle of my apartment trying to keep excitement at bay, Security Dan rang to let me know Mac was there. I gave my place one last glance and headed out, ready to start the rest of my life.
30
Mac pulled up to the front of the glass and steel building that stood out between the old walk-ups like the eyesore it was. It matched how I felt about Connor’s agent, so there was that.
Connor strolled out of the building, a look of slight annoyance on his face making me want to tell Mac to keep driving. I was pretty sure for me he would—but then Connor would just be annoyed and ticked off. Maybe today wasn’t proposal day. I glanced at the big building… No day that involved Dex was probably proposal day
He got to the car and jumped in, slumping back in his seat just before he noticed me.
“Hails.” He grinned looking like my presence made everything better. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, you know, I just thought we could have a nice day together.” I smiled at him like that wasn’t the lamest thing ever said to anyone anywhere.
“Oh, cool.” He took my hand, glancing down at where my legs stuck out from under my jacket, showing off my low-cut boots and tights. “Are you wearing a dress?”
Of course he sounded confused. When did I ever voluntarily go outside in a dress when it was thirty-four degrees?
“Yup, this is my nice-day-together gear.”
“Oh, okay.” Connor nodded like this totally made sense.
I think it was the word gear that threw him. Guys and gear, they made sense to one another.
Mac grinned at me in the rearview mirror, staying suspiciously quiet since he was in on the Proposing Plan.
“So, how was Dex today? Coming up with new ways to try to take over the world using your ability to throw a ball and charm the ladies?” I gave him my cocky, ballplayer smile because I knew how much he liked me summarizing his career like that.
“Yeah. And also, after that we’re going to create world peace with popsicles.”
“Excellent plan.”
Connor gave me the side-eye. But humoring his ego only went so far. I typically didn’t let it get out of control before it even started.
Before I knew it, we were pulling up in front of my place, and I was both not ready and completely done with waiting. Mac came around and opened the door. Because it was a special occasion night, I let him instead of hopping out as we usually did. At the front of the building, Security Joe had taken over. Security Dan must have clued him in because he winked at me as he held the door open.
I didn’t know if the stars were in my favor, but all the guys in my life seemed to be.
We headed up the stairs, Connor chatting away about Dex and casually holding my hand, his thumb rubbing back and forth over it. It was calming…calming…this was good.
This was going to be easy. And romantic. And exactly right. I was going to ask him and he was going to say yes. And this was going to be wonderful.
We got to my door and I fumbled with the key a bit, trying to not rush through one moment. But before I could get it open, Connor’s hand covered mine on the doorknob.
“There’s something I want to show you,” he said, as he pulled me along.
I didn’t know where he was going, there wasn’t anything above my condo except two more floors. Our roof had never been renovated into a pretty roof deck like so many others in the neighborhood.
I probably shouldn’t even think that too loud or Marjory would be charging Connor for that too. So, just the four condos…and nothing.
But we climbed to the top floor and ended up in front of Ms. Jansen’s door.
“What’s going on?” I asked, wondering where things were going.
“Just wait.” He pulled out his keychain and slid a shiny new-looking key into the lock.
“Why do you have Ms. Jansen’s key?”
“She moved out, remember?” He gave me the grin. The one he saved for special occasions of charm.
The one he saved for me.
He pushed through the door and held it open, sliding his hand around the corner to hit a light switch. The condo was half-demolished, half-rebuilt. I wasn’t sure what was going on. Was Connor moving to my building?
Connor waved me inside and I took in the missing wall where it should have separated this space from the top-floor other condo.
“Where’s the wall?” Like that was the most important question.
“Gone.” He stood behind me, off to the side, hands in his pocket while I wandered around.
I turned to the left and there was the kitchen he’d been designing. The same pretty granite and understated cabinets.
“Are you moving here?” I asked, unsure how I felt about that.
My space was getting far too small for the two of us, but this seemed extreme. I felt like this was a halfway way to do the next step in our relationship. Not get married, not move in, just take over the entire top floor of my building.
“Maybe.”
I walked through the space where the wall should have been and saw the condo had been roughed out differently to give the two spaces flow. There was a master bedroom with an en suite, plus a full bath, and two smaller bedrooms.
The other half had a smaller room and a half-bath. The living area was opened into the dining area then the kitchen. All of it having an open feel, but not so big it felt overwhelming. It all still felt…cozy.
“Maybe? This is a lot of work to maybe be moving in here.”
“Well.” He came around the half drywalled wall I was talking to him through and took my hand. “I’m seriously thinking about moving here, but it would mean a couple things would have to happen first.”
“Okay.” I had no idea what that meant, but if I knew anything it was not to try to guess what was going on in Connor’s head.
Or maybe I could. Gavin was right. We had become that couple. The whole night at Gavin’s house I could read Connor like a book. Irene, even with all her attention on him, had no idea what was really going on. I doubt Andie and Pete knew the extent that the situation was upsetting him.
Before I knew what was going on, he crossed to me and took my other hand in his.
“I love you, you know that, right?”
“Yes.” The same familiar warmth that swept through me every time he said it rushed over me again now. “I love you too.”
“I mean, I love you forever. Not for now, or for how we get on together, or for the public couple we are. I’d love you even if you didn’t love me. If you left me, in twenty years, I’d still love you. You’re it. You’re what love is to me.”
Oh. Wow.
I could feel the tears sweeping into my eyes, not quite enough to push them out onto my cheeks. But I batted my lashes, pushing them back so I didn’t miss anything.
His hand came up to cradle my cheek, and I closed my eyes, letting him make everything be just so darn right.
&
nbsp; Then the hand disappeared and I opened my eyes to see him drop to one knee. All I could think was he’s getting sawdust on his pants…because I’m apparently even less sane than I knew.
“Hailey Ann Tate, would you do me that very unquestionable honor of being my wife? I know I’m a bad bet. I know my world and life is as far from what you wanted as possible, but I hope that if I work really hard, I can be worthy of you. That I can make you happy.”
“You do make me happy!”
I sniffed, feeling all elegant as my nose ran and tears raced down my cheeks.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes!” I started to jump into his arms as he rose, and then stopped, stepping back. “Wait, no.”
Connor stilled, his hands dropping to his sides.
“No?” he whispered, as I watched the color drain from his face. “No?”
I’d had it all planned out. How was I going to prove to him that I wanted to marry him all the time, that we were soul mates? What if some day he wondered if I’d only wanted to be with him because he was him?
“I…” Oh my gosh, my plan was going right out the window. I reached in my pocket and wrapped my hand around the watch safely stowed there. “I want to marry you.”
Connor looked just as worried, but also confused now. “Okayyyyyy,” he drew the word out.
“I mean, of course I do.” I gave him my most reassuring smile.
“Great, so… Yes?”
“No.”
“No?”
“Well, yes…I mean no, but in a no-but-yes kind of way.”
Connor ran his hand through his hair, tussling it out of place. When it didn’t fall back to where it usually lay lovely and shiny, I knew he was thrown more out of whack than I could measure.
“Hailey…” He drawled out my name like I was killing him. “You’re killing me.”
Okay.
“So—” I glanced around knowing that I had to adjust my plan, trying to make this work without my fancy dinner and candlelight. I glanced down and I was still wearing my coat! “I want to do this right.”