wide-open mouth, as he finished the final steps and ended up down on one knee as he sang the final line. “All I want for Christmas is you.”
The cheering that followed the end of the song was deafening. But Ruth couldn’t cheer. Couldn’t clap. Couldn’t move. She stared down at Carter, aware that a couple of silly tears were streaming out of her eyes.
Carter pulled a jeweler’s box out of his pocket, opened it, and extended his hand with the ring.
It was gorgeous. A square-cut diamond on a platinum band.
“All I want for Christmas is you,” he murmured hoarsely. His face was damp with perspiration. He was breathing heavily. His eyes never left her face.
And his hand shook just a little.
Ruth tried to answer. Couldn’t get out a single word. So she nodded vehemently until the block in her throat broke. “Yes!”
Carter made a strange sound. Somewhere between a laugh and a sob. It was very convincing. Then he stood up and drew her from her chair into a hug as their audience exploded again.
It took a long time for them to get out of the bar. They were cheered and congratulated by everyone there. Carter bought a round of drinks, and Lance, Savannah, and the jingle-bell shakers Carter had rounded up for the performance came over, so Ruth had to be introduced to a bunch of new people.
Ruth tried to keep up. Tried to remember people’s names and answer their interested questions about herself. She discovered that Carter and Lance had done this same number back in high school for some sort of Christmas production, which was why they’d already had it choreographed, although their original third was out of town so Lincoln had had to step in and learn the part.
She attempted to keep up with the conversation, but she was in a giddy daze. Carter kept an arm around her, and she leaned against him.
He felt safe. He’d done something amazing for her tonight. And yes, he had his own reasons for it, and yes, it was part of their prearranged plan. But still...
No one had ever done anything like that for her before. Not even close.
She’d get to carry that memory with her for the rest of her life, long after she had to return the engagement ring that was only hers until Christmas.
Four
RUTH MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED to spend the following day in a relaxed, giddy haze after the heart-stopping proposal. She and Carter agreed to spend all afternoon and evening together—since it only made sense the day after getting engaged—so she might have imagined she’d have at least a day to relish the emotional pleasure and enjoy Carter’s company.
That wasn’t what happened, however.
The next afternoon, she and Carter did indeed get together. He picked her up so they could hang out at Roasted for a couple of hours and confirm the impression of a happily engaged couple. But they got into a weird argument on the drive downtown.
Not even an argument. An oddly tense discussion.
It was still going on as they walked down the sidewalk to the coffee shop.
“I’m not saying that,” Carter muttered, looking decidedly grumpy as he held the door open for her. “I was just asking if you’d ever spoken to Brent about your concerns.”
“Of course I’ve spoken to him,” Ruth snapped, having enough sense to keep her voice low so no one but Carter could hear her. “Do you think I’m a child or a coward? I’ve spoken to him over and over again. I’ve planned out calm, reasoned discussions. I’ve yelled at him. I’ve muttered snide comments under my breath. I’ve told him what I’m worried about. He doesn’t listen!”
She was getting emotional, which she didn’t like. She blamed it entirely on Carter, who wouldn’t let the topic drop even though she’d made it clear she didn’t want to talk about it right now.
“Okay.” He raised his hands in a pose of surrender, something that really annoyed her. Made her feel like an irrational, melodramatic little girl. “Okay. I was just asking. I’m not attacking you or anything.”
She rubbed her face as they stood facing each other. “I know you’re not. But I’m telling you I’ve talked to him, and it doesn’t work. It doesn’t seem to get through to him. I’ve done everything I can. And you’re not going to be able to swoop in and fix everything overnight.”
Carter scowled. “I’m not trying to fix things.”
“Well, it feels like you are. It’s a really complicated situation, and I’m doing