tidy and drinking her bottle. He’d also managed to locate himself some pants and a shirt. But he’d looked more frazzled than I’d ever seen him. Not to mention, the way he was glaring at Terry like he wanted to challenge the man to a duel for invading his home was both hot as fuck and also not winning us any friends.
“So, Mr. Partridge, you’re new to town.” Terry took a big bite of the muffin, closed his eyes, and contorted his face into such a profoundly orgasmic expression, I couldn’t help but glance at Diesel, who was already looking at me in horror. I could tell by the look in his eye that he was fighting laughter as hard as I was.
Diesel busied himself checking on Marigold, and I turned my attention to Terry. Fortunately, we’d practiced the answer to this question.
“I suppose so, officially,” I said confidently. “But Diesel and I met last year when I came to town with my uncle Beau. We’ve been dating since November.”
“Dating?” Terry asked sharply. “I thought you were engaged.”
I blinked. “Well, yes. I-I-I mean, we’ve been together since November. We’ve been engaged since July.” I could feel my cheeks going hot.
“Sure,” Terry agreed, but his eyes narrowed. Was he suspicious? I thought he looked suspicious. “And what did y’all do for Valentine’s Day?”
Valentine’s Day? It had never even occurred to me to plan for this question. My heart started beating too fast, and I felt myself getting flustered.
I frowned and looked at Diesel, who answered easily. “I went up to Nashville to surprise him. We ate at a little restaurant… what was the name of it, baby?”
“Uh… Starbucks?” I blurted.
My eyes widened. What the hell was wrong with me?
“Yep, that’s the one,” Diesel agreed. Somehow, miraculously, his eyes twinkled with laughter, like his re-found confidence was a raft big enough to save both of us from drowning. “My baby loves a caramel Frappuccino with extra whip.”
“I… I really do,” I agreed faintly, and that was not a lie, but I couldn’t imagine how he’d guessed.
“Quaint. Forgive me, but I notice you don’t wear engagement rings.” Terry cast a side-eyed glance at Diesel. “Was that by choice?”
Was this guy serious? What did this have to do with Marigold?
“Yes,” I lied staunchly. “It was very much my choice. I don’t need a ring to know I love Diesel.”
“Wasn’t my choice,” Diesel piped up, and both of us turned to stare at him. He shrugged. “I always figured if I got engaged, I’d want the whole world to know my man was taken, but then, I’m kind of a caveman that way. Parrish has been a civilizing influence on me.” He winked.
“Not too civilizing, clearly,” I said breathlessly, and then I shook my head, my mind caught on the idea of Diesel staking a claim on someone someday.
Lucky them.
“Interesting. So how did you propose?” Terry asked Diesel.
Shit. Another question we really should have thought of.
“I didn’t,” Diesel lied easily. “Parrish did.”
“He did?” Terry asked.
I did?
“He did,” Diesel repeated. “And it was perfect.” His gaze found mine, and I swear, it was so hypnotizing, I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. But I really didn’t want to. “It was a random Tuesday, and we were walking down Walnut Street over by the new Partridge Pit store, talking about Parrish’s favorite subject…”
“B-butterflies,” I supplied, like the answer was being pulled out of me. “I’m an amateur lepidopterist.”
“That’s right,” Diesel agreed smoothly. “And I said how I’d love to build you a pollinator garden to bring in butterflies, and you said…”
My eyes went misty. How did he know I desperately wanted a garden like that?
I cleared my throat. “I, um… I said, ‘Diesel Church, you are so damn thoughtful and kind. No one in the world’s ever made me feel as special and safe as you do. Will you marry me?’ I tried to make it direct and sincere,” I told Terry, “Just like Diesel.”
There was some kind of emotion working behind Diesel’s eyes too, like maybe he was getting caught up in the moment as well. “Greatest day of my life,” he said, “When Parrish chose me.”
I had to swallow hard against the emotion choking my throat. “I still can’t believe you said yes.”
Diesel laughed lightly. “To you? Baby, who could say no?”
I made a sound that was halfway between a sob and a laugh, and even Terry looked strangely moved.
Suddenly, Marigold laughed one of her deep, full-belly chuckles that never failed to make Diesel