“Maybe it’s the way you smell,” Miles considered. “It’s pretty appealing.”
“Well, thanks. Who’s a good boy? Did you have fun today? I bet you did. Did your big brother give you some of that pulled pork?”
“I’m not his brother. I’m his landlord.”
“Don’t pay any attention to him. Let’s go up to the attic. Won’t that be fun?”
“Let’s wait on that. I want to talk to you.”
She straightened up and, he noted, made her face absolutely blank. “All right.”
“We should sit down.”
With the dog all but pasted to the side of her leg, she went with him, took a chair.
“I was going to do this a different way. I hadn’t figured out the way yet, but different than this. But I figure you being slightly impaired gives me a distinct advantage. And why are you sitting there like you’re waiting outside the principal’s office?”
“I’m not. Just say it. I’ll deal with it.”
“Fine. I’m in love with you.”
Her face stayed blank even when she blinked. “What? What?”
“You heard me, but I’ll say it again for clarity. I’m in love with you.”
“I have to sit down.”
“You are sitting down.”
“I have to stand up.” She stood, then immediately sat again. “I’m dizzy. It’s not the drinking. Miles—”
“Just be quiet.” Impatience wrapped around the words. “You talked all the way over here, so be quiet. I’m not done.”
Since she didn’t know what to say to that, she said nothing.
“I didn’t plan on it. And I didn’t see it coming. Should have, but didn’t. I can’t claim it crept up on me, not when it kept hitting me in the face over so many things. The way your hands move when you’re working. That’s ridiculous, but there it is. How your brain works, how your heart works, how your body works. All of it.”
Because he focused on her, he didn’t notice when Howl walked over to him, leaned against his knee.
“But the knockout punch wound up at the waterfall, then started coming at the lookout. And it knocked me flat at the end of Liam’s goddamn ropes course. So I’m in love with you, Morgan. It wasn’t in the plan, and it wasn’t part of the deal we made. But it wasn’t a deal so much as guidelines. I’m moving outside the lines, so now deal with that.”
“I—”
“I’m still not done.” He took out the ring in his pocket. “We’ll get married.”
He said it matter-of-factly, the way he might’ve said We’ll watch a movie.
She stared, and her mouth moved, but it took a minute for it to form actual words. “That’s—that’s your grandmother’s ring.”
“Does every woman recognize a diamond at six feet? Since I’m in love with you, and we’re already outside the lines, we’ll get married.”
She stared, then dropped her head between her knees.
“Christ, do you really have to get sick now?”
“Not sick. Need to breathe. Stay over there and let me breathe.” She waved a hand in the air as if to push him away, though he hadn’t moved.
“If you want poetry, I can probably still recite most of ‘The Raven.’ And I’ve got some Yeats in me.”
“Shut up. Did you get that ring from your grandmother because of Jake—what Jake told you before you came over?”
“I asked her for it before Jake got there. On their fiftieth wedding anniversary, she told me to ask for it when I’d found the one. When I was sure. When I was ready. You’re the one. I’m sure. I’m ready. Get on board, Morgan.”
“Before,” she murmured, and lifted her head. “Not because of.”
The fact he scowled at her leveled her heart rate.
“It’s not a force field against psychos. It’s a ring. It’s a symbol. It’s a damn question I wish you’d answer.”
She swiped at her face. “You didn’t ask a question. You made statements. Wait.” She held up a hand before he could speak. “It’s funny. Just this morning, Gram and I were working in the garden, and I ended up telling her I was in love with you. It did sneak up on me. I didn’t expect it, didn’t look for it. I’ve never felt it before, but I knew what it was. I thought you wanted to tell me you thought we should slow things down.”
“That was stupid.”