“Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Cal repeated. “You ain’t one for half measures.”
“No lie there.” He rubbed his chin with the back of his hand, deep in thought. “I don’t know how to do this. Do I buy her a ring? Or does she go with me to pick one out?”
“Doesn’t Dad have Mom’s rings?”
“Yeah. But remember he inherited them from his mother. She made Dad promise her jewelry would go to the first girl born into the McKay family.”
“Damn. I’d forgotten about that. You bein’ the first one to get married won’t count.”
“Nope.”
Cal cocked his head. “Any money left over from the bank loan after we bought that section from Harvey Buckholz?”
“Since closing costs were less than we’d estimated…yeah. But I thought I’d use it to make the first payment.”
“Looks like you’ve found a better use for it.” Cal squinted at the sky. “Let’s pack it in for today. It’s hotter than a demon’s cooch out here anyway.”
Carson and Cal ended up driving into Rapid City for an engagement ring. He’d look cheap if he picked one with a little diamond chip. Carolyn was worth more than that. At the last store he found a round stone, the size of the end of a pencil eraser, in a platinum setting, that managed to be simple yet eye-catching.
“So when are you askin’ her?”
“Tonight.” Carson shot him a look. “You can make yourself scarce, right?”
“I suppose I’d better find someplace to live, so the newlyweds can have their privacy.”
“The Buckholz house ain’t in that bad of shape except for the broken windows and the critters that’ve moved in.”
Cal glanced at him sharply. “I thought you wanted that place.”
“It won’t be ready for me’n Caro. So I’ll stay in the trailer and let you have it.”
“We’d better measure them windows and order replacement materials straight away.”
They didn’t speak again until they’d passed by Spearfish. Sometimes they could jaw on all day; other days they’d barely speak two words to each other.
“You plan to ask Carolyn’s dad about marryin’ her?”
“And give him a chance to say no?” Carson shook his head. “After we’re engaged I might ask for his blessing. But I doubt he’ll give it.”
“Does that bother you? Or I guess maybe the real question is do you think it’ll bother her?”
Carson hadn’t considered that. “Shit. I don’t know.” He paused. “I hadn’t thought about how Dad will react either.”
“Good luck with that. I’ll be hidin’ in the barn during that yelling match,” Cal said.
“And to think I was gonna ask you to stand up for me.” He scratched his chin, as if deep in thought. “Charlie is a better bet than Casper for my best man.”
“Piss off. I’ll do it.”
He laughed. “Then if Dad’s an ass about it you better back me up.”
“Don’t I always?”
Since Carolyn’s family was aware they were dating, he could call her at home. Still, he was relieved when she answered the phone and not one of her brothers. “Wests.”
He smiled just at the sound of her voice. He was so gone over this woman. “Hey, sugar.”
“Hey yourself, cowboy.”
And yep, he heard that answering smile in her voice.
“How was your day?”
“Short. Yours?”
“Better than yesterday.”
“Good. What’s goin’ on tonight?”
“Not much. Supper is done. Mom had a rough day so she’s already tucked in for the night. Why?”
“Got time for me?”
He heard her move and in his mind’s eye he saw her twisting the phone cord around her finger. “Always. What did you have in mind?”
“How about if we meet at the Ice Cream Palace.”
“You’ve got such a sweet tooth, cowboy.”
“Mmm-hmm. But you’re about the sweetest thing there is.”
“Smooth, too.”
“Now I’m thinkin’ about what smooth, sweet thing is my favorite to eat.”
“Carson McKay,” she hissed in a whisper.
“What? I was talkin’ about tastin’ your sweet pu…ddin’.”
“You are ornery tonight.”
“Just anxious. How soon can you be there?”
“An hour.”
“See you then. Drive safe.”
Damn case of nerves had him pacing. He stopped and studied the living room and kitchen area of the trailer, wondering what it’d be like having Carolyn living here. No doubt she’d fancy the place up. The kitchen would see more use. He grinned. So would the bedroom.
Imagining them being together all the time, for the rest of their lives didn’t scare him, it seemed…right in ways he’d never had faith in before he’d met her.
For once Carolyn hadn’t arrived before he did. She’d parked in the back of the lot, away from the families with rambunctious kids.
The woman was a ray of sunshine in a dress the color of lemons. When she beamed that glorious smile at him, he almost dropped to one knee and proposed right then.
Not exactly romantic.
He couldn’t help but pick her up and spin her around before he kissed her. Her soft mouth opened beneath his with sweet heat and he didn’t fight the possessive growl that no other man would ever know her kiss.