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“If he values his life and sanity, he better let me have at least a cup,” I said as I brought out the utensils and coffee mugs. “I’m sorry you have to babysit me. You have more problems to deal with than to make sure the pregnant woman is fed.”
Millie shrugged her shoulders. “The diner could run itself.”
I went to the kitchen to get the carafe of coffee after it finished brewing. “Did you talk to Kyra?” I asked over my shoulder.
“She’s not at home,” Millie answered. “I called her a couple of times last night and this morning, but my calls were going straight to voicemail. Lucas is coming home tomorrow with Trent and Colt. I’ll have him trace Kyra’s cell.” Her eyes zeroed in on my engagement ring as I leaned over to pour her some coffee.
“Oh, my that’s a beautiful rock,” she murmured. “Matthew did well.”
“Thank you,” I responded, feeling my cheeks blush, resisting the urge to hide my hand.
Poised as always, Millie slowly stirred the milk into her coffee, took a sip, and lowered the mug. She held out her hand. “Let me look.”
I put my hand in hers even if I had the desire to snatch it away from her scrutiny. She smiled in satisfaction. “If I’m not mistaken, that’s a Harry Winston ring. Matt couldn’t have paid any less than one hundred and twenty grand for it.”
“What?” I gaped. “He’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to wear more than a hundred grand of jewelry.” I tried to remove the ring, wanting to hide it in a safe somewhere, but Millie put her hand over mine, stopping me.
“Wear it,” Millie advised. “Believe me, Matthew can afford it. If I’m not mistaken, Kate probably talked him down from buying a bigger, more ostentatious-looking ring.”
“But why? Bribery? If he knew me at all, he knows I wouldn’t care about something like this.”
“I don’t think it’s bribery, but rather overcompensating for something he knows nothing about—namely commitment.”
“He’s thinking the size of the ring shows how committed he is?” I felt my heart drop to my stomach. “Oh, my God, we’re not ready for this.”
The older woman looked alarmed. “Grace, calm yourself. You’re making a big deal about the engagement ring. Matt’s crazy about you. And you feel the same about him otherwise you wouldn’t still be here putting up with his bossy ass.”
“I care about him and I’m pretty sure he cares about me, but is it even close to love?”
Millie pursed her lips. “Only you and he can answer that. I don’t want to muddle what you feel with what I see.” She smiled encouragingly. “All I’ll say is I’m very optimistic about both of you. It’s quite entertaining to see Matt not knowing which end is up anymore.”
I gave a short chuckle. “Not sure if I should be flattered or offended by that.”
“Oh, flattered, definitely. Matt needs someone who won’t put up with his crap,” Millie said with a conspiratorial gleam in her eye. “Now, let’s eat before the food gets cold.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Matt
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Fucking finally, Matt thought impatiently before he scooped Grace into his arms and captured her lips with his. His tongue swept into her mouth in a claiming kiss. She gasped before melting into him. He’d been in a shit mood for the past few days considering he was looking forward to getting married. For some harebrained reason, his sisters decided to sequester his woman in Cassie’s house where Kate was currently staying. Matt couldn’t argue about security because Trent had that place locked up like Fort Knox. Plus, Grace had two deadly former assassins with her. Nope, he couldn’t complain, but he missed his woman.
He ended the kiss, satisfied he’d left Grace breathless. He stared down at her green luminous eyes.
His wife.
The walls of his chest expanded then contracted tightly, making it difficult to exhale. Eyes locked together, everyone else receded in the room.
Except they wouldn’t be ignored.
“You can monopolize your wife later,” Colt clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Right now, we want to thank her for making you a better man.”
How could Matt argue with that? And as his friend hugged Grace, he was pulled aside by Millie in a tight embrace.
“You did good, Matthew,” Millie whispered. “Couldn’t be more proud of you, picking a woman like Grace to be your wife. You better not screw this up.”
Duly noted.
