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He grabs my left hand and slides an engagement ring onto my finger. “This is also why I took so long this morning. I stopped by a jewelry store. Well that, and I got us breakfast. I hope you like cinnamon rolls.”
I stare down at the ring on my left finger, amazed at the pear-shaped diamond, sparkling in the middle of a stunning rose gold, scroll-engraved band. “This is beautiful.”
“I thought you would like it,” Wade replies.
“I’ve never seen such a gorgeous ring before,” I say, still oohing and ahhing at it. How did this near stranger happen to pick out my dream engagement ring? “I love it.”
“Good, I guess that’s one thing you won’t have to lie about then,” he says with a smile, grabbing my hand again.
I can feel the eyes on us as we exit. He’s not wearing his sunglasses today, and he’s most certainly getting recognized.
Chapter Eight
Wade
“Did he break your heart?” I blurt, inwardly reminding myself I really need to stop being so dang open with this woman. I’ve always been an emotionally centered person, but the draw I feel to her is bar none. I don’t even know why, either. I’ve never cared about my girlfriends’ dating history.
And Callie isn’t even my girlfriend.
But as we’ve been driving, we’ve been opening up to each other, and my curiosity is getting the best of me.
“Um, do we really have to talk about this?” she asks, biting her lip in a way that makes me wonder so many things about her.
“I mean, I guess not. But I told you about Harper—my ex-wife,” I point out, trying to leverage the conversation.
“You told me you married her because you were dumb and drunk. That’s not exactly detailed.” She huffs.
“I got her pregnant and proposed, since it seemed to be the right thing to do. But we were never compatible. Our marriage lasted less than a year. What else do you want to know?” I shrug.
“Are you always this open with people?” Callie asks with a hint of amusement in her voice.
I can’t help but smile. “No, not really. But there’s something about you that makes me want to talk.” I pause for a moment, glancing over at her. “Is that weird?”
She shakes her head. “No, I get it. Sometimes it’s easier to open up to a stranger than it is to someone you know super well.”
“I guess that’s true,” I say, nodding.
We drive in silence for a few moments, the only sound coming from the radio playing softly in the background.
She turns to look at me, studying my face for a few long moments. “But to answer your question, he did break my heart. He broke it worse than anyone ever has.”
“You want me to beat him up for you?” I offer, giving her my best smile—the kind that always wins the ladies over at concerts.
Callie looks at me like I’m crazy. “I don’t think you want to pick a fight with him,” she says, leaning her head back against the seat.
“Why not?” I ask. “I’ve been known to pick a fight with just about anyone willing to throw a punch.”
“Oh, how attractive.” She snorts, her smile turning downward into a frown. “Just the kind of man I’ve always dreamed of.”
“Ouch. I guess I should add ‘brutally honest’ to your list of traits,” I say, though I’m more amused than hurt. This girl is freaking amazing. I never know what’s going to come out of her pretty mouth.
“There’s a lot more missing on there.” She perks up, leaning over towards me. “I’m also really funny, vivacious, and spicy—because, you know, the red hair.” She points to her head full of dark auburn hair.
“Spicy in the way you taste, or your attitude?” I shoot back, watching her cheeks go bright red.
“That is inappropriate, Mr. Lewis,” she retorts, though it’s playful and flirty. “You shouldn’t talk to someone you barely know like that, but I meant my attitude—unless I’ve eaten a bunch of jalapeño dip.” She giggles at her own joke, clearly finding herself funny.
And I can’t even help but laugh with her.
