Now and Forever (6 page)

“All the more reason to pull out all the stops. You have to buy a nice ring and get down on your knee and tell her how much you love her. You have to ask her, bro. Beg her. She’s probably thinking you’re just offering to marry her because she’s pregnant. Women don’t like that shit.”

Cole’s face had lost its edge of anger when he looked over. “You think so? We’ve been together for like a year now, and I just . . . it’s not like I can surprise her, so what’s the point of an elaborate proposal?”

Ben shook his head emphatically. “All women want a proposal they can gush to their girlfriends about. You think she wants to call her sister up and say, ‘So then he said, ‘did you wanna get married? And I said ‘okay’.”

“How’d you do it with Layla?”

“I got her a cupcake and put the ring on top of it.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it?” Ben asked indignantly. “It’s a fucking two-carat solitaire. I spent a fortune on that ring. And I got down on my knee and said the emotional shit that women want to hear. That woman’s my world. I wanted her to have that proposal that all women dream about. And I’ll give her the wedding she wants, too. When she’s happy, I’m happy.”

“Shit.” Cole grabbed the back of his neck and stared ahead at the bottles lined up behind the bar. “I want Em to have whatever she wants, too. I thought being mellow and supportive was best, but maybe she does need a real proposal.”

“It’ll work,” Ben said. “Emma’s crazy about you. She needs to know that you want to marry her, not that you’re willing to because she’s pregnant.”

Cole nodded slowly. “Yeah. I’ll go to a jeweler tomorrow.” He lowered his brows skeptically. “Are you gonna take credit for this later? If she says yes are you gonna tell her it was all your idea?”

Ben finished off his beer and set the bottle down, shaking his head. “No, man. We’ll be brothers-in-law soon, we’ve got to start getting along. And poor Emma’s been puking her guts out every day with this pregnancy. Layla and I want to see her happy.”

“I want to make her happy,” Cole said. “I love her. I really do. I guess I just took her for granted.”

“So fix it,” Ben said, getting up from his stool. “Let’s go, I’ll drive you home.”

“I’ve got it,” Cole said, leaving cash on the bar for all the drinks.

“Hey, you guys looking to sell the bakery building?”

Cole furrowed his brow. “No, Em loves that place. Why would we sell it?”

Ben shrugged. “I just thought with the baby on the way . . . Anyway, I own a few commercial properties, and if you ever want to, I’ll make you an offer on it.”

“That’s good to know, but I don’t see it happening. Em’s a natural with the business side of things, and her food’s out of this world.”

“Yeah, she’s more than you deserve, so you better get a ring on it, asshole.”

Cole nodded. “I want to.”

***

Emma reached into her purse and pulled a gingersnap from a bag inside. She’d concocted the recipe after reading that ginger helped with nausea. If these cookies could do that, she’d sell the recipe and retire young.

So far the gingersnaps were helping keep her hands busy, which was something. She and Cole had just arrived at the engagement party her parents were throwing for Ben and Layla.

She spotted Layla immediately. Wearing a form fitting black dress with an open back, she was radiant. The dark waves of her hair glistened, but nothing shone brighter than her brown eyes as she gazed up at Ben. Her sister’s look of joy warmed Emma. Layla deserved this. She’d made a dramatic turnaround over the past year.

“Should we go say hi?” Cole asked, laying a hand on her back. He wore a dark suit with a pale blue dress shirt and no tie. For Emma, this night was like going to prom with the guy she’d always fantasized about being on the arm of in high school.

“Yes, let’s,” she said. She wore a sleeveless dark green dress with a sheer black wrap and had her hair styled in an elegant updo. Only an updo would do for her makeup prom.

Layla saw them approaching and reached her arms out to hug Emma.

“Congratulations – again,” Emma said, smiling. “You look beautiful.”

“So do you.” Layla brushed a cookie crumb from Emma’s wrap. “How are you?”

“Good,” Emma said. Layla’s question was laced with meaning they couldn’t discuss here and now.

“Hey, Emma,” Ben said. She reached up and hugged him, too. Ben shook Cole’s hand quickly before Emma and Layla’s mom approached with a tray of champagne flutes.

Emma took the glass her mom handed her, wishing she could down it and grab another one.

“So where and when is this wedding?” she asked Layla and Ben.

“We don’t know yet,” Layla said. “I don’t want a huge wedding, though. Just something small and intimate.”

“Right, I know you don’t like drawing attention to yourself,” Emma said lightly.

“Fuck off,” Layla murmured, grinning. Ben, who was looking at the front door, groaned and both women turned to see who’d walked in.

“Lane,” Emma said.

Layla slid an arm around Ben’s waist. “Don’t worry, baby, I won’t let her get too close.”

Cole wrinkled his brow with amusement. “Lane? She’s like five foot nothing. You’re afraid of that, Ben?”

Ben arched his brows and leveled a serious look at Cole. “She fucking eye rapes me every time she sees me. She grabbed my balls under the table the last time we had dinner with her.”

Emma threw her head back with laugher and Layla smiled.

“I still say that was just a misunderstanding,” Layla said.

Ben scoffed. “Her entire hand wrapped around my sack and kneaded it for three full seconds until I squirmed away. That’s no misunderstanding.” He cleared his throat as Lane approached the group.

“Hey, girl!” she cried, hugging Layla. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks,” Layla said. “Hope you’re up for being a bridesmaid.”

“Of course! I’d love it. We’ll have the most kickass bachelorette party ever!” Her gaze flicked to Ben and she threw herself his way for a hug. Ben glared at Layla as Lane shimmied against him.

Cole reached for Emma’s glass and took it from her while everyone’s attention was on Ben and Lane, swapping it for his empty one. His wink and grin made her heart flutter. God, was he sexy. Between his blue gray eyes, tall, athletic build and warm smile, he was hotter than any man she’d ever imagined herself with. And sweet enough to remember she couldn’t drink because she was pregnant – and cover for her.

“I love you,” she said softly. When he leaned down and kissed her, she forgot there was anyone else in the room. His warm lips and clean smell often had that effect on her.

“That’s right! You guys are dating!” Lane’s shrill tone brought Emma back to reality. “How cute!”

“And who are you seeing these days, Lane?” Cole asked, sliding am arm around Emma’s waist and drawing her against him.

Lane shrugged. “No one special. I like to keep my options open.”

Her sister’s childhood friend grated on Emma’s nerves like no one else. She’d always been a bitch. Layla had been surrounded by girlfriends in high school, but they were all girls like Lane. Emma preferred her one good friend -- Dani – to all of Layla’s.

Another of Layla’s friends, Melanie, approached to greet her next. Emma found the middle-aged black woman with short braids to be Lane’s polar opposite. She was warm and genuine. The kind of person Emma would’ve liked to hang out with.

Cole led Emma into the living room by the hand, where they both hugged his parents. They were talking about the bakery when Emma saw several people looking at her and Cole. She recognized Jude Courson and Sam Hackney, who he’d played football with in high school. She didn’t know the women.

“I can’t help hoping this isn’t the only engagement we’ll be celebrating,” Emma’s mom said, switching out her empty champagne flute for a fresh one. She was apparently counting on her daughter not to drink it.

She was glossing over the fallout her husband had caused after Cole and Emma’s news. Emma sighed, but covered with a smile. Her mom’s world had always revolved around her husband and daughters. She wanted her girls to have storybook endings.

She leaned in to Emma’s ear quickly and whispered. “Yours is non-alcoholic.”

“I’m hoping the same thing,” Cole’s mom said, laying a hand on his forearm. “You know we’re ready for a wedding
and
a grandbaby, Cole.”

“Em’s the one you have to convince,” Cole said, moving behind her and wrapping his arms around her stomach. She leaned back against him and took in the surprised expressions on their mothers’ faces.

“You two are talking marriage?” Emma’s mom asked, her mouth falling open with excitement.

“Um . . .” Emma was considering how to answer when the light tinkle of a knife against a glass brought a welcome reprieve. All faces in the room turned to Ben and Layla, who shared a sweet kiss before Ben cleared his throat to speak.

“Layla and I want to thank all of you for celebrating with us tonight. We especially want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Carson for throwing us such a nice party.”

Layla entwined her fingers with his as he spoke and Emma felt a pang of gratitude that her sister had found her perfect match.

“So,” Ben continued. “Let’s toast my wife to be.” He turned to her and raised his glass. “Layla, you stole my heart and I never want it back. You’re the cherry on my cupcake, baby. I love you.”

His tender words to Layla and his look of pure adoration for her brought tears to Emma’s eyes. She’d never seen this side of brash man’s man Ben. A chorus of ‘aww’ preceded the raising and tipping of glasses. Emma raised hers to her lips and drank, smiling inside at Cole’s look of horror.

He slipped his empty glass into her open hand and slid hers away in a fluid motion. She smiled. He didn’t even like champagne, and he was drinking a double share for her. His face dropped with relief.

“That’s fruit juice, isn’t it?” he said under his breath. She nodded.

Ben laid his hands on Layla’s cheeks and gazed down at her before kissing her to another chorus of ‘aww’. Emma badly wanted some real champagne right about now. This, she would never have. Maybe she’d have an engagement party slash baby shower. Everyone could toast with cartons of milk.

She sighed. No, if she and Cole got married, it would be a wedding that was over before anyone knew it was happening. They’d run into friends who’d say they never even knew they were engaged. Then they’d see she was pregnant and nod knowingly.

Cole led Emma toward the stairs by the hand. She knew he wanted to sneak up to her bedroom and make out, which sounded good to her, but they were stopped by Jude Courson.

“Hey, man!” He pumped Cole’s hand enthusiastically in a handshake. “I hear you’re an attorney now.”

“Yep,” Cole said. “What are you up to these days?”

“Insurance underwriter,” Jude said, shrugging. “It pays the bills.”

“This is Emma,” Cole said, pulling her close to him.

“Yeah, Layla’s little sister.” Jude smiled at her. “You robbing the cradle, Marlowe?”

“Fuck you.” Cole shoved his shoulder lightly. “She’s only three years younger than us.”

“Yeah, I remember you,” one of the women with Jude and Sam said. “I’m Julie Peyton, I graduated with Layla and Cole and Jude.”

“Oh.” Emma studied her, trying to place her face.

“Imagine heavy eyeliner and jet black hair,” Julie said.

“Oh!” A light bulb went off. “Yes! I remember now.” The girl Emma remembered was a stark contrast to this strawberry blonde in a conservative sweater dress.

“High school,” Julie said, rolling her eyes. “I thought I had it all figured out. Hated all the cool kids like Jude. But then we ran into each other when we were both home from college the summer before senior year, and we’ve been together since.”

“It was a coffee shop for us,” Emma said. “I spilled coffee on him.”

“Aww,” Julie said, smiling. “Was he mad about it?”

“No, he was such a gentleman. We were neighbors growing up, and we recognized each other.”

Julie’s cheeks pinked as she glanced at Cole. “I had the hugest crush on you in high school.”

“Me?” Cole arched his brows with surprise.

“Yeah you, fucker,” Jude said. “All the girls had the hots for you in high school. You got more ass than a toilet seat. It was bullshit.”

Cole cleared his throat and shot Jude a look. “That was a long time ago, man.”

“Yeah, it was,” Jude said. “Looks like Layla’s changed a lot since high school. She really seems happy.”

“She is,” Emma murmured, watching her sister throw back her head with laughter over something Ben said. Layla had always brimmed with confidence, but she glowed with something new now – contentment. Strong-minded, outspoken Layla Carson had met her match. Emma was glad he was a good man who adored her sister right back. If anything ever went wrong between them, she wasn’t sure Layla would recover.

Chapter Four

Cole ran his hand over the box in the pocket of his suit pants, thinking through his plan again. The platinum band with a sparkling oval diamond inside the box was timeless, just like Emma.

With a last minute call to their cleaning service, he’d made sure the apartment was spotless. He didn’t want Emma having to worry about anything on the night of their engagement. He was wearing her favorite of his suits – a dark gray one with a pale blue shirt that matched his eyes. The ring was in his pocket. Six dozen red roses were arranged in vases around the apartment. Frank Sinatra was setting a romantic mood from the iPod speakers. Dinner from the Italian place down the street was staying warm in the oven.

Had he forgotten anything? At the sound of the door opening, his heart rate kicked up a notch. As long as he had the ring, he’d be okay.

Emma walked in, and he got down on his knees when he heard the thunk of her purse onto a console table.

“Cole?” she called, walking into the room. When she saw him, she pressed a hand over her mouth and slowed until she stood in front of him. “What’s this?”

“This is me telling you that I love you more than anything. You knock me out in every way possible. Knowing you’re carrying our child makes me feel like the luckiest guy in the world. And I need you, Em. So . . .” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny black box, flipping it open. “Will you marry me?”