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every chance they got. Talking had pretty much been limited to your place or mine?
    When she was sure she was as dry as she was going to get, she walked over to the sofa where Cal sat with her daughter. He seemed completely oblivious to how his wet clothes would ruin the leather. But then he could just buy himself a new one the way other people replaced holey socks.
    Lucy held her hands out. “I can take her now.”
    “We’re fine. Want a drink?”
    “I want my daughter.” She still wasn’t over Kevin’s threat, she realized. It was as though Kevin hung in the air above her, waiting to snatch Poppy away the moment she turned her back.
    “Sure.” Cal gave Poppy over, eyeing Lucy like she was the one who might disappear. “Want a drink, something to warm you up?”
    “That would be nice. Thanks.”
    Cal rose and went over to the bar in the corner. He moved with the grace and power of a predator. Long and lean, his body never ceased to draw her attention and every other woman’s in the room. She’d been so proud to be with him, thinking herself something special. Now she was going to be his wife.
    “Why me?” she asked, sitting down and adjusting Poppy in her lap.
    He turned with two tumblers half full of amber liquid in each hand. He offered her the one with ice. She couldn’t help but be surprised that he remembered how she liked her drink.
    He sat next to her on the sofa. “I’m assuming you’re asking me why I asked you to marry me.”
    “I wouldn’t put it like that. You didn’t really ask me. It was more of an offer like you’d put on a house or a car. But yeah, why me and not, well, anyone else?”
    “Oh, shit.” He set his glass on the table with a thunk. “Hold on. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
    She followed him out of the room with her gaze. He was acting so strangely tonight. But then this whole thing was strange, from the way he’d made his proposal to the way she’d accepted.
    He came back into the room and headed straight for her, and then he did the most astonishing thing—he dropped to one knee in front of her. He took the glass from her and clasped her hand between both of his.
    “What are you doing?” She couldn’t help the panic in her voice. And she really wished she had three hands so she could knock back that drink.
    “Lucy Monroe, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    “What are you doing? Get up.”
    “Not till you give me an answer.”
    “I already said I’d marry you. This isn’t necessary.”
    “Yes, it is. Now are you going to give me an answer or not?” He actually looked kind of nervous.
    “This isn’t real. None of this is real. What are you trying to do here?” Get her hopes up? Make her feel as though this was the beginning of a real engagement that would become a real marriage? This was insane. He was insane.
    “It’s as real as this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, signature blue box, and her heart rate doubled. Then he lifted the lid, and she thought her heart might stop altogether. The most beautiful cushion cut diamond surrounded by sapphires winked up at her.
    “I don’t understand.” She flipped the box lid closed, unable to stand how incredibly perfect the ring was. “This doesn’t make any sense. Why are you doing this?”
    “We need a story to tell people. How you came over and we were sitting here having a quiet night in during a rainstorm and then I proposed and you accepted. Only you haven’t done your part yet.” He opened the box again. “If you don’t like the ring, we can exchange it.”
    Poppy made a grab for the ring, which Lucy blocked just in time.
    “Well, Poppy seems to like it. Don’t you, sweet pea?” He tweaked Poppy’s nose, making her giggle. “Are you going to make me stay down here until my legs go numb?” he asked Lucy.
    Lucy stared at the ring, which was so dang beautiful it made her eyes water.
    “Oh, damn, darlin’. Don’t cry. You hate it. I get it.” He