Pat knew he intended to propose to Maddie. “Bull, man, you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay.”
The doorbell rang, and Pat groaned.
“Nice to know you’ve missed my sexy ass,” Grant said. “What’s the holdup?”
“Bull doesn’t know what to do with his engagement ring,” Pat said. “I think he wants to marry himself.”
“I thought you were going to ask Maddie,” Grant said, leaning against the counter.
Bull looked up at his young brother. “What do you want?”
“It’s nearly New Year’s. Come on, it’s party all night at the clubhouse. You can’t say you’re not excited.”
“I’m not excited. There, I said it quite easily.”
Both of his men groaned, and Bull couldn’t deny that he sounded like a child.
Opening the velvet box, he looked at the ring inside. It was a small ring with a tiny diamond. When he’d gone to find the perfect ring for Maddie, he’d known she wouldn’t want anything too big or elaborate. She wasn’t into material things. She was a woman who wanted to make memories, to be a family, and he didn’t know how to tell her he wanted the same things.
“You know, I never figured my big brother would be a pussy.”
Bull closed the box and stood. “What the fuck did you say to me?”
“Not as my prez. He is a kick-ass leader. He knows what he wants and he goes and takes it.”
“Maddie isn’t someone I can just take,” he said.
“Sure you can. It would be so easy. She would love it, ’cause if you ask me, she’s a woman that’s not so used to being taken. She’s a woman that’s used to being overlooked.”
“You don’t know her,” Bull said.
“Bull, man, do you love her?” Grant asked.
“You know I do.”
“And you’re going to make her happy?”
“Yes.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Go and get her. You publicly told her that you didn’t want her. Go and tell that diner full of people exactly how you feel about Maddie. Pat and I will have your back. You were a dick to her to keep her safe. Now be the hero and make her feel like a fucking queen. What did Thomas say?”
His best friend had advised that he go after his woman, and that he grovel, which he had been doing for a really long time.
“The boy’s got a point, and hell must have frozen over for me to have said that,” Pat said.
Grant slapped Pat on the chest. “Come on, dude, I’m in the zone. My brother already hates me.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“Right, we need to get him committed,” Grant said. “That man isn’t my brother.”
Bull rolled his eyes, but he got to his feet. Grant was right. Hell truly had frozen over for him to agree with his baby brother.
He tossed the keys at Pat and told him to lock up. Bull didn’t wait around. He took off, running toward the diner where his woman would be. Behind him, he heard Grant following close, but he didn’t stop.
Arriving at the diner within minutes of leaving the garage, he stopped and looked through the window. He spotted Maddie instantly in the middle of all of the customers.
The diner was always so busy in the town of Carnage. It was one of the reasons why he’d told her he didn’t want her in front of everyone.
“This is your chance,” Grant said.
He wanted to hit his brother, but instead, he opened the door and stepped inside. The noise was overpowering, and Maddie hadn’t even noticed he was there.
All of a sudden, Grant whistled loud enough for all to hear, and everyone went completely silent. Everyone turned toward him, including Maddie.
“My brother here has something to say, and it will only work if you guys shut the fuck up,” Grant said.
“Grant!”
“Sorry, Beatrice.”
Bull looked at Maddie. She glanced around the room, and he couldn’t look away. “Maddie French, I lied to you.”
“Bull, you don’t need to do this.”
“I lied because I said that no one would want a fat ugly girl, or whatever it was I said. I lied. You know why I lied, but I am here to set the record straight. I, Kirk Reynolds, am completely and totally in love with you. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and you’re the only person I want. The only woman I ever want to be with, and I’m hoping you will see that I’m not lying to you. I will only ever love you.” He slowly lowered down to one knee.
He was a little unstable, but he made it. “Will you marry me?” he asked.
Silence rang out.
He stared at Maddie as she looked in shock.
“I kind of need an answer, babe,” he said.
Bull expected her to say no. He had hurt her so badly, and he had a horrible feeling he’d fucked up too much.