“That is strange,” Bear agreed, picking up my hand. His fingers searched my ring finger out and squeezed. It was an action he’d taken to doing the last few days. An odd action at that.
“Very. Grandmother ridicules fanciful ideas, so for her to support Callie is odd. And Polly has bought a building around the corner to Tiny. It’s not as big as Tiny’s gym but perfect for a dojo. She’s taking measurements with Tiny’s help and ordering stuff online,” I said.
“How do you know so much?” Bear asked, aggrieved that I’d not spoken about any of this.
“Callie updated me when you went to shower, so now I’m telling you.”
“Nice to be kept in the loop. I leave the country, and Hellfire forgets I exist,” Bear bitched, and I laughed. He was so adorable, pouting.
“Not quite. Chance said to get your hairy ass home asap. Chance went ahead and spoke about the plans, and your brothers are rebelling.”
“Good, serves Chance right for going ahead without me,” Bear grunted and smiled wickedly. He liked the thought of Chance suffering.
“Oh, that cheered you up,” I teased. Bear touched my finger again.
“Marry me,” Bear blurted and reddened. My eyes nearly popped out of my head.
“What?” I gasped. Bear shuffled and pulled a ring box from his jean pocket.
“Marry me,” he asked again.
“Are you serious? I’m in a hospital bed looking a complete mess and recovering from surgery, and you’re asking me to marry you?” My voice rose a few octaves.
“Yup, no better time. Proves I want you no matter what for the rest of my life,” Bear growled, holding out the box. Okay, that was kind of cute and very sweet.
“Show me,” I said, nodding at the ring box. Bear opened the box and held it out. I lifted my hand and held Bear’s gaze. “You going to try it on?” I couldn’t help teasing Bear. Bear scowled.
“Ain’t you going to say yes?”
“If I have to… yes, Bear, I’ll marry you. My Sky Blue,” I teased, and Bear’s scowl darkened. Bear truly hated his birth name, and I couldn’t blame him.
“Maybe I’ll take the ring back,” Bear threatened, and I squeaked. I glanced at the box and smiled when I saw the ring. It was rose gold with an enormous emerald and two diamonds on either side. Delicate gold scrollwork surrounded the gems, and I fell in love.
“No, you won’t,” I said firmly, and Bear pulled the ring from the box and slid it on my finger.
“No, I won’t,” Bear agreed and stole my breath with a heated kiss. It had been two days since we last made love, and I felt my loins heating. Damn Bear, he was so freaking sexy.
“Wheee!” Callie squealed from the doorway, and we turned and saw Callie, Kelly and Grandmother smiling. Callie and Kelly held their phones up, recording the moment, and got busy seconds later, sending the video to Hellfire. Bear’s phone bleeped moments later, and, grinning, he pulled it from his pocket.
“Chance!” Bear said.
“Oh, if Chance plans to yell, take the call in the bathroom,” I muttered, examining the ring Bear had slid onto my finger. Bear answered the phone, and Clio’s scream echoed down it. Bear winced and held the phone away from his ear.
“What a fuckin’ screwed up proposal! Thought you were gonna wait until you were home!” Chance bellowed. Clio squealed again.
“It’s romantic, you shut up. This proves Bear doesn’t care how much of a mess Thalia looks like; he just wants her,” Clio yelled.
“Thanks, Clio,” I said dryly. Just what every woman wants to hear, she looked a mess when her man proposed.
“Well, you know what I meant,” Clio cried.
“What it means is you put your foot in your mouth as much as I do!” I snapped, but I was smiling.
“Big Al said don’t go to fuckin’ Vegas or what happened with Sin and Jett will look like a picnic,” Chance warned. Bear blanched.
“We’ll be waiting until my breast is reconstructed,” I sniffed. “I’m not being a lopsided bride.”
“Well, that told us,” Shee commented, laughing. Didn’t it just