The Best Man (15 page)

“You know, you have a thing about that -- like a weird, quirky, sexual thing.”

Colin shrugged. “And you don’t have any of your own? Say it.”

“I love you, Colin Pratt.” She laughed. “I just realized that I don’t even know your middle name. I’m in love with a man and I don’t know his middle name.”

“It’s Emmett. It comes from a great uncle I never met.”

“Emmett … Colin Emmett Pratt.”

He nodded.

“You didn’t get on your plane.”

“I didn’t even buy a ticket.”

She pulled away, stunned. “It was a trick?”

“Not entirely. I do have to go back and make arrangements. I was serious about my fish and, honestly, I miss my laptop like I’d miss a limb. There was a flight today. I thought you’d admit that you wanted me to come back. When you didn’t … I was hurt and I went to the airport. Was going to buy a ticket, then I thought you would certainly come and tell me you didn’t want me to go and I’d want the chance to make love to you after the romantic airport scene, so I didn’t buy it. I just sat there in the airport all day waiting for you to come to your senses.”

“That’s nuts, Colin, and you say it like I’m the crazy one.”

“Are you in love with any other men?”

“What?”

“Answer the question, Beth.”

“No, of course not.”

“So, you’re trying to argue that the rational thing to do in a situation like this, in which the only man you love is about to fly out of your life, is stay home and style your hair as though you’re in a Tim Burton film?”

Beth patted her tangled hair and gasped. “Oh, God.”

Colin kissed her, hard. “Not so fast.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. “I’m not asking this time. You’ve already said you love me and the truth is... I need you.” He swallowed hard. “So, you see, you have no choice. You have to marry me.”

She nodded. “That makes sense.” Tears filled her eyes as he slid the ring onto her finger. She waited a second, expecting one last moment of panic. It didn’t come. The ring fit perfectly.  

Colin lifted her hand and brushed his lips over her knuckles. “I’ve always been the more rational one in this relationship.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” She smirked and slid her arms around his neck.

He reciprocated, wrapping his around her waist. “We can hash it out later. First, tell me how long you need to pull this thing together.”

“This? You mean a wedding?” Beth chuckled. “Planning a wedding generally takes several months.”

“You’re kidding.” He frowned.

“A year really isn’t too unusual.”

“A year!” He shook his head. “Not a chance.”

Beth giggled. “Are you always going to be in such a rush?”

Colin smiled and shrugged. “I’ve spent my whole life looking for you, love. Why would I want to spend even one more day without having you as my own?”

Maybe he really was the reasonable one. Maybe it was just the accent. It didn’t matter. “Two weeks. If I call in every favor I can, get Eli to perform the ceremony himself, and call my sister right now, I can do it in two weeks.”

It was time to make her own happily ever after.

Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, Ikea, and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office.

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