On the Rocks (Mixology #2)(6)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Hey!” Maddy practically skipped over. “Sorry it took me so long.”

“That’s okay. I’ll just complain to your boss about the service.” He grinned like a love-sick puppy. If it were over any other girl I probably would have gagged, but I could handle it with Maddy.

“Oh yeah? I wasn’t aware you needed to be served.”

Putting up with the love sick routine was one thing, but sexual innuendoes were another. “Don’t answer that with me around.”

They both laughed.

“I’m probably going to be stuck here really late tonight. I feel bad that you’ll both be sitting here the whole time.”

“Why?” Colin answered immediately. “What else would we be doing?”

“Something more fun than this.” She gestured to the tiki bar.

“We’re fine, but I wouldn’t mind a Manhattan.”

A small smile spread across her face, and I had a feeling I was missing an inside joke.

“Coming right up.” Maddy set to work making his drink, peeking back at him over her shoulder a few times. Sometimes she appeared just as love sick as him, but other times she seemed to be holding back.

Maddy set the brown colored drink down in front of Colin before rushing off to help someone else. I picked it up and took a sip before he could.

“Ugh. You actually like this?”

He sipped it and smiled. “Yes. I take it it’s not your drink?”

I laughed. “Not my drink? You sound like Maddy.”

“I do, don’t I?” He sat and sipped his drink for a while, but Maddy never even made it back over to us. “Want to run by the house with me really quick? We can drop off one of the cars and come back.”

His suggestion surprised me. I kind of got the feeling he showed up at Maddy’s work because he liked to make sure guys were keeping their distance. “Sure, I don’t think she’ll mind.”

He walked around to the other side of the bar and got her attention. I couldn’t hear the exchange, but I did notice the small kiss they shared when she leaned over the bar.

He joined me, and I rolled my eyes, pretending to find it offensive.

“Come on, I don’t want to be gone for too long.” He quickened his pace and headed for the entrance. Once outside I unlocked my car.

“See you at the house.” My car was parked in a front spot, and his was around the side.

“See ya.”

I made it back to Colin’s place first, but he pulled in seconds later. I waited for him to unlock the door, and I followed him in.

“So what’s going on? The suspense is killing me.”

“Wait here.” He took off up the stairs, and I waited impatiently. I had a feeling I knew what he wanted to show me, but I wouldn’t believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes.

He came back down with a huge grin. “How’d I do?” He held out a black jewelry box. I took it from him and opened the lid.

“Oh my God, Colin. Look at the size of that rock!” I was holding a princess cut solitaire ring that had to be two carats or more.

“Do you think she’ll like it? I went simple, because that seems like what she’d want.”

“Simple? This isn’t simple. It’s huge.”

“Yes…but a simple setting.” He shifted nervously.

I needed to put him at ease. “I’m sure she’ll love it, but you didn’t consider getting her involved in the shopping? Some girls like to pick out their own ring.”

A look of fear swept over him. “Really? I thought she’d want a surprise.”

I put a hand on his arm. “I’m sure she’ll love the surprise. I guess I’m just surprised you bought it already. Have you guys at least talked about marriage?”

“Not in those words exactly.”

“Um, what does that mean?” I was getting nervous. Colin was the cool and collected one of the family. He never did anything without planning it down to the last detail. Somehow I doubted he had in this case.

“It means I haven’t actually come out and said, ‘hey, let’s get married,’ but I did ask her to move in with me and she knows I view this as a long term relationship.”

“Colin,” I groaned. “That does not mean you’ve discussed marriage.”

“So you’re saying I have to actually tell her I want to marry her before I ask her?”

“No. I’m just saying Maddy’s like you. She thinks things out. She’s scientific. Do you really want to spring a question on her without giving her time to warm up to it?”

“Warm up to it?” He grabbed the ring back and gave it one long look before closing the box. “I’m asking my girlfriend to marry me, not wash my car. It’s a good thing.”

“Of course it’s a good thing.” I didn’t want to completely back pedal but I definitely needed to tread carefully. “How are you going to do it?”

“That’s where I need you.”

“You need me how?” I took a seat on the arm of the couch.

“To help me execute my plan, but that has to wait. I’m going up to see her parents and ask her dad’s permission first.”

“You’re going the old fashioned route, huh?” I wasn’t remotely surprised. Colin was that way. He liked to play by the rules.

“Yes. I know she doesn’t talk to them often, but she cares about their opinion.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea.” I shuddered at the thought of a guy asking my parents for permission, but I understood why he was doing it.

“I can’t tell her I’m going though.”

“Because it would ruin the surprise.”

He started toward the stairs. “Exactly. I’m going to put this away, and then I’m going to head back to the Grille. Are you in?”

“I think I’ll stay here. I’m exhausted. Maddy won’t care, will she?”

He smiled. “Wow, you’re going to sleep before me. Never thought I’d see that day.”

I got up. “Tell Maddy good night for me.”

“I will, but Carly?”

“Yeah?” I stopped halfway down the hall.

“Despite what I might say, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

I walked over and hugged him. “I knew you did.”

Chapter Four

Macon

“What the hell is that?” My roommate, Brody, made a face as he watched me cook my dinner.