One week from today, The Only One goes live on all venues! Are you ready? I know I am!
Today’s sneak peek features Rilla and Mason . . . she’s working for him, taking care of his daughter and his mother, and they’ve just come from dinner out. Something happened that kind of set Rilla off. Watch out for those quiet types.
“You’re crazy. Just flat-out, no-holds-barred insane.”
Rilla didn’t wait for me to open her door this time when I pulled the truck into the driveway. She jumped out and then leaned back to unbuckle Piper. “Come on, sweet pea. Let’s get you ready for a bath and bed.”
“Rilla, come on. We need to talk about this.” I followed her into the house. “Just wait a second.”
“No, thanks. I’m going to put Piper to bed, and then I’m going to help Naomi with her medicine and help her get changed for bed. And then I’m going to my room and going to bed myself. I suggest you do the same. Clearly you got too much sun today, and it fried your brain.”
“It didn’t go above seventy-two degrees today, Rilla. I don’t have heat stroke. I just—”
“No.” She stopped and spun on her heel, shooting me a stern, shut-your-mouth look that halted me in my tracks. “Not another word.” She turned around again, pausing only at the doorway to my mother’s room. “Naomi, as soon as I get the little one down, I’ll come help you, okay? You all right ‘til then?”
I heard my mom speak, cautious and curious. “I’m fine, darlin’. The bigger question is, are you okay?”
“I’m peachy. Be right back. Piper, say good-night to Nan.”
Rilla bent to set my daughter on the floor, and Piper scampered to hug her grandmother. She ran back to grab Rilla’s hand and marched up the steps.
I went into Mom’s room and dropped into the easy chair, rubbing the back of my neck.
“I’m nearly afraid to ask, but what happened? Here I was happy, thinking the three of you were off having yourselves a time, and instead Rilla comes home in a snit and you’re trailing her around, begging her to give you a minute of time.”
I sighed. “You’re not going to like it, and I’m not sure I can deal with another pissed female tonight. So let’s just say I said something that made perfect sense to me, but apparently was the last thing Rilla wanted to hear.”
Mom laid her head back against the chair. “Oh, son. ‘Fess up, now. Tell me what you did.”
I steepled my fingers and stared down at them. “I asked Rilla to marry me.”
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