Chapter One
Taryn
“That was fun.” I tried to regulate my breathing. Being winded would just be tacky.
My girlfriend and I had just climbed the Grouse Grind, up the mountain in North Vancouver. Grouse Mountain, to be specific. Two and a half kilometers. One and a half miles. Two thousand eight hundred and thirty steps.
Akin to insanity
Because that walk was up a freaking mountain.
Now, as a tow truck driver, I was fit. And strong. Even if I didn’t haul around gear all day, I also chose to work out because I wanted to be in prime condition. Less likely to injure myself at work.
More likely to attract a particular woman.
Stephanie placed a hand on my lower back. “That was amazing. And your first time.”
I let out a long exhalation as I tried to regulate my breathing.
“Oh God, Taryn, look at the sky.”
I pivoted to the west to catch the beginnings of a truly amazing sunset. I snagged Steph’s wrist. “Come on. We need to see the view.”
The view was of Vancouver, the lower mainland, and Mount Baker, the dormant volcano in Washington State. Her majestic snow-covered peaks would be beautiful in stark contrast to the approaching darkness.
We made it to the best lookout spot just as the sky exploded with purples, pinks, reds, and a soft mauve that matched the eyeshadow Steph favored. I’d have thought she’d prefer something to match her azure eyes, but she chose a subtle shade of purple.
And I’d never used the word azure in my life until I’d met her and those stunning eyes that had drawn me in from the first moment.
I held her hand tightly.
“It’s such a beautiful night.” She gazed into my eyes. “It’s like I planned it or something.”
I cocked my head. I’d been the one to suggest the Grind. Stephanie had come once a year since turning sixteen. Usually with her brother Cooper to celebrate her birthday. Coop, dear soul, had been devastated he couldn’t make his favorite sister’s birthday. A work thing.
Or so he’d told Stephanie.
I dropped to one knee, wincing when I hit the ground harder than I’d anticipated.
“Oh, hon.” Stephanie crouched, taking my face in her hands. “I knew we pushed too hard at the end. I shouldn’t have been so set on matching my record.”
Her slowest record. She’d done that for me—she hadn’t pushed to match her fastest time. Set last year. With the very fit Cooper by her side.
“I’m fine.” At least I wasn’t wheezing. “You’re supposed to be standing.”
“Why?” She blinked her gorgeous eyes. “Oh.”
She often came off as the horrifically stereotyped blonde. She wasn’t that at all. She was one of the smartest women I knew. Which, given the intelligence of my business partners, said something.
“Well, you’re supposed to be standing as well.”
I blinked.
She fished in her pocket until she withdrew a little box.
I blinked again. “No. This is supposed to be me proposing to you.” I yanked the ring box out. “See?”
She offered me a brilliant smile. Her megawatt smile. “Great minds.” She released my hand to open the box. “It’s platinum—in case you want to wear it to work. But if you don’t—given your job and—”
“It’s perfect. And I plan to wear it all the time and never take it off.” To my relief, the ring didn’t have any stones. Even inlaid stones would’ve been at risk. But platinum was solid. And beautiful.
I opened the box cradled in my hand. “The person at the jewelry store, an interesting woman named Zelda, said we can exchange it if you don’t—”
“Oh Taryn.” Her eyes filled.
My heart sank.
“It’s perfect.” She whispered the words reverently.
My heart soared.
I slipped the white-gold ring from its nestled perch. I’d chosen an emerald-cut diamond with two aquamarine gems on the other side. The two blue gems matched her eyes perfectly. The sky on a summer day, I’d once told her.
She’d laughed.
Not at my attempt at romance. No, she never did that. She’d giggled because I’d offered the comparison on a dull, dreary, typically rainy November day in the Pacific Northwest. Mission City had seen a lot of rain that month.
We’d spent many a day lazing around my house in pajamas. Reading books to each other. Baking. Playing with my dog, Taffy.
Making love.
I slipped the ring onto her finger. I’d snagged her class ring one day when she hadn’t been paying attention.
Again, Zelda had happily offered to resize it if necessary.
To my relief, that wouldn’t be necessary.
She slid the platinum band onto my finger. The thing was more of a wedding ring, but, to me, it didn’t matter. I was putting it on now. She was my everything. I’d always be hers.
Our gazes meshed.
She mouthed, I love you.
We moved closer and our lips brushed. Just the lightest of kisses. This moment felt too special to embark on one of those hot’n’heavy kisses that invariably landed us on the nearest bed, couch, or even against Cooper’s kitchen table when he’d been in the shower.
I’d have sworn he took an extra-long one because he’d seen how horny we’d been. He was accommodating that way.
The kiss ended. I mouthed I love you, too.
“Nope. Doesn’t count. You have to say it loud enough for the camera to pick up.”
Stephanie and I both turned.
My future brother-in-law stood at the front of a growing crowd who’d all, apparently, gathered.
I had wondered why we seemed to be the only people up here.
Apparently, Cooper had been holding them back.
“Louder?” Steph squinted.
“So Lachlan can hear.” Cooper rolled his eyes.
“Hey, that’s my brother you’re talking about,” Said with precisely zero seriousness on my part.
“Your future brother-in-law,” Stephanie added.
The phone nearly slipped from Cooper’s grip.
“Shit.”
“You’ll have to edit that out, mate.” Some blond Aussie guy rescued the camera. “Why don’t I take one with you and the women?”
Cooper stared.
I rolled my eyes.
Stephanie stood. “Oh, that’s a lovely idea. Thank you.” She handed the camera to the stranger and dragged Cooper over to where I now stood.
Cooper stood between us and put his arms around our shoulders.
“Cheese.” The Aussie guy gave a winning smile.
We all smiled back.
“Got it.”
Someone started a round of applause, which petered out quickly as people pointed to the sky.
The Aussie guy returned Cooper’s phone to him.
“Thank you.” Coop beamed.
“My pleasure.” The Aussie winked. “Not every day I travel to the other side of the world to witness a double proposal.”
Coop beamed. “And I knew the thing was coming—even though they didn’t.”
Stephanie nudged him. “So you didn’t have a work thing.”
“You think Noel would make me work on your birthday? He knows what a big deal the day is for you.” He pressed a kiss to Stephanie’s cheek.
“Thank your boss for us.” I nudged Coop. “And thank you.”
“I surprised you, didn’t I?” He appeared inordinately pleased with himself.
“Perhaps you can tell me how you got all that worked out?” The Aussie guy eyed Coop. “Over a romantic sunset? I think these two need some alone time.”
“Yeah.” Coop grinned that crooked grin that always said, Hell yes, I’m into that.
“Send Lachlan the video first?” Because I would’ve done anything to have my brother here today to share this. Alas, he was back in Toronto doing that lawyering shit he was so good at.
Almost as far away from Vancouver as he could get. Well, he could’ve picked Newfoundland—the easternmost province in Canada—but he’d still gone pretty damn far.
“Shit, yeah.” Coop fidgeted with his phone.
Aussie guy cocked his head.
“My brother.” I smiled.
He gazed back and forth between Coop and me. “Not best buddies?”
Stephanie chuckled. “They can’t stand each other.”
“Right.” Aussie guy gave Coop the once-over. “His loss.”
Oh God, no. They’d be like oil and water. Like… I couldn’t think of two things that didn’t go together.
Well, pineapple and pizza. Coop would be the pineapple and Lachlan would be the plain peperoni pizza. Two things that just didn’t belong together.