DUKE
“Whose idea was it to get them together?” I asked, gesturing toward the jukebox where Olivia was talking excitedly with Cleo and her sisters.
Sawyer was behind the bar pouring a round of drinks.
We’d closed the bar down tonight. Their whole family had flown in yesterday to help celebrate my girl and me as we grew our business.
Or so she thought. I may have had something else up my sleeve, too.
I’d met the Hayes family when I bought the business from Lincoln Carter.
He worked this place directly under the bar’s namesake for years before Frank passed it on to him.
Fortunately for me, as much as Lincoln loved this bar, he loved his wife, Josie, more.
The two of them lived in Texas on Black Springs Ranch with their two kids, Stella and Poppy.
Cleo and Josie’s younger sister, Lennox, was also in tow, though she was sitting off to the side as she rubbed her very pregnant belly and laughed.
Her husband, Bishop, had been standing behind her the whole night like a goddamn sentry until Lincoln and Grady dragged him over to the bar.
It didn’t stop him from looking over his shoulder every time he heard her laugh.
“Yours,” Lukas said, pointing his beer my direction. “In fact, all of this is your idea.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “Brother.”
“It’s just a label,” I said, trying to hide my smile. I was failing miserably, but it was the thought that counted.
The ring, now hidden in my pocket, had been tucked away at the back of the closet for the past month. It wasn’t overly grand or flashy—just a single solitaire diamond on a gold band I’d been saving up to buy. Harper and Charlie had both helped me pick it out. They assured me Olivia would love it.
I hoped they were right.
Ever since I first held it in my hand, it was a struggle not to drop to one knee and ask her right then and there to be mine forever. Each morning when she was in the kitchen making breakfast, or when she’d slide beneath the covers after soaking in the bathtub every night.
But I wanted to do this right. I wanted to make sure she knew just how loved and cherished she was.
“You know, I thought it was going to be us bros forever,” Lukas grumbled. “But now, here you are, all moon-eyed over my sister. I can’t believe this.”
“One. Don’t ever say the word ‘bros’ again. You’re a forty-two-year-old man. Two. Your sister’s hotter than you are,” I countered. “It was an easy choice.”
Lukas placed his hand over his heart. “Okay, ouch. You didn’t need to cut me so deep.”
I just shrugged. “The truth hurts sometimes.”
“I’m telling you… This bar is magic. I proposed to Josie right there only two years ago, and look at us,” Lincoln said, gesturing toward the charcoal band on his left hand. “Happier than ever.”
“Yeah, suffocatingly so,” Bishop muttered. “I keep waiting for your honeymoon phase to go away, but it hasn’t yet.”
“Says the man who won’t let anyone even remotely close to Lennox. Tell me, has she threatened to castrate you yet?” Lincoln shot back.
Bishop shifted on the stool, adjusting himself. “She says I’m overbearing, but I just want to protect her. Not my fault she has a knack for getting herself into trouble. Gotta protect my woman and our babies.”
“I’ll give you this, old man. I wasn’t sure you still had it in you. Twins? At your age?” Grady shivered. “Keeping up with one kid that young was hard enough.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not a pussy,” Bishop snapped, taking a swig of his beer. “And my swimmers are very strong. Thank you very much.”
Lukas chuckled. “I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that shit.”
“Nah, I said that, too. Now look at me. Married to a woman I can barely keep up with two babies on the way. Life’s weird, man,” Bishop said.
“I’m not holding my breath,” Lukas chuckled, but it was hollow. He glanced down at his beer, fiddling with the label. “Don’t think any of that is in the cards for me.”
Lukas and I had this conversation more times than I could count. He truly believed there wasn’t a single woman out there capable of changing his mind, but I knew it was bullshit. I’d thought the same thing after Sarah left, and yet here I was preparing to propose.
“Hey,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Somewhere out there is a woman who’s gonna knock you straight on your ass when you least expect it.”
“I think I’ll keep standing on my own two feet, thank you very much,” he said, settling back in his chair.
The lights overhead dimmed, causing all of us to turn around and glance toward where Lennox and Sawyer were standing off to the side. The latter held a makeshift spotlight toward the bar.
“What the hell?” Bishop muttered, pushing to his feet. The moment he stood, a familiar song sounded out from the jukebox, and I groaned as Cleo and Josie lifted Charlie and Harper onto the bar before following suit.
“Uh, what’s going on?” Lukas asked.
Lincoln leaned back in his seat, a maniacal smile on his face as Josie winked at him. “I don’t know, but I’m damn sure going to have fun finding out.”
“Our daughters are up there, you asshat,” Grady said, smacking the man on the back of the head. It didn’t deter Lincoln one bit.
As the lyrics started, Olivia appeared between the other girls, casually climbing up onto the bar. Each of them swayed their hips to the beat, dancing in a perfect rhythm. It was clear they’d modified the routine, so it wasn’t too provocative for Harper and Charlie.
“Isn’t this from that movie?” Lincoln asked, turning toward me. “You know the one—”
“Liv always did like the dramatics. Wonder how long they’ve been planning this,” Lukas said.
Bishop looked over at Lennox, who was miming the words. “So, that’s why she’s been pouting all night,” he said.
The guys and I watched the girls dance on the bar, hooting and hollering as they took turns in the spotlight. By the time the music cut off, we were all on our feet giving them the round of applause they deserved.
I walked over, holding my hands out for Olivia to take. She did, jumping down in front of me. “You better not have scratched my bar,” I said, giving her a kiss.
She smiled up at me, her blonde curls a sweaty mess. “Our bar, baby. Remember that.”
“How could I forget?” I pulled her closer, letting her body melt against my own.
Her hand came up, playing with the hair along my neck as she whispered. “Is that a ring box in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”
What. The. Fuck.
She pulled back, a knowing smile on her lips at my stunned expression. “I—Well, I—”
“Oh, please. I found that thing the first time I did laundry, Duke. We really need to work on your hiding spots.”
Goddammit. My heart sank. Suddenly, it felt like the night was ruined. I wanted to surprise her. “You knew?”
“It has literally been killing me. Honestly, I’m glad you’re not making me wait anymore.” She slipped her hand inside the front pocket of my jeans and pulled out the small box. It lay flat in the palm of her hand.
I took it from her, pulling out the golden band before dropping to one knee. It wasn’t at all how I pictured it, but it was perfect all the same. Here, in our bar, surrounded by friends and family, I stared up at the most beautiful woman I’d ever known.
“I’m not good with my words, so you’ll have to bear with me as I stumble through this,” I said, eliciting a laugh from those around us.
“A wise man once told me that regrets are for fools. Since then, I’ve taken those words to heart and tried my best to live by them.
If you would’ve told me that I’d be getting down on one knee for the annoying girl I used to throw into the lake when we were kids, I’d have probably said you were crazy. ”
“Hear, hear,” Lukas chimed. “Back when I was the most important Hart in your life.”
Olivia rolled her eyes, reaching over to pinch her brother. “You’re just mad because your best friend would rather play with me instead.”
Lukas scrunched up his nose. “Nope. I don’t want to think about that.”
I looked between the two of them, waiting.
“Can I get back to what I was doing?” Lukas held up his hands as Olivia turned back to me, bright eyes shining as she glanced down.
“But now, there’s no one else I could imagine spending the rest of my life with.
You’re an amazing woman. An amazing mother.
I’m so glad Harper and I get to share a life with you and Charlie.
” I glanced around at all the tear-filled eyes trained on us. “And everyone else, too.”
“Oh, Duke…” she whispered.
“Olivia Hart, will you marry me?”
Olivia smiled, one side of her lips kicking up a smidge higher than the other. “That must have been one wise man.”
“He was pretty great.”
She glanced down at the ring and bit her lip, nodding. “I would love to marry you, Duke Bennett.”
The bar broke out in a thunderous applause as I stood and picked Olivia up, kissing her senseless. She wrapped her legs around my waist, locking us together.
“Get a room,” Lukas boomed as I set his sister down. He pulled me into a hug, clapping me on the back. “Proud of you, brother.”
Charlie and Harper ran up and grabbed Olivia’s hand. “Look at our shirts!”
She glanced down at the matching pink and purple shirts with the word “sister” in bright glitter on the front. Cleo had helped them both make them last weekend when Olivia and I were working.
“Oh, girls. This is fantastic!” Olivia said, giving me a wink and smiling before pulling Harper and Charlie into a hug. “I love it. Do you think we could make one for your dad and me? That way we could all match.”
“I’m not wearing glitter,” I murmured, pulling her to my side.
“What about pink? Does that offend your delicate sensibilities?”
“I’m a girl dad. Of course, I’ll wear pink.”
Olivia nodded. “Good. Because I have all kinds of plans for this bar.”
I pulled back with furrowed brows. “Hold up. Wait. You’re not painting my bar pink.”
“I’ve been talking to Lennox and Sawyer all night about ideas. We could get a disco ball, at least,” she said, kissing my cheek.
We didn’t really need a fucking disco ball, but if she wanted one… I might be able to make it happen. “You’ll have to get your brother on board with that.”
“Oh, he’s easy to manipulate. I can handle him.”
Olivia settled her head on my shoulder as we looked out at the bar.
At all of our friends and family who’d gathered here not only to celebrate the start of something new but to show their unwavering support for Olivia and me, I couldn’t help but be grateful for how things fall apart before falling together.
“I thought my life was over after the divorce,” I said, capturing Olivia’s attention. “But it was just getting started.”
She curled into my side, nuzzling my neck. “We both deserve a fresh start.”
I kissed her forehead. “I’ll drink to that.”