Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

C olton felt different. The Belles simpering around him at the café didn't even register to him. He'd woken up with Cady in his arms, Princess curled between his legs, George on his chest, and Ginny wrapped around his head. He'd never been happier.

Cady was busy at the distillery and they'd agreed to meet later that afternoon. Colton felt the ring in his pocket as he walked into the café. He needed to come up with something as special as she was.

He had the ring, just not the plan.

"Hey, bro. How's Cady doing today?" Landon asked as he and his wife, Kate, stopped by the table Colton took at the café.

"She's sore. Jace visited her this morning and cleared her of any real injury, but her body is covered in bruises."

"I hope she's resting," Kate said, looking worried.

Colton shook his head. "You know Cady. Nothing will keep her down. She's getting some work done. I told her she had three hours to work, then I was making her relax the rest of the day."

"Call us if she needs anything," Kate told him.

"Thanks," Colton said as Landon and Kate walked out hand in hand.

His brother was happy in love and adored his wife. Colton now understood why his brother looked so content. He'd found that love with Cady and it had changed his whole world. Which made this proposal thing so hard. It needed to be perfect because Cady was perfect.

"Is something wrong with Cady?" Colton looked up from where he was pushing food around his plate to find his dad and his uncles.

"No. She's sore, but she'll be okay. Why?"

"Because you look like someone just kicked Princess," Miles said as if it were obvious.

"Oh!" Pierce said suddenly before dropping his voice. "I know that look."

"You do?" Colton asked, still not sure what look he was giving his lunch to cause such worry.

Pierce nodded. "That's the look of a man who wants to propose, but he's realizing he doesn't want to let the woman of his dreams down."

Colton felt his eyes go wide with surprise. "How did you know I was going to propose?" he whispered.

"We didn't, but you just confirmed it. I know I taught you better," Cy said with a roll of his eyes.

"But this is great!" his father said again in a hushed whisper. "Cady is perfect for you."

"And lucky for you, you have us. We have decades of romance under our belts," Marshall told him.

"Are you talking about romance?" Cole, Aunt Paige's husband and Colton's uncle asked, joining his brothers-in-law around Colton's table. "I'm the romance king."

Colton raised an eyebrow as his dad and uncles all laughed at Cole. Cole's history of horrible gift giving was legendary.

"Cole, we know you love our sister. It's the only reason we let you marry her," Miles told him.

"But just because you survived giving her a pet hair vacuum cleaner does not make you a romance king," Marshall added.

"Or the workout gear you got her," Cy said.

"Or the anti-aging creams," Pierce said with a shudder.

Cole frowned. "But she wanted them."

"You give her those on any other day, not her birthday, Valentine's Day, or Christmas," Miles said as if it were obvious.

"What about the chainsaw he got her for their anniversary?" Colton's father chuckled.

"It was to cut down the tree that was hitting the bedroom window and keeping her up at night. And I made her some bowls out of the tree after I cut it down," Cole defended. "What about you all? As if you can do it better?"

"This isn't about us. This is about Colton," Cade said, reminding them of Colton's predicament. "He wants to propose, but it has to be perfect, and," his father paused and glanced around, "no one can know."

"Now that I did right," Cole said with a huge grin. "It was one hell of a proposal."

"Do you want it to be a big spectacle or a private one?" Miles asked. "I went big, but it's really more about how you two are as a couple."

"Private, but then I want it big because I want everyone to know," Colton said after taking a minute to think about it.

"Do you have a ring?" Pierce asked.

"I do. It's in my pocket. I called the jeweler you have on speed dial. You're right. She's amazing." Colton felt his pocket to make sure the ring was still there.

"What ideas do you have so far?" his father asked him.

"I thought to do it at the distillery. It's her dream and it's coming true. She's going to need to expand, even if she doesn't realize it yet. But, it's also her home and she feels her dad's presence with her when she's working." Cade grabbed a paper napkin and the uncles got to work. "Are you drawing schematics?" Colton asked.

They grunted, then they stood back, looking around to make sure no one was paying attention. "Here's your engagement plan. Now, it's up to you to execute it," Miles told him as they explained it, added to it, and made adjustments until it was just right.

"We'll rendezvous here at eighteen hundred," his father said, pointing to the map he'd made. "This is top secret. Tell no one. You know your jobs. Get in, get out, be safe."

Colton was about to take the napkin map but his father lit it on fire. "You never leave evidence."

Now they had the attention of everyone, but his father didn't seem concerned as he watched the napkin burn on the plate he'd set it on.

"So, does it matter if you hose it from the top or the side?" Pierce asked as if they were discussing how to put out a fire. "Because I have an idea for a robot that might help with this."

Colton smothered the fire with his iced tea as everyone went back to eating. Apparently, teaching fire techniques to an inventor wasn't a strange enough event to take note of. Colton didn't have time to worry about it. He had the perfect proposal to pull off and that's all that mattered.

Cady slid her hand through Ollie's arm as they walked out of her house. They liked to stroll along the property as they talked. She'd regaled him with what had happened overnight and then soothed his worry, assuring him it was all over now.

"It's all over the Louisville news this morning. Bruce and Jordan were arrested this morning. I've already made a motion to dismiss the suit he brought against you. Don't worry about it. I'll have it dismissed by the end of the week. Let's talk about good things. Tell me about Sippy. We need a contract."

Cady smiled up at the uncle of her heart and nodded. "It's why I called you. We aren't getting together until next month to work on our recipe, but I want something in place—in writing—before then."

"I'll start working on it tomorrow. Now, tell me about this Colton fellow. I guess I have to like him since he saved your life last night."

"You'll love him the second you meet him." Cady went on to tell Uncle Ollie all about Colton, her crush on him, how they were friends, how it all changed when they had danced together, and how much she loved him.

"I guess I'll give him a chance since you think so highly of him. He sounds like the kind of guy your father always wanted for you. A man who puts you first supports your dreams and has your back. When do I get to meet him?"

"We're supposed to get together in an hour back at the house. Could you stay long enough to meet him?" Cady was nervous. Ollie was the closest person she had to a father figure. It would mean a lot to know Colton had his approval and they got along.

"I'd love to. He sounds like a fine young man," Ollie was saying when they heard the sound of the distillery's utility vehicle driving toward them.

"Yes?" Cady called out as Harlan parked.

Harlan leaned out of the all-terrain vehicle. "Sorry to bother you, but we have an issue with one of the barrels. I poured some into a tasting glass for you in the tasting room. And, before you ask, yes, I got your favorite tasting glass."

Ollie chuckled. "Let me guess, your dad's tasting glass?"

"Of course," Cady said before turning back to Harlan. "What's the problem?"

"The taste is slightly off. I think something might have contaminated the barrel. I set it out for you. Can you taste it while I'm in warehouse two? Joey needs my help. Actually, Ollie, do you feel like using your muscles for something other than writing briefs? We could use an extra hand to move this barrel that rolled off the rails by warehouse two. We'll meet you back at your house when we're done to discuss what you think about the barrel."

Cady was about to protest, but Ollie looked excited to get his hands dirty. So she agreed to meet them when they were done. Ollie climbed into the gator with Harlan, and Cady headed to the tasting room next to the visitor's center, where everything was back to normal after the conference.

The place was quiet as tours were done for the day. This was her favorite time. The sun streamed in through the windows, warming the wood as it glowed around her. The polished bar seemed cozy and welcoming. And it was all hers. She'd done this. She'd sanded and polished that bar herself and now it gleamed, filled with her bourbon and gin.

Cady walked around the bar to where a bottle of straight-from-the-barrel bourbon sat. Next to it was her father's tasting glass with a splash of bourbon in it. Tasting bourbon was so much more than drinking it. She had to examine the color, the smell, and then the taste.

It was the perfect time to do this since the sun was shining on the bar and would be perfect for seeing all the shade of the bourbon. Cady held up the glass and paused. What the heck was that?

She leaned closer and turned the glass. Even through the bourbon, a diamond ring shone in the sun. She stared at it, knowing what it was but still not fully registering what it meant.

She set the glass down and reached inside. No wonder it wasn't a full pour. The ring sat atop a clear box that resembled an ice cube, surrounded by her bourbon. She slipped the ring out and stared at it. It had a beautiful diamond solitaire, but it was the band that she couldn't stop looking at. Inside the platinum band, what looked like part of a bourbon barrel was polished and inlaid around the entire band.

Cady looked around but didn't see Colton. Surely, it wasn't Harlan proposing. That's when she heard the door to the storage closet open. When she turned around, she found Colton on one knee. He looked nervous, yet Cady noticed he was completely confident in his posture as he reached out and took her hand in his.

"They say that friendship is the foundation of a great marriage. I've long valued your friendship, Cady, and now I know you're not only a friend but the woman I love, the woman who holds my heart in her hands and the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.

"I admired you when you first moved to town. Seeing your dedication, your hard work, your determination, and your passion for your career made me respect you from the very beginning. Now my feelings have grown. I see there's so much more to you than my friend with the great bourbon. You're the woman I love. While you are a smart businesswoman and master distiller, you're also a woman full of laughter, full of love, and full of a whole different kind of passion.

"It would be the greatest honor of my life if, along with being my best friend, I could call you my wife and my angel. Cady, will you marry me?"

Silent tears rolled down Cady's cheeks as he reached for the ring she still held in her hand. Colton took it from her and held it out, waiting for an answer.

"Yes!" she whispered through a large smile as the happy tears fell. Her hand shook as he slipped the ring on her finger. She wasn't shaking from nerves. She wasn't questioning her answer. She was shaking from excitement, from love, and from her dreams coming true. She was marrying the man she loved. The man who loved her, supported her, and as Ollie said, her father would have loved too.

Colton kissed the ring on her hand before he stood and took her in his arms. She laughed as he twirled her around. "I don't know how I got so lucky."

Cady slid down his chest until she could lean her head down and kiss her fiancé. His arms tightened around her as his lips welcomed hers. They celebrated in each other's arms for longer than Cady realized.

"Oh my gosh. I forgot Uncle Ollie. He's waiting for me at my house." Cady paused and then her mouth dropped open. "Harlan was in on this!"

"He was very enthusiastic about his part. He practiced it for a solid thirty minutes. I'm guessing he pulled it off since you weren't looking around when you came in here."

Cady laughed and shook her head as she laced her fingers with his. "He pulled it off. I had no idea." She glanced down at their entwined fingers and at the sparking diamond that rested on her hand. When she looked up, her gaze caught the picture of her and her father hanging on the wall. She'd made him proud. He'd always wanted her to have her career but also love. Now she had both, even if her heart ached a little knowing he wasn't there to share in it with her. But she wasn't alone. Not anymore. She not only had Colton, but she'd soon have brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, a mother, a father, and grandparents to bake her apple pies.

Cady loved how Colton couldn't stop touching her. Even as he drove the UTV back to her house, he wouldn't drop her hand. She also couldn't take her eyes off Colton's profile. She couldn't believe it. She was going to marry him. She was looking at her future husband. Every so often, he'd turn and smile at her. She was so happy she was about to burst. However, it was because she was staring at him that she missed all the action right in front of her.

It wasn't until Colton was almost at her house that she saw the people. All the people. Like the entire town. A tent was put up. Tables full of food were laid out on the lawn, along with folding chairs and portable fire pits. There was music playing, too. Her house was the center of a massive party.

"What is this?" Cady asked and Colton only smirked as he stopped the vehicle and turned it off.

Cady got out and looked around. Annie was there, looking confused with all her sisters-in-law. The entire Davies family was there but they all looked around as if they didn't know why they were there. DeAndre and Aniyah were there with the twins, but similarly looking around as if they were trying to figure out why they were there.

"Cady," Willa said, stepping out from the crowd. "What was so important you sent an SOS text? We all ran out here to find... this." Willa gestured to the tent, the chairs, and the food.

Cady's brow furrowed. "Did you say I sent a text?"

Tilly held up her phone. "You sent an SOS text. The whole town rushed out here to make sure you were okay."

Cady looked at Tilly's phone. Sure enough, it was from her number, but she hadn't sent it.

"Well," Colton said loudly. "Since you're all here now, we do have some news. I wanted to scream it all across town, but this works too."

Colton took her hand in his and lifted it up so her ring sparkled in the sun. He turned and smiled at her and gave her a little nod. Together, they yelled, "We're getting married!"

Colton bent to kiss her, and right before his lips touched hers, she saw Cade and Miles standing behind their wives, fist bump each other.

The town cheered. When the kiss ended, Cady saw Uncle Ollie surrounded by the Rose sisters and their husbands and all of Keeneston. Her heart was full as friends, family, and the entire town celebrated their love.

Colton wasn't about to let go of Cady. He was either holding her hand or had his hand on the small of her back. He met Uncle Ollie and gone was the cross examination as the older gentleman pretended to meet Colton for the first time. He was all smiles and congratulations this time around.

However, no matter how hard Colton tried to keep his hold on Cady, he was no match for his mother and his aunts. They swooped in and stole Cady from him before he knew what was happening.

His father and uncles joined him as he stood watching Cady being dragged off by the women. "I can't believe it. It worked. But how?" Colton asked them.

"Turns out that new kid, Kori, is pretty damn good with hacking," Miles said. "He was at the center working on his building clearing training when we asked him if he knew anything about sending spoofed messages. Turns out your old man is getting old and this newest security setting was too hard for him to get around."

"He's a good kid," Cade agreed. Kid seemed to be the wrong term though. Kori looked to be in his late twenties.

"And we figured it would be safer than calling Nash or Kale since they'd tell their wives, and well, you know news like an engagement would spread like wildfire," Marshall explained.

"Good point," Colton agreed. "But, how did you get this all done? We were only gone for an hour."

Cy grinned. "We all have our secrets."

"I think we're all forgetting something," Pierce said. "One, Cole didn't ruin the surprise," he said, teasing his brother-in-law who gave him the middle finger in return. "And two, congratulations! We're very happy for you, Colton."

Colton shook hands with his uncles and hugged his father. His eyes kept straying to where Cady was surrounded by the women of Keeneston. She looked over her shoulder at him, winked, and he excused himself. He had a fiancée to be with.