“You never said specifically what business she had to take care of.” Kyle had pressed Katherine for answers earlier, but she had rambled on without giving any details at all.

His parents and Lolo had just left the room, so Kyle decided a full-court press was in order about why Eliza wasn’t at home when he’d returned from the theater.

“Her father was admitted to the hospital in Sturgeon Bay with chest pains.” Katherine tossed the words out as if she were merely giving an updated weather report. “When I last spoke with her, she was on her way to meet her mother and brother at the hospital.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that right away?” Kyle was already pulling out his phone before she finished. “She needs someone there with her.”

Before he could select Eliza’s number on his phone Katherine’s phone rang. She smiled. “Speak of the devil.”

“Let me talk to her.”

Katherine ignored Kyle’s outstretched hand. “How’s Donald?”

The older woman listened for a moment. “I’m going to side with Patricia on this one. I warned him not to eat that Latin burger. But you can’t tell the man anything.”

Inclining her head, Katherine listened, making a few sounds of agreement every so often.

Kyle resisted—barely—the urge to snatch the phone from Katherine’s bony fingers.

“No rush. We’re fine here. Why—”

Katherine held the phone out and looked at it. “I guess her battery really was low.”

“Is her father okay?”

“Acid reflux.” Katherine made a clucking sound. “I told him spicy equals trouble.”

“It wasn’t his heart.”

“Guess not.”

“Is Eliza on her way home?”

“Eventually.”

“Katherine.” His low growl had her smiling coyly.

“She’s stopping at Ami and Beck’s first.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t get a chance to ask before her phone died. She was just leaving the hospital, so you have at least thirty minutes.” Katherine studied him. “More than enough time for you to get the words of your proposal firmly in your head.”

Kyle cocked his head. “How do you know I plan to propose?”

“Either that’s the plan or you’re a fool.” Katherine smiled and reached for her knitting. “You’ve never struck me as a fool.”

* * *

Kyle told himself to wait until she got home. But when an hour passed with no Eliza, he’d had enough.

As Ami’s house was so close, Kyle walked. He covered the distance in long, ground-eating strides. As he drew close, he saw Eliza’s Subaru parked in the drive.

Pausing on the steps, Kyle rubbed his jaw. He should just wait for her to get home. But with his family eager to meet her, there would be no privacy. He climbed the steps and rang the bell.

He wasn’t sure what it said that Beck didn’t appear surprised to see him.

“We’re in the parlor.”

Kyle followed Beck into the large room. He immediately spotted Eliza, who sat on the long sofa, holding Sarah Rose.

“We’ve got company,” Beck announced.

When Eliza looked up and saw him, she smiled, and something inside Kyle unknotted.

Ami rose. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Kyle was clear on what he planned to say to Eliza. What he hadn’t considered was how to get rid of Ami and Beck.

“There’s a few things Eliza and I need to discuss.” Kyle’s gaze never left Eliza. “In private.”

Ami smiled brightly. “Perfect timing. Beck and I were just about to give Sarah Rose her bath.”

“We were?” Beck must have caught Ami’s pointed glance, because he smiled. “That’s right. It’s bath time.”

With obvious reluctance, Eliza handed the baby to Ami.

When Sarah Rose’s brow puckered, Ami took the chubby hand and lifted it up and down. “Say, ‘Bye-bye, Aunt Eliza.’”

A smiled bloomed on Eliza’s lips. “See you later, Sarah Rose.”

Kyle squared his shoulders and sat down beside Eliza. “How’s your father?”

“Just a scare. He and Mom should be back at the Bayshore by now. How are things at home?” Eliza’s gray eyes, dark and unreadable, met his. “I saw your parents arrived.”

Which meant she’d driven by and seen the rental car.

“They got in this afternoon.” Kyle edged closer. “Lolo was as excited to see them as they were to see her.”

“I’m sure they missed her.” A hint of a smile ghosted Eliza’s lips. “She’s a good kid.”

“She and Katherine were making enchiladas and planning a Gilmore Girls marathon when I left.” Kyle kept his voice light. “My mom and dad are joining them. At least, for the enchiladas.”

“Did you and your father have a chance to talk?”

If she wanted to keep the conversation focused on something other than them for a while, he’d play along. “Better than I expected. I wasn’t certain how he’d react to the news. I should have known better than to doubt him. When you love someone, you trust them.”

“Speed-dating questions.”

“What?”

“When we answered those speed-dating questions, we agreed honesty and trust are essential in a relationship.”

“Do you trust me, Eliza?”

Her widening eyes had him wishing he’d eased into the discussion rather than jumping in feet first.

“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “Of course I trust you.”

“That’s good.” Kyle expelled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

Eliza inclined her head. “What’s this about?”

“It’s about you and me.” He took another deep breath. “I’d like you to listen to what I have to say without interrupting. Can you do that?”

“Staying silent isn’t easy for me.”

He smiled at that and was relieved when she made a go-ahead motion with her hand.

“Both of us have been dealing with a lot of heavy stuff recently, but,” he continued on even when her mouth opened, “you and I don’t have to have all the answers or be strong every second of every day. You know why? Because I’ll always have your back and I know you’ll have mine.”

Kyle reached out and took her hand, wanting the connection. “You have so many wonderful qualities. I admire your heart. You care about people. You care about this community. You care about me. And I, well, I’m crazy in love with you.”

Her eyes widened and her bottom lip trembled. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

He gently brushed a strand of dark silky hair back from her face. “Say you love me.”

Her gaze searched his face. “Honesty and trust.”

His heart plummeted. Those weren’t the three words he’d been hoping to hear.

“I trust you, Kyle. There isn’t anyone I trust more. Because I do, I’ll be honest.”

His heart stopped.

Kyle still wasn’t sure what to think when she looped her arms around his neck.

“I love you.” Her voice was soft and low but clearly audible.

It took all of Kyle’s restraint not to sweep her into his lap and kiss her senseless. Now that he knew her feelings, there was so much more he needed to say.

* * *

Eliza wasn’t sure what to think when Kyle tightly gripped her hand. He suddenly looked so serious. “Is something wrong?”

Those brilliant blue eyes met hers. “Yes.”

Her breath hitched.

“What’s wrong is we’re not together.”

She cast a pointed glance down at her hand, tightly clasped in his.

A ghost of a smile lifted his lips, then the serious expression returned.

“When I slipped the ring on your finger before the showcase, it was pretend in the sense that there was no commitment.” His thumb caressed her palm. “I don’t want it to be pretend between us anymore.”

“I don’t want pretend, either.” Eliza furrowed her brow. “I plan to tell Margo in the morning we’re pulling out of the competition. I can call her now if—”

Kyle put a finger against her lips. “Please let me get this out.”

Eliza obliged and remained silent. As the silence lengthened, a sense of anticipation filled the air.

Kyle gave a half laugh. “I’m not usually tongue-tied. It’s just this is so damn important.”

The worry in his eyes had her heart lurching. She tightened her hold on his hand. “There isn’t anything you can’t say to me, nothing you can’t tell me.”

His expression softened, and the tightness left his jaw.

Eliza sucked in a breath when he dropped to one knee and pulled out a tiny black box. “I feel as if I’ve spent my whole life searching for you. You and I, we just fit. I can’t promise a life without trials, but I can promise you’ll be able to count on me through the bad as well as the good. We’ll work together and play together, and I’ll do my best to make you happy every day of your life.”

The relief of knowing this wonderful, kind, sweet man loved her had tears filling Eliza’s eyes. She didn’t bother to blink them back.

“I want to spend my life with you, raise a family with you, grow old with you.” His gaze searched hers as he flipped the jeweler’s case open. The emerald-cut diamond in the vintage setting flashed fire. “All I need to know is, do you want those same things, too?”

Eliza held out her hand and looked into the wild blue of his eyes as he slid on the ring. Wanting to make sure there was no doubt as to her feelings, she smiled and spoke the two words that would forever bind their lives together. “I do.”