Tristan on a Harley (Louisiana Knights Book 3) by Jennifer Blake Page A

as if I was complaining.”
    Trey met her eyes, his own gray gaze measuring. “Maybe you should have been. To be asked is your right, after all.”
    “Not really,” she said, uncomfortable at being the center of attention, not to mention uncertain of where he was going with it. “I mean, it isn’t as if—”
    “Oh, but it is. And I need to do something about that.”
    Setting his coffee cup aside, he reached for Zeni, drawing her into the circle of his arms and clasping his hands at her lower back. “Zeni Medford, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    She could hardly refuse after everything they’d said earlier, wouldn’t have even if it hadn’t been such a public proposal. Still, this wasn’t how she’d thought she might hear those words one day. She’d pictured privacy and deep emotion, maybe moonlight and whispers of love along with promises of forever. Not that this was the real thing, but it seemed lacking, regardless.
    “Good grief, Trey,” Carla said with humor in her voice. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
    “What?” Trey asked, though Zeni had to give him credit for never taking his attention from her face. She knew that, because she was watching him, absorbing the warmth in the depths of his eyes, as well as the firmness of his body against her and the strength of his arms that held her.
    “That you love her desperately and can’t live without her, for a start,” Carla suggested.
    “Carla, honey,” Beau began.
    “Well, it’s nothing compared to all the things you said to me,” she answered, her voice bright with laughter as she answered her husband.
    “Besides, it’s about time,” Gloria put in then. “I’ve been thinking you two should get together ever since I started work here.”
    Carla gave a firm nod. “Same here, only longer.”
    “Right you all are,” Trey answered without hesitation, while his hold on her tightened. “I love you deeply, devotedly, and, yes, desperately, dearest Zeni, and can’t bear the thought of life without you. Say you’ll marry me before this crew makes me get down on one knee.”
    She tilted her head to one side as she pretended to think for a long second, but then heaved a sigh. “Since you put it so nicely, I guess so.”
    “I take that as a yes,” he said on a laugh that she felt as much as heard. Then swinging her to halfway around so she was draped backward over his arm, he set his mouth to hers.
    Her world spun in wild circles, wobbling on its axis, while her heart beat up into her throat. The kiss, unlike the proposal, felt real. She was immersed in the feel, scent and taste of him, dizzy with the sudden overload of her senses. She clung to him to keep from falling, but also because he was the only thing solid and trustworthy within her reach.
    As he lifted his head after long, breathless moments, and then shifted her upright again, she stared up at him, flushed and unbelieving. “You—you—” she began as she sought for words to blast him without embarrassing them both more than he had already.
    “No, you don’t,” he said in husky satisfaction. “You said yes, and you can’t take it back. I have witnesses.”
    “What you have is a colossal nerve,” she began.
    “I do, and you can tell me all about it later, but right now, we should be celebrating.” He looked up. “Shouldn’t we, Gloria.”
    “Yes, sir, champagne coming right up.” The waitress headed toward the back storeroom with a grin on her face, making for the refrigerated wine cabinet that had been installed a short while back.
    It was Asti Spumante instead of champagne, since they kept several bottles for an elderly Italian gentleman who came in every Saturday night and had it after his meal. It didn’t matter. Trey toasted Zeni and their future together, she saluted their friends, the town and the Watering Hole where she’d met Trey, and the laughter, congratulations and exchanges of views and quips were free and easy.
    It was so