Free Twisted Affair: The Complete Series Box Set by M. S. Parker

even thought about buying an engagement ring before, but there were plenty of stores nearby. I was sure at least one of them would have a saleswoman who could help me with my problem.
    I was fortunate to find a woman who wouldn’t spend all afternoon gushing over the romance of it all, but she did ask me to describe my intended so that she could help me choose my perfect ring. It was an awkward couple minutes as I tried to come up with something that didn't make me sound like a complete cad. I must've managed to sound like a love-struck fool because she gave me an understanding smile and started to bring out various rings.
    I wasn't worried too much about price, especially since I figured if things didn't work out, I'd at least be able to pawn the ring and get cash back, but I also wasn't about to buy something gaudy. I may have been about to ask a stranger to marry me so I didn't lose my comfortable way of life, but I wasn't about to make her look bad doing it, and it wasn't just because I wanted my wife to look good. She'd be putting herself into an awkward situation to begin with. The incentives should at least be worth it.
    Finally, we settled on an elegant band of thin, twisted white gold with a large but not too-large diamond with two smaller diamonds on either side. It had a matching set of wedding bands that I put on hold – no need to buy those too if this all went to hell – after assuring the saleswoman I'd make sure she was the one who rang up the sale on them as well. She wished me luck with my proposal and I went on my way.
    I found Frankie's easily enough, and my car was where I didn't remember parking it. That was good though. I knew I hadn't driven home, but that hadn't guaranteed my car would be still be here. I told myself that I wouldn't drink tonight, nothing more than a single beer to give me an excuse for being at the bar, so I'd take my car home afterwards.
    Unless she said no and then I'd just leave the car and let my dad try to find it when he stopped payments on it. Thinking about how pissed off that would make my dad made me smile. That would be my goal, I decided. No matter what I did, I would make sure it made my father angry. I'd follow his rules, but he'd regret ever making them.
    I took a deep breath and started for the door. I hoped Livie would be here, but I wasn't counting on it. I'd probably have to charm my way to finding her again, but I was determined to make this happen, one way or another. If she said no, I needed the time to figure out what I was going to do next.
    The interior of the bar was dimmer than I remembered, or maybe it was lighter outside, I wasn't sure. My eyes took a moment to adjust and then I was looking toward the bar, searching for caramel curls. For a minute, I thought I would have to talk to the dark-haired man standing behind the cash register, but then I saw her out of the corner of my eye. I took a few steps toward her before her head came up and she saw me. I saw the glimmer of recognition before she turned away to hand a customer their drink.
    The bar was more crowded than it had been the night before, but that was probably because last night had been the late night people, the ones like me. Right now, these were the guys stopping in for a drink between work and going home. I made my way to the edge of the bar, somewhere I could sit out of the way and wait for the best moment to talk to her.
    I watched as she went about doing her job, smiling and talking to the patrons, but she didn't come to me for several minutes. I hoped it was because she was busy and not because she was trying to avoid me. When she finally started toward me, she called over her shoulder to the man behind the counter.
    “I am going to take my break.” She gestured for me to follow her.
    I did and we went through a door marked Employees Only. I hoped she didn't get in trouble, but if she agreed to my proposal, it wouldn't matter what her boss said. She'd never have to come back here