Tacker (Arizona Vengeance #5)(56)

My jaw drops as I admit with all the admiration in the world. “That’s brilliantly devious.”

“Totally,” Pepper adds with a giggle. “But we all love Tacker so much, so the team sort of came together as a whole, determined to keep pushing at him to rejoin our world, so to speak.”

“Well, he has an incredible support system with all of you,” I tell the ladies.

“And with you,” Blue says pointedly. “You came into his life at the exact right time. Serendipity.”

I can’t argue with that, except to point out. “Or, he came into my life at exactly the right time.”

Blue beams back. “I love that. I genuinely believe when true love comes along, there’s an exceptionally good reason for it to happen at the moment it does.”

I blink at her casual use of the word “love,” because we are nowhere near that. Hell, we’ve only shared a handful of kisses these past ten days. No way can I even consider being in love with him.

“If I can have everyone’s attention,” we hear being yelled from the double French doors that lead into the house.

Erik stands there with a champagne glass in hand, looking very self-important.

“He’s such a spectacle,” Blue mutters, but it’s loaded with so much affection.

“If everyone would come into the great room, please,” he says with a grand sweep of his hand and a disarming smile thrown at Blue from across the patio.

“He’s a fool,” she murmurs as she starts hurrying his way, “but he’s my fool and I love him.”

Everyone moves into the house, Brooke chatting with me along the way, inviting me to watch some home games with her. Once inside, I see Tacker standing beside Billy in his motorized wheelchair. Erik had upgraded the house with an elevator, and he’d made all the rooms handicap accessible for the young man. Even though Billy still lives at a group home—by his choice—Tacker told me he spends a lot of time here at Erik’s house.

The first line couples all seem to come together. Legend and Pepper, Brooke and Bishop, Regan and Dax. I take that as my cue, moving over to Tacker.

Erik posts himself near the fireplace, and Blue takes her place at his side. Everyone pushes in to listen.

“As you all know,” Erik says as he surveys the crowd. “We’re all gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Legend and Pepper.”

Applause breaks out with a few whistles. Legend pulls his wife into his side, gazing at her with such a loving expression on his face that my breath catches.

“Yes, yes,” Erik says with a laugh, using his free hand to help quiet the crowd. “Yes, we’re here to celebrate these two lovebirds, but Legend threatened to kick my ass if I made a big deal about it. In fact, he specifically forbade gifts or speeches of any kind.”

Laughing, everyone waits for Erik to continue defying his friend.

“So I’m not going to give a speech about them,” he says, then I see him shoot a subtle smile at Bishop before he turns to face Blue. “Instead, I’m going to talk about this woman.”

Blue’s face turns almost crimson, which is made inherently brighter by the fact her hair is a bright blonde. She even takes a stuttering step back, as if he’s got a bomb on him or something.

Erik isn’t about to let her get away, though. He reaches out and snatches her hand, pulling her right into his space. He hands his champagne glass off to a teammate. Then, to everyone’s shock, he drops down to one knee before Blue.

“That’s ballsy,” Tacker murmurs from beside me, and I can’t help but giggle. I look up at him, and his return gaze is filled with amusement.

Erik is now brandishing a black velvet box that’s opened. While I can’t see the details, there’s a huge sparkler of a ring nestled inside.

Blue gasps, staring at Erik in shock.

“Blue,” he says softly. “Some may think this is too soon, but I say I’ve waited a lifetime for this. Still others may say I haven’t thought things through enough, but I say I’ve been doing nothing but thinking. Even more will say I haven’t planned well, and I would have to say the planning is all done. Meaning, I’ve talked to Billy about this. Several times, in fact, because I wanted to make sure that when I asked you to be my wife, he would be equally as accepting of me being his brother-in-law. Luckily, your brother is incredibly smart and handsome—just like me—”

And here, Erik takes a moment to search the crowd, locking eyes on Blue’s brother. His head is lolling from side to side, his teeth flashing in the biggest smile imaginable. It’s obvious Billy knew this was coming from the way he’s bouncing in his chair with excitement.

Erik shoots him a wink, then turns to Blue. “As you can see, I’ve got it all figured out. You, me, and Billy are going to lead an incredibly beautiful life together if you will just say yes and agree to be my wife.”

Taking the ring out of the box, Erik slides it onto Blue’s finger, which is a feat in and of itself as her entire hand is shaking like crazy.

There’s no formal answer given by Blue. She merely flings herself into Erik’s arms, knocking him backward from his kneeling position in front of her onto his back. She then lays a kiss on him that says, Yes, Yes, Yes!

Everyone starts cheering. Eventually, Erik and Blue surface to a standing position. People surge to offer congratulations. Tacker and I hang back, waiting for the crowd to thin.