Stacking the Deck (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 2)(96)

Bailey gave her a quick hug. “I’ve got a pirate hat to go with that if you like.”

Liz let herself laugh at that. “I think I’ll pass for now.”

Trish hugged her next. “You scared the bejeebers out of me. Don’t do that again!”

Aunt Claire gave her a pat on the shoulder.

Liz let her family dote on her a few moments before her eyes met Carter’s across the waiting room. She walked over and gave him a small smile. He had that serious, brooding look again. Probably because he’d been worried about her. She shouldn’t find it sexy, but she was injured, not dead. And, heck, she’d be fine once the bruising subsided. “Hey,” she said.

“Hey.” He reached up to feather-touch the bandage on her temple. She wished he’d give her a hug. “Hurt much?”

She shrugged, then winced. Okay, so being body-slammed into the ground by your One True Love isn’t something she’d want to do every day. Maybe they could go home and he could help inventory her injuries. “Some,” she said. “Okay, a lot. Thanks for saving me.” She reached out to touch a muddy abrasion on his cheek. “You okay? I never thought to ask if you were hurt.”

“I’m fine.” He grimaced, and she watched his throat work as he swallowed. She dropped her hand. “Ted just called, Liz. They think they found the cause of the fire.”

“Already?”

He nodded, his lips forming a taut line. “It was the lights. The ones I gave you. He thinks there must have been a short, or the plug wasn’t in right, and it started a fire. That set off the fireworks. They would have all gone off at once if John hadn’t tried to plan how he was going to link them together for his big show. I guess we’re lucky it gave us some warning.”

“The lights…,” Liz repeated.

“Must have been defective.” Carter blew out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

“Elizabeth? Elizabeth! Did I hear her voice? Somebody pick me up so I can see my daughter!” Ben ran over to pick up the tablet with his grandmother from the chair. He held it up. “Oh, my Lord, Elizabeth! You look awful! I just went to get… say, where’s Grant? Why am I not seeing Grant? He should be here now that you’re back!”

“I’m here,” Grant said, stepping into view of the tablet. “How are you, Liz?”

I’ve been unconscious, have one eye swollen shut and just learned I nearly blew up the man I love, but all things considered… “I’m okay.”

“She’s not okay!” Mrs. Beacon insisted. “She’s miserable! Just look at her. Grant! Scootch in! Why are you standing so far away? I’m sure Carter won’t mind if you stand next to your own fiancé, for heaven’s sake!”

Carter’s head snapped up. “Fiancé? Did your mother just say fiancé?”

Liz blanched. “Yes, but that’s not important right—”

“When did he propose?”

“A couple of hours ago—”

“A couple of hours ago? Wow. You were just primed for takeoff, weren’t you? From ‘sort of’ to all the way? So much for giving me six weeks. Were you going to break up with me before or after dinner?”

Liz’s head began to throb. What? “No! Carter, it’s not like that. I turned him down! I don’t want to marry Grant!” She turned toward Grant. “Sorry.”

Grant gave a stiff smile. “It’s all right. I’m just relieved you’re okay.”

“Pfft!” Mrs. Beacon made an inelegant noise from the tablet. “Barely! No thanks to that son of mine. He nearly blew up my next grandchild with his foolishness! Where is he anyway?”

“He’s in with Vamp—Valerie,” Liz said.

Carter spoke to the tablet. “Don’t blame John, Mrs. Beacon. The fire was my fault. Some lights I hung on the shed for Liz must have shorted out.”

“Those smiley-face lights you gave Liz last week?” said Bailey. “Bummer. Those were cute.”

Grant tilted his head in confusion. He looked at Liz. “I thought you said those belonged to your parents?”

Liz swallowed, a shiver of unease trickling over her. “It’s really not important whose they were. I mean, thank goodness we’re all okay, right? Who wants to head out? I don’t know about you all, but I could use some dinner!”

Carter looked to Grant. “She told you they were her parents’ lights?”

Sweat started to bead on Liz’s forehead. She could feel it running into the bandage over her eye as she stepped between the two men. “I don’t remember what was said. Grant was proposing, and…” She waved her hands vaguely and tried to smile through the gauze holding half her face immobile. “Does it matter now? The important thing is—”

“They aren’t around to assault anyone else’s sensibilities,” Grant finished for her. “Liz, no one with taste blames you for pulling them down.”

Carter stilled and looked to Liz. “Wait. You pulled them down?”

“I may have adjusted them,” she murmured.

“A good hard yanking adjustment,” muttered Grant.

Liz shot him a one-eyed glare.

“Why? Why would—?” Carter began, but before she could think of a reasonable reply, because, let’s face it, the truth wasn’t going to help the situation, his expression changed. “On second thought. Don’t answer that.” He turned to Grant. “She’s all yours.”