“Keep her, huh?” She tilts her head. “Clever man. You know what, I’ll look into it. See if there’s something in my wheelhouse coming up.”

“I can ask my uncle to look into your resume,” I offer.

“His uncle owns the town,” Claire clarifies.

“Half the town, love,” I remind her. “But specifically, a thriving investment firm.”

“Would I have heard of it?”

“Goltz Investments.”

That gets her attention. Everyone’s heard of it. “Kiddo, my resume won’t get me into Goltz Investments.”

“Can’t guarantee it will. But he can look. He might know someone.”

“You know what? Sure. I’ll spruce it up and send it to you.”

Better not mention I already have the current version.

Hyacinth reminds me of Lisa a lot. I can imagine they’ll get along once we get her in town. We head out to dinner, and I don’t even hate having to share Claire’s attention. For the time being. I’m not going to pretend to be sorry to have Claire to myself later.

“Were you serious?” she asks the moment we’re back in the suite. “About getting Hyacinth a job with your uncle—or someone your uncle knows in town?”

“Do I ever joke?” I reply, grinning.

“Says the man who was chatting about pumping a dozen children into me.”

“A slight exaggeration, not a joke. Yes, love. It’s clear she’s a good influence. It’ll be great for you to have family around you. And an occasional babysitter for the half-dozen children I’m pumping into you.”

“There you go again. This is why I can’t take you seriously. But do you really think your uncle might hire her? Or know someone who would?”

“I don’t know enough about her aptitude for a definite answer. If she doesn’t suck, yes. It’s no different from the reason why my father wanted your drawing. In the end, we work better surrounded by a network of people we have a relationship with. Uncle Eriks will take his nephew’s mother-in-law over a random stranger any day.”

She shakes her head, yet again denying the obvious.

God, there’s really no way she’ll take me seriously until this is over with, is there?

The ring’s in my wallet, rather than a fancy, pretty box, because I didn’t plan this. I fiddle with the leather pockets until I get it out. “I was going to wait for the perfect time, and not in goddamn Michigan, but I feel like half of our conversations will be extremely frustrating on both ends until this is clarified. So, marry me.”

I pull it out.