She knew he planned to ask Sasha to marry him soon and was keeping his secret. But she couldn’t wait and smiled wide when she looked at him. “The family rumor mill says you almost blew it with her.” His mom winked.

Xander rolled his eyes. No doubt Dash had told someone, who’d told someone else, and so on. “All’s well that ends well,” he said, patting his pocket.

“Quit it with that move or Sasha’s going to figure out you’ve got something going on,” Dash said as he joined them.

Their mother looked at him, concern on her face. “Sarah Jenkins called this morning. Apparently there are photographs of you with your arms around two women at a strip club on social media.”

Xander winced. The last person an adult man wanted to be lectured by about his sex life was his mother.

“An old friend was getting married. I posed for a picture with two women. They were fans,” Dash muttered.

“Two strippers. Not that I’m passing judgment,” his mother said, “but really? Must it all be so public?” she asked.

Xander glanced at his brother, who flushed beneath their mother’s gaze. “It was platonic, Mom. I swear. Scout’s honor.” He held up his fingers. Xander wouldn’t know if that was a Scout sign or not.

“You were never a Boy Scout, Dash.”

“He still isn’t,” Xander added helpfully, which earned him a jolt in the arm.

Their mother merely shook her head.

And now seemed like the perfect time for a distraction. Xander looked across the pool area to where one of the servers was standing and nodded her way.

A little while later, everyone around the pool had a glass of champagne in their hands, except Xander and Sasha, who he’d pulled over to him in an attempt to separate her from everyone.

“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” she asked, glancing at everyone, who’d grown silent. And who were watching the two of them standing by the pool.

Chloe, the designated photographer, had her phone camera in her hand. She inclined her head, letting him know she was ready.

“Xander?” Sasha asked again, because he hadn’t answered her.

Instead, he put his hand in his front jeans pocket, pulled out the ring, and enclosed it in his hand before dropping down to one knee.

“Xander?” Sasha asked, except she then gasped and put her hands over her mouth as she saw the four-carat ring in his hand.