“I think it’s great how you two have bonded. And speaking of bonding . . .” He angled a bit more her direction. He was done being sidetracked. “These past almost-five months have been the best of my life—thanks to you.”

Her features softened, and the corners of her mouth bowed up. “Are you going to get mushy on me?”

“I think a man is entitled to a little mush when he’s about to ask a woman to marry him, don’t you?”

Her breath hitched—and his stomach clenched. He’d promised not to rush her, to let her set the pace . . . and he thought he had. In light of all the signals she’d been giving him, she’d seemed ready for this.

But perhaps he’d misread the cues.

Better backtrack.

Calling up a grin, he lightened his tone. “Unless his timing is off—in which case he’ll can the mush, dive into the chocolate dessert waiting in the basket, and curb his impatience until the lady gives him a more definitive green light down the road. What say you, fair maiden?”

Before she could respond, a Frisbee skidded across the grass and came to rest against the picnic basket.

“Sorry about that.” A teen bounded over. “My dog was supposed to catch it, but the wind took it off course and he got distracted by a squirrel.” He motioned toward a black lab.

“No worries.” Cate snagged the neon orange disc, rose, and handed it back.

The young man jogged away, but Cate remained standing.

Uh-oh.

Zeke braced.

Maybe this day wasn’t going to end as he’d hoped after all.

Cate filled her lungs. Exhaled. But hard as she tried to put the brakes on her galloping pulse, it refused to be corralled.

Zeke was going to ask her to marry him!

Sooner than she’d expected, yes—but what difference would another few weeks make, other than to delay the inevitable?

Because she’d known since January that the two of them were going to end up together.

Prudence and caution had dictated the pace of their courtship, but she was as anxious as he was for the main act to begin.

And now that her mind was adjusting to the idea of an accelerated proposal, she was liking the idea more and more.

She pivoted back to Zeke and dropped down beside him.

He looked worried, despite his lighthearted comment moments ago.

She’d have to fix that. Pronto.

“Anxious as I am to sample that dessert you brought, I think we should save it for after.”

“After what?” Hope flared in his eyes.

“After your speech. You do have a speech prepared, don’t you?” She gave him a teasing elbow nudge. “A fair maiden deserves no less.”

He exhaled. “You know you about gave me a heart attack, right?”