He next went to the kitchen to make sure the butternut squash ravioli from Lola’s Trattoria was staying warm in the oven. The salad and bread were ready to be served. The ivory corsage and boutonnière were looking fresh and lovely in the fridge. He would have to grab them once she said yes.

Right. He had to ask Tara to the prom. He took a deep breath and blew it out through his mouth. Was he sweating? Shit. He was sweating, for God’s sake. Taking another calming breath, Seth went into the living room to grab the prom-proposal poster he’d made. He glanced over it. It really wasn’t too bad. He’d put a picture of Tara in one corner and a picture of himself in the other corner, and wrote “Can you picture us at prom?” He’d shamelessly copied some kid’s idea on Pinterest, but it seemed appropriate. He was going full corny. There were no halfways.

Oh, he almost forgot the cupcakes. He sped to the kitchen and grabbed the box of cupcakes. Like her brothers said, the way to Tara’s heart was through her stomach. He checked his watch. He had about ten minutes to spare, but he couldn’t stand waiting around.

Seth paced back and forth in front of his room, and finally caved and knocked on the door. “Are you ready?”

“You’re early,” she said through the closed door. “But yeah. I’m just about ready. Give me two minutes.”

“Okay.”

God, two minutes is going to feel like an eternity. He had his poster leaning against the wall next to him and he held the box of cupcakes in his hands. Seth cleared his dry throat. He had his work cut out for him not to sound like Kermit the Frog. Did he have enough time to run to the kitchen for a sip of water? No.

Just then, the door inched open to reveal a magnificent Tara in the burgundy maid-of-honor dress he hadn’t been able to look away from. He was having the same trouble now. Lust, raw and searing, spread through him, and he wanted to have her right this moment.

A sultry smile spread across Tara’s face, and she leaned against the doorframe with one arm stretched above her head. “You like what you see?”

“Yes. Please. Thank you,” Seth said thickly.

She took a step toward him and was stopped by the outstretched box of cupcakes. She glanced down with a perplexed frown, and looked back up at him. “Seth?”

Shit. Get your act together. He had a prom proposal to make happen. “Here. This is for you.”

“Mmm. Cupcakes. Thank you.” She cocked her head, looking curiously at him. “What is it for? Did you want to have this later?”

“Yes. No. Just stand right there.” He was the definition of smooth.

“O … kay?”

Seth retreated a couple steps and picked up his poster with the back facing her. After a deep breath, he spun it around so she could see it in all its glory. Tara covered her mouth as a half sob and a half laugh escaped her mouth.