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Grabbing a bottle of beer fro et stopped I need to relax for just a few minutes

"What's up?" Nix says as I plop down in a chair beside him

"Just want to chill for a few minutes This is the first freakin' beer I've had all afternoon"

"Well, Cheers!" Nix holds his beer up and I clang ainst it

"Where's Emily?"

Nix glances at his watch "She should be here soon She's driving in from the city"

"So, you two have been going pretty strong for a while now When are you going to pop the big question?"

I watch as Nix's eyes warets a silly sh, war hardened Marine has been brought to his knees by a woht?

"I don't know When the tiuess"

I punch hiht, dude No sense in waiting"

Nix takes a huge pull on his beer "I want to ask her dad first So it won't happen until I can talk to him"

"So pick up the phone and call him"

Nix shakes his head adamantly "No way, man That shit has to be done in person"

"Really?" I ask with curiosity I know nothing about how proposals work, and frankly, I really don't care That's not on enda for years to come, if at all Still, I can't help but ask, "Is there some etiquette rule that says it has to be in person?"

Nix grins at me "No, you moron There's no rules whether I even have to ask him or not It's justI want his approval For Emily's sake That's all"

"So, again, I askwhy don't you just call?"

The devious smirk that tilts Nix's lips is hilarious toepic "BecauseI' to threaten him with bodily harm if he says no That is much more effective in person"

I guffaw loudly Only ressman and possible next President of the United States Nix lives by his own rules It's a quality I admire and actually try to replicate asbrother in more ways than I can even count

"Linc!"

I look over to see who is calling e in his hand

"What's up?"

"I' to throw this in the duot some more upstairs?"

I stand up froet 'em"

Turning to Nix, I say, "I'll catch up with you later after Eets here"

Heading into rab its contents I shuffle through the stack as I head up in the elevator S, I open the letter from Teton Realty and quickly scan it It's the confir I take my su there soon

I dump the mail on arbage bags When I straighten back up, I'm momentarily shocked when two female arms circle me from behind My first instinct is to step away, because trust me, I've had my share of crazies that have made some pretty overt moves on me But then I smell the fahtly

Turning in her arhtly at her waist "It's about time you showed up"

She laughs huskily "So, you've been looking for me, huh?"