On A Night Like This (Callaways #1)

taken them from friends to lovers.
    "Speaking of Will -- he seems distracted lately," Lindsay said. "Is something going on with him?"
    "Nothing that I know about. He was probably just stressed with all the big parties we had tonight."
    "You're right. You need to take him home and make him feel better, as only you can," Lindsay said with a teasing smile. She moved away from the mirror, grabbed Will's jacket off the coat rack and tossed it to Adrianna.
    As the jacket flew through the air, something fell out of one of the pockets onto the floor.
    Lindsay and Adrianna both reached for it at the same time, but it was Lindsay who came up with the blue velvet box.
    "Oh my God," Lindsay said, meeting Adrianna's gaze. "Will is going to propose to you."
    Adrianna stared at the ring box in shock and wariness. "No. It's way too soon."
    "You've been friends forever."
    "But not boyfriend, girlfriend. That's new. Don't open it," she warned as Lindsay's fingers toyed with the lid.
    "Why not? Don't you want to see the ring?"
    "We don't know that it's an engagement ring. It could be something else."
    "Only one way to find out."
    "No." She shook her head and scrambled to her feet, worry and panic running through her. She wasn't ready for an engagement, for marriage, or even for a promise. She didn't want Will to give her a ring of any kind.
    "If it's a bad ring, you'll have a chance to compose your reaction when he shows it to you," Lindsay said practically, as she stood up. "You don't want to have a look of disappointment on your face. I know you would try to be polite, but let's be real, a sucky ring is not the way to start out a marriage."
    "I don't want to see it," she said quickly.
    Lindsay frowned. "What is wrong with you?"
    How could she explain to someone who was as easy and casual about love as Lindsay that for her love, marriage, and family was a huge dream but also a terrifying proposition? She'd locked her heart away a very long time ago, and while Will had been chipping away at her resolve to stay detached, he wasn't even close to breaking through. How could Will think otherwise?
    "Please, put it away before he comes in here," she said shortly.
    "Okay, okay, calm down." Lindsay slipped the ring box back in Will's jacket pocket and hung the jacket on the rack. "There -- it's out of sight. And we'll pretend we never saw it."
    "Good," she said, blowing out a breath.
    "Can I ask why you're so rattled? I thought you and Will were happy together." Her gaze narrowed thoughtfully. "Don't you want Will to propose? I thought you two were getting along really well."
    "I haven't thought about it. It's all about work for me right now. And I thought it was for him, too."
    "Oh, I don't think so, Adrianna. Will isn't as driven as you are, but then nobody is." Lindsay gave her a soft smile. "I'm going to go. I have a late date. It's Jack – as in Jack who gives me a heart attack because he's so hot."
    "Lucky you," she said, thrilled that the conversation was no longer about her.
    "Call me tomorrow. I want to know what happens with the ring."
    As Lindsay left the break room, Adrianna stared at Will's jacket for a long moment. Maybe it wasn't what she thought. Perhaps the ring belonged to someone else. He might be holding on to it for one of his friends.
    Despite her rationalization, there was still a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. Will had always been the one after her, the one pushing for more. But he also knew her better than anyone else, so he had to know she wasn't ready.
    With a sigh, she grabbed her own coat and bag and returned to the kitchen. The room was empty. Everyone had left, except for Will, who was staring at his phone with an odd expression on his face.
    "Everything okay?" she asked.
    He looked up and nodded, but his gaze was distant, as if he were thinking about something else.
    "Are you sure?" she prodded.
    "I need to talk to you, Adrianna."
    "That doesn't sound good."
    His eyes darkened. "It's not bad. It's just … important."
    Her stomach tightened. "Can we do it later? It's been a really long night. I'm exhausted, and I just want to go home and fall into bed."
    His lips turned down into a frown. "I don't think this can wait until tomorrow. I've been putting it off, and I can't do it any longer."
    "Well, it has to wait a few more minutes," she said, stalling for time. If he did ask her to marry him, what on earth would she say? No would hurt his feelings. But yes didn't work either. She wasn't ready to get