Two years of dating a Mountie had taught Clara Evans to expect the unexpected, but June in Pinewood was supposed to be safe. The afternoon sun baked the grassy hills of the town park, where the annual Summer Solstice Picnic was in full swing.
Liam stood near the edge of the lake, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of a sharp casual blazer. Bandit sat beside him, his tail sweeping a rhythmic path through the clover. In Liam’s right pocket sat a small velvet box containing a brilliant round-cut diamond ring.
"Alright, Bandit," Liam murmured, sweating despite the gentle breeze. "The ring stays in my pocket. No pouches on your collar. No special tasks. Your only job today is to sit here, look majestic, and not cause a localized natural disaster. Got it?"
Bandit offered a reassuring, brief whine.
When Clara approached, wearing a yellow sundress that rivaled the sunshine, Liam felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. Today was the day. He had cleared the area of any loose wicker furniture, checked the weather radar for freak condensation storms, and verified that no search-and-rescue drills were scheduled.
"Happy anniversary, Liam," Clara said, her eyes bright as she stepped up to him.
"Happy anniversary," Liam replied, his voice a little tight. He took both of her hands in his. "Clara, these past two years have been the best of my life. You've embraced the chaos of my job, the unpredictability of this town, and..." He glanced down. "...the third wheel on our tricycle."
Clara chuckled, looking lovingly down at Bandit, who chose that exact moment to yawn.
"I don't want to do the dating dance anymore, Clara," Liam continued, his heart thumping like a runaway train. He dropped to one knee on the lush green grass. He pulled the velvet box from his pocket and flipped it open, the diamond catching the brilliant summer light. "Clara Evans, will you do me the honor of—"
Before the word "marry" could clear his lips, a rogue Frisbee sailed across the park, thrown by an uncoordinated teenager.
The plastic disc clipped the top of Liam’s head, knocking his sunglasses askew. More importantly, it bounced off his shoulder and struck the velvet ring box with a sharp clack. The momentum ripped the box from Liam’s fingers, sending the diamond ring flying through the air in a perfect, glittering arc.
"The ring!" Liam shouted, lunging forward on his hands and knees.
Bandit, tracking the airborne projectile with laser focus, assumed this was the ultimate game of fetch. With an explosion of canine athletic power, the German Shepherd leaped into the air.
SNAP.
Bandit’s jaws clamped shut mid-flight. He landed gracefully on all four paws, gave a victorious shake of his head, and swallowed hard.
Silence fell over the lake. Liam froze, still on one knee, staring at his dog in absolute horror. Clara’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes darting between Liam and the self-satisfied German Shepherd.
"Bandit..." Liam whispered, his face turning a pale shade of white. "Tell me you didn't just eat the ring."
Bandit let out a happy, muffled bark, sitting down and offering a front paw.
Liam dropped his head into his hands, a mixture of a groan and a laugh escaping his throat. He looked up at Clara from his knees, entirely defeated by his own domestic partner. "Clara, I swear I had a whole speech prepared. And a ring. Which is currently inside the dog."
Clara stared at him for three agonizing seconds before her shoulders started shaking. She threw her head back and let out a laugh so loud it echoed across the water. She walked over, pulled a thoroughly embarrassed Liam to his feet, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Liam Vance," she said, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye. "I wouldn't expect anything less from a proposal by you two. Yes, I will marry you. But you are entirely responsible for vet duty and ring retrieval."
Liam smiled, kissing her deeply as the afternoon sun warmed the park. The Mountie had finally gotten the girl, even if his partner insisted on keeping the ring under tight security for the next twenty-four hours.
