The Art of Proposing

By Amanda Hamm

The Romance Arts series introduced readers to Trevor, Logan, Cameron and Ryan. They struggled to form romantic relationships, now read about their next big steps in The Art of Proposing. These four short stories, one for each guy, show how they eventually pop the question... what goes right, what goes wrong, and how the women respond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Before Someday Publishing
• Release date: Dec 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005916121

Book preview

The Art of Proposing

Amanda Hamm

Copyright 2022 Amanda Hamm

All rights reserved. Before Someday Publishing

Smashwords Edition

The Art of Proposing is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, events, etc. are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Table of Contents

Logan’s Turn

Cameron’s Turn

Trevor’s Turn

Ryan’s Turn

Logan’s Turn

Logan almost expected Violet to hand him a script when she opened the door.

She said, Hi. Come on in. There was nothing in her hands.

Logan followed her inside and closed out the chill.

She sat in the old armchair and nodded for him to pick a spot on the couch. It felt like a performance review. When those were obligatory and unhelpful. So I’m not sure how much I should beat around the bush here, Violet said. What exactly did Audra tell you?

Too much, Logan said. Audra had told him too much.

She wants you to propose on Valentine’s Day.

Yes, I know. He sounded more irritated than he’d intended.

Violet smiled understandingly. She knew it wasn’t directed at her. I kind of thought sending you to me for advice was overkill, but I didn’t realize she’d already spelled it out so clearly.

You know Audra, he said. Violet had been her best friend for almost five years. She always spells things out more clearly than she thinks she does.

Violet laughed. You should’ve heard her trying to tell me how to casually slip in how she mentioned she was hoping for a proposal without saying that was the whole reason you were here. I mean, I gave you credit for knowing I wanted to talk to you because Audra told me to.

He’d have felt a little weird about accepting an invitation to come over when Audra wasn’t home if he hadn’t known exactly what it was about, but knowing what it was about was the problem. Since I am here, maybe you wouldn’t mind trying to offer some real advice?

I can try. Violet looked interested but not eager, which made it easier to put her in the middle.

Not that Logan would have put her in the middle if Audra hadn’t already done it. He punched at the pillow next to him as he spoke. This is what Audra said. She said, ‘You didn’t do it at Christmas. You didn’t do it on New Year’s or my birthday. I know you know what day is Monday.’ Then she moved on like she’d just dropped a little hint for me to ponder when I knew what she was saying even if she didn’t use the word propose and even before you wanted to talk about ‘something.’

Hmm. Now I’m wondering how Audra got to be so persuasive. I mean, we both knew this was unnecessary and yet here we are. Violet motioned between them with a bemused expression, as though she was trying to remember how she’d agreed.

It was simple. Audra always tried to make other people happy, which made them want to return the favor. I was already… I got the ring before Christmas, Logan said. But then I worried it was too soon after I… He paused, not sure if Audra had told Violet about his accidental proposal and not wanting to go into it if she didn’t know.

After you sort of accidentally proposed? she supplied, not bothering to hide how funny she thought that was.

Audra had definitely told her. He nodded and continued. "I thought she’d want me to ask on a day that was already significant, but if it was too soon after the other thing, it might sound like a joke. Valentine’s Day is the last in a string so… But then she pointed that out. She told me when to do it and that she’s looking forward to being surprised. I can’t do both."

Well, I think… Violet shifted in her seat. Again, the fact that she didn’t relish being involved was oddly comforting. "I think she probably meant surprised by the nice words, that she doesn’t know what you’ll say