by S. M. West
The board approved his proposal for expanding into the luxury hotel business and he’s currently in negotiations for two locations with a third one on the horizon. That’s why he can’t join me in Africa. He’s going to Thailand to close the deal.
I tap out a short text to Gary, Zach’s real estate scout extraordinaire, and smile at his immediate response. My bare feet slap against the cool wooden floors as I make my way through the dimly lit hallway to Zach’s office. The door is ajar with light filtering from the sliver of an opening.
Knocking, I push through to find Zach’s gaze glued to the screen. He glances up at me and his lips curve upward slightly. “Is it time for bed?”
“Uh-huh.” I inch farther into his space and catch sight of the glossy, expensive wedding invitation sitting on the coffee table where we left it a few days ago.
Reagan Hussey is getting married to a duke or a lord or something, and she invited Zach plus one. She knows we’re together, but my name is nowhere on the invitation. Whatever.
Shortly after the huge success of Nuit Étoilée and the media coverage about the launch of Project Miranda, Reagan went to England to stay with her relatives. Or so the story goes. As Nan likes to say, she fled to lick her wounds and tend to her bruised ego.
“I’ve got a deal for you.”
Intrigued, he arches a brow and shuts the laptop, giving me his full attention like he always does when I’m near.
Bringing me into his lap, he wraps his arms around me and I curl into him, one hand sliding behind his neck to sift my fingers through his wavy, dark hair. I’m in the best place in the world. Zach’s lap.
“A deal? Give it to me.” He winks, lightly nipping at my chin before resting his head against mine. He looks tired. There’s a lot riding on his business plan and I want to help alleviate some of the stress.
We’re both better together and the thought of each of us in different parts of the world for the next several weeks, working on equally important career milestones without the other, is distressing to say the least. If I’m sure about anything it’s that we need each other.
I pull the small box from my pocket and lay it flat on my palm. Pulling the lid back, I reveal a black titanium ring sitting atop blue velvet. Eyes wide, Zach stares at me wearing an unreadable expression. Is it shock?
“Zachary Adam Rothwell, I never saw you coming and even when our lives collided, I never dreamed this would be our life. You and me together.” My tone softens. “But I can’t imagine my life any other way or with anyone else. Marry me?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you?” His question comes out like a croak and I grin at my effect on him. He’s surprised all right.
“Who says? You deserve a proposal as much as I do.” I jut my chin out and straighten my spine as if needing to make sure he sees my point.
A slow, sexy grin coasts across his full lips and his gaze glitters, bringing a smile to my lips. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
With the ring in my hand, I take his in mine and slide the edgy and sophisticated ring onto his finger, glancing up into his cobalt eyes.
“I thought you’d never ask,” he jests, winking.
I open my mouth to laugh, but before any sound comes out, he crushes his mouth over mine, sealing our union with a blistering kiss. His hands grasp the sides of my face and we pour our hearts and souls into kissing each other. I love kissing Zach. I could do it for hours.
I sink into him, his hardening length pushing against my hip, and I’m ready to do this for hours when he pulls away.
“Wait, you said you had a deal for me. Your proposal was a deal?”
I smirk, slanting my head to the side. “I wondered if you’d remember.” I wait a beat or two, letting him sweat it out.
“Well?”
“With both of us managing some pretty important moments in our careers, I really think we need to be together. I want to be with you to see the property in Thailand, like I was for Singapore and St. Barts. And I really want you with me when we open the first Miranda plant.”
He’s now solemn, nodding and preparing to deliver his CEO speech about how in business, sacrifices need to be made and this is one of those times. I’ve heard it all before and while what he says is understandable, the spiel is more for him than me. He’s struggling with wanting more than his business and not knowing how to make room for us in a world where all he has ever cared about, and put first, was his work.
“Okay, before you get started, hear me out.” My fingers press against his lips and I feel his smile as he nods. “Gary’s talked to the owner of the property in Thailand and they are willing to wait two weeks to discuss the details of the agreement.”
Zach sits up straight, opening his lips against my fingers and I push him back into the chair. “Listen, I’m not finished and I promise you, the deal isn’t in jeopardy. Nan advanced a deposit so the seller knows we’re serious.”
He relaxes back into the chair, taking me with him, and I continue. “So for the first week, we’re in Africa and for the second week, we’re getting married in the Seychelles.”
“What?” he says against my now trembling fingers.
Water pools in my eyes, silly tears, as I try to blink them away, nodding my head. “Seychelles, you and me on a beach saying our vows with our family and closest friends with us. It’s all been arranged. And in return, I go with you to Thailand after that.”
“Paige.” He scoops me closer to him, burying his face into my neck and chuckling. The rumble of his laughter shoots tingles through all my nerve endings and I want to pinch myself to make sure this is real. This is my life.
“So, what do you say? Deal?”
For the past four weeks, I’ve had the help of Nan, Morgan, and my mother in planning all the details and it’s been torture keeping this a secret from Zach. Gary was the final piece to fall into place when he confirmed the deposit was received and the seller was content to wait a few more weeks.
“Oh, baby, it’s a deal.” His warm, shining gaze slowly sweeps my face as he grants me a million-watt smile.
I nod, kissing at his lips, jaw, and then earlobe before whispering, “And I’d do more for us to be together. Always. And that’s no lie.”
Note to Readers
Thank you for reading Real Liars!
I hope you loved Paige and Zach.
The fun with Paige and the gang doesn’t have to be over!
Meet Paige in her teenage years while reading the sweet and sexy shenanigans of Sam and Olivia in Made to Love.
And if my best friend’s older brother romance is your thing, grab a copy of Love Block to find out how Pippa, Paige’s best friend, snagged Drew! Yes, that Drew — Paige’s older brother!
Other Books by S.M. West
Standalones:
Made to Love
Clutch
Prophet
Real Liars
The Love Lock Duet:
Love Block (Book 1)
Love Lock (Book 2)
Love in Color Series:
Red
Blue
Green
About the Author
S.M. West writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and whatever her heart desires. She's a self-professed junkie of many things and is always planning her next adventure!
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