by Mallory Kane
“Your partner.” Something didn’t sound right. He was holding a beautiful, priceless ring and talking about hiring her.
“Yeah. In D&D Services. But we’ll have to change that.”
“Change what?” She felt like a parrot. All she could do was repeat what he said.
“The name. Not change it exactly. Just its meaning. It was Dedicated and Discreet. Now it’ll be Delancey and Delancey.”
“Delancey and—”
Dawson picked up her hand and slipped the ring onto her left ring finger. “And Delancey.” Then he looked up at her with what looked like fear in his eyes.
“Hmm,” she said, frowning at him. “If you’re going to be a married man, you’re going to have to say what you mean.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I guess I am. Will you wear my grandmother’s ring and promise to never leave me?”
Juliana stared at him until his brows drew down and his intense blue eyes darkened. She realized she hadn’t answered him, so she threw herself into his arms.
He kissed her. For a long time they kissed and nuzzled and whispered and kissed some more. Then Dawson lifted his head. “Does this house have any bedrooms?” he asked.
Juliana giggled and took his hand. “Yes. This way,” she said and led him to her room.
“This is yours,” he said.
She nodded. “But wait. I haven’t said whether I’ll wear your grandmother’s ring.” She took a deep breath. “I will—if you’ll wear my dad’s ring.”
“I will,” he said solemnly. He handed her the ring and she slipped it onto his left ring finger. “It fits perfectly,” he said.
“That’s because you have perfect fingers.” She kissed each one of them. Then she raised her head and kissed him. Soon both of them were breathless.
“Don’t you like this house?” he asked her as he unbuttoned her shirt.
“Yes, of course I do,” she answered as she unbuttoned his. “But it’s too big for me.”
“Sell it to me,” he said, sliding her shirt down off her shoulders and kissing her skin.
“You?” Her fingers quit working. “Why?”
He kissed the curve of her shoulder and traced it up to her neck with his lips. “I’ve always wanted a big house, and I have a feeling we’re going to need one. Just because your dad’s not right here with us doesn’t mean we can’t fill this house with grandchildren for him.”
Juliana beamed as tears filled her eyes. “No, it doesn’t. Are you suggesting we get started now? Because I think that’s a great idea.”
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ISBN: 9781459227637
Copyright © 2012 by Rickey R. Mallory
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