by E. L. Todd
“Might need to hire a second one,” Denise teased.
Matt held up three fingers. “Make it three.”
I rolled my eyes as they teased me. “They’re exaggerating.”
“Wouldn’t care if they weren’t.” His arm moved around my shoulders, and he pulled me close, looking at me like I was the most important thing in the world. His love felt real, unconditional, like there was nothing I could ever do to make him stop loving me.
My eyes softened.
“I love you.” His hand moved into the back of my hair as he cradled my face close. He spoke quietly but still loud enough for them to hear, wearing his heart on his sleeve like a real man, like he didn’t care if people heard his declaration of love.
I kissed him on the mouth for a bit before I pulled away. “I love you too.”
His other hand grabbed mine on my thigh. With his eyes on me, he gently opened my fingers before he placed something small in the center. Then he wrapped my fingers around it, making it a closed fist.
All my friends gasped.
I felt the key to his penthouse in my grip, the warm metal the same temperature as my skin. My fingers squeezed it tighter, but that was when I realized it wasn’t a key at all.
I inhaled a deep breath when I figured out what it was.
He kept his focused gaze on me, his look intense like it was in the bar the night we met. “Will you marry me?”
My head immediately dropped as my fingers opened, seeing the diamond ring he’d placed there.
“Oh my god,” Matt whispered.
It was a simple band with a single diamond in the center. It wasn’t a big diamond that a billionaire would buy his trophy wife. It was small and humble, just like me. He’d picked out a ring I would want, not an obnoxious rock that would just get in my way.
I lifted my head and looked at him again.
He waited for my answer, confident that he already knew what I would say.
He didn’t take me to a fancy restaurant or on a luxury trip to propose. He asked me exactly how I would want to be asked, unexpectedly and with my friends there to celebrate. He truly understood who I was and never tried to change me, even when he didn’t always agree.
I opened my fingers again, grabbed the ring, and slipped it onto my ring finger.
His lips slowly lifted into a smile.
My hands cupped his cheeks, and I kissed him. “Yes,” I whispered against his mouth, listening to my friends clap and cheer.
“Aw,” Denise said. “That was so sweet…”
Matt whistled.
I knew that meant I’d have to walk away from the job that I loved, but it was a compromise I was willing to make for this man. Truly, I didn’t feel like I was losing anything, but gaining something better. I wouldn’t have to fall so far as to take on the Lifestyle section, though it would be a big change of pace. But he would make up for all the excitement that I was leaving behind.
When Dax pulled away, his smile was gone, and now he looked at me with emotional eyes, like he’d just gotten everything he’d ever wanted. His fingers moved into my hair and pulled it from my face, his palm cupping my cheek as he regarded me. “Carson Frawley…sounds right.”
“What makes you think I’d change my last name?” I teased.
“Because it sounds so hot.”
“Yeah.” I gave a slight nod. “It does sound pretty hot.”
19
Dax
I’d asked someone to marry me before. I’d picked out the ring, planned how I’d ask the question, so the novelty should be gone.
But it felt like the first time.
Because this time, it was right.
Carson was the one.
The food was left on the coffee table in the living room, and her boxes were stacked near the windows in my bedroom to be unpacked later. We were in bed, making love, enjoying each other as fiancés.
With her thighs squeezing my hips, I rocked into her, seeing the shine of sweat on her forehead from the lights coming through the window. Her green eyes were lit up with their own illumination, the fire burning in her soul. Her fingers dug into my slightly damp hair as she rocked back with me, the metal from her ring coming into contact with my skin.
She pulled me close as she started to writhe, her back arching, her head rolling back, her toes curling against my ass. Her nails dug into my flesh as she dragged them down the back of my neck, the sweat burning the openings as it poured inside. “Yes…”
The only thing better than having an orgasm was watching her have one. She tightened around me like she did all the other times, her wetness soaking into my shaft because she exploded with arousal. She moaned louder and louder until her hips bucked uncontrollably as she hit the crescendo.
I slammed into her over and over, hitting her hard and driving her into the fireworks, watching her hit the high and slowly come down as I reached the finish line. I filled her for the fifth time that night, the hour unknown because we’d knocked over the clock at some point in the rendezvous.
I wanted to keep going, but I was on empty.
She probably was too.
I rolled off her and lay there, staring at the ceiling, catching my breath, feeling the sweat slowly evaporate from my skin.
She breathed hard beside me as her body slowly sank into a state of calm. Naked on top of my sheets, her body was beautiful, her tits perfect, her lithe stomach irresistible. Her hair looked like it’d been struck by a tornado, but that only made her more irresistible.
My hand snaked to hers on the bed, and I interlocked our fingers.
She turned her head to look at me, a slight smile coming onto her lips.
I pulled her hand and rested it on my chest so she could feel my steady heartbeat. She made it race when she touched me, but in our quiet moments, she brought me so much peace, brought the crazy world to a standstill.
“Did they know you were going to ask?” she whispered.
I whispered my response. “No.”
“Good. Those idiots can’t keep a secret.”
I chuckled. “I wanted to make sure you were surprised.”
“Mission accomplished.”
I wasn’t afraid that she would say no. The fact that she’d agreed to move in with me, agreed to take a step back at her job to be with me, told me that she was in this forever, that she wanted to love me until we were buried beside each other. “Do you like the ring?”
She scrunched up her face and gave a disbelieving reaction. “Do I like the gorgeous ring you got for me?” She held up her left hand so she could see the diamond. “Yes. I love it. It’s perfect for me.”
I knew she wouldn’t want an enormous rock like most women. She’d want something nice but simple, something she could wear everywhere.
“But I like the man who gave it to me more.”
I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it.
“You knew I’d say yes?”
“Without a doubt.” I stared into her eyes, feeling that connection between our souls, the unconditional love that would last forever. Fifty percent of marriages ended in divorce. Our first marriages ended, and that meant this one wouldn’t. This time, it was right.
Her eyes lit up.
I was happy. Really happy. Happier than I’d ever been.
“I hope you didn’t ask me to marry you so I’d leave my job quicker.”
“No. I said when we get married, so you have some time.”
“Well, I don’t think there’s much of a difference between fiancés and husband and wife. I’ll tell Vince on Monday.”
That was exactly what I wanted, but I hid my joy. “What will you do now?”
“There are still a lot of options for me. Editorial pieces, different kinds of investigative journalism, just stuff less dangerous. I have a good relationship with my editor, so he’ll give me something decent. I won’t be booted back to the Lifestyle section.”
I chuckled. “Is the Lifestyle section really that bad?”
“No. Just not for me.”
I turned over onto my side so I could be closer to her. “I really appreciate that you’re willing to do that for me, for us.”
When she looked at me, there wasn’t a hint of resentment, like she agreed that it was the best decision. “I know better than anybody how dangerous that job is, and when it’s just me, that’s not a big deal. But when I think about having a family and stuff, I feel differently about it. I never seriously considered it before, because it seemed like it would never become a reality. But now it feels real, so it could happen.”
I was glad she thought that way, thought about more than just us, but our future family. “We’re going to have a good life together.”
“I know.” She came closer to me and ran her fingers down my arm. “And not just because you have two Bugattis.”
I chuckled.
“I’m sorry about Matt. He’s just—”
“It really doesn’t bother me. Your friends are harmless.”
“Our friends.”
I smiled. “Yes…ours.”
“So…” She hooked her leg over my hip. “I’m not sure what you’re thinking, but I did the full-on wedding before and I’m just not really into that…unless that’s important to you.”
I shook my head. “Now that my parents are gone, not really.”
“You want to do something small, then?”
“Yes. We can even go down to city hall if you want.”
“And get sandwiches afterward?” she said with a smile.
“Doesn’t sound bad to me.”
“I just want to wear a wedding dress. Whether we go to city hall or have a ceremony, I want to look beautiful, you know?”
“And you’ll look fiiiiine in a wedding dress.”
She smiled. “Especially in a low-cut one with a high slit up the side.”
“And lingerie underneath.”
“Ooh, even better.”
“When did you want to do this?”
She shrugged. “When did you want to do this?”
I’d marry her tomorrow or a year from now. “The ball is in your court, sweetheart. We both know I would have married you tonight if that’s what you wanted. So, I’ll let you decide.”
“All up to me, huh?” she whispered.
“No pressure. We can be engaged for years, and then if you suddenly get the urge, we can walk down and do it. Just in the moment.”
“I don’t want to be engaged for years.”
“Then, a year?”
She shrugged. “We’re already living together, so…”
“Meaning?”
“Why don’t we get married in a month or something?”
I really liked that answer.
“We’ve both done this before, and we both know this is right. Why wait?”
Couldn’t agree more. “You don’t need to live with me first to make sure you can tolerate me?”
“Tolerate you?” she said with a laugh. “Have you not heard all the horror stories my friends have told? I’m the tornado that’s going to rip this penthouse apart.”
“I like a challenge, so that works for me.”
“It’s nice to be with a man who can handle my craziness.”
I smiled. “It’s nice to be with a sexy, crazy-ass bitch.”
She laughed loudly, loving the way I described her. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Yeah?” I moved slightly on top of her so I could look down at her beautiful face and watch her continue to laugh. “I meant it.”
She cupped my face as her laughter subsided and her eyes warmed. “I know you do.”
“Geez, what happened?” Renee stood in front of my desk and looked down at me.
I lifted my chin and looked at her. “Sorry?”
“You look like a fucking clown right now.” She made a big smile, showing all her teeth with her eyes wide. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because I’m happy, dumbass.” I rose from my chair and smoothed out my tie as I looked at my sister.
“But you’re, like, really happy. Crazy happy.”
I slid my hands into my pockets and considered how I would tell her.
“You really like Carson living with you, huh?”
“It’s not just that.”
“Then what?”
“I asked her to marry me—and she said yes.”
Her jaw immediately dropped, and her lips parted in shock. “Oh my god…”
“Yep.” I didn’t have any fear that the past would repeat itself, that I’d made another wrong decision. Carson should have been my wife in the first place. If only I’d met her sooner. “That crazy-ass bitch is going to be your sister-in-law.”
She was still in shock. “I just had no idea that’s where your head was at.”
“It’s been that way since the moment I met her, honestly. I told you she was the one.”
“But I didn’t expect you to propose so quickly…after everything that happened.”
“It’s different this time. I’m not worried about it.”
She regained her composure and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I’m happy for you. It’s been a long time since you’ve been happy.”
“Thanks, sis.”
“So, you’re going to get married in a year or something? Big wedding? Am I going to be a bridesmaid?”
“No, we aren’t doing that. Neither one of us cares for that. Just going to go down to city hall in a month.”
Now Renee looked shocked all over again. “In a month?”
I started to hear the rain behind me, pelting the windows with drops that created elemental background music. “Yes.”
“You don’t think that’s fast?” she asked hesitantly. “You’ve known her for what…six months?”
“When you know, you know.”
Renee still looked visibly uncomfortable, like she might vomit.
“I didn’t realize you still disliked Carson.” Whether Renee liked her or not, it wouldn’t change my decision. Carson was the only woman in this world who would make me happy. I wouldn’t let her go. My sister would just have to change her opinion.
“It’s not that I dislike her. It’s just… I don’t want the past to repeat itself.”
“It won’t.”
“So, you’re getting a prenup?” she asked. “I guess if you do that, it’s fine. I just worry that it’s happening too fast and she’s got her eyes on the money, but if you do all the paperwork, it shouldn’t matter if her motives are less than genuine.”
My eyes narrowed because I was immediately offended by every word that came out of her mouth. “I know I fucked up with Rose, but Carson is nothing like that. That’s not even a concern.”
“And I’m sure you’re right, but half of this company is mine, and I don’t want to share with it with another person. Are you telling me you aren’t planning on getting the prenup?” Her eyebrows immediately rose in surprise.
Honestly, it hadn’t crossed my mind. I didn’t think it was necessary. Carson and I were going to be together forever, and even if we weren’t, she’d probably sign everything to me because she wouldn’t want it anyway. She wasn’t that kind of person.
Her eyes narrowed. “Dax?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it, honestly.”
Her visage completely changed, like she was disappointed in me. “You’re joking.”
“Carson isn’t like that—”
“You’ve been wrong before,” she snapped. “And even if you aren’t, people change. She could get used to the wealthy lifestyle and change her feelings about it. This doesn’t just affect you. It also affects me. You think I’d marry William without a prenup even though he’s harmless? No one gets married thinking they’re going to get divorced, but a lot of people do get a divorce. If Carson is really who you say she is, then she should have no problem signing those papers. She’ll put her money where her mouth is.”
I knew she would. I just didn�
�t want to ask.
“I can’t believe, after everything we’ve been through, you would be so stupid.”
I dropped my gaze, heartbroken by her disappointment.
“Get that prenup, Dax.” She turned away to leave my office. “Or I’ll never look at you the same.”
I met with Charlie after work, and we got a beer at our usual place.
“I’m surprised you want to see me instead of your fiancée…”
“I wanted to talk to you about something…in private.” He was the best person to ask because he was so close to Carson.
“Alright. If you’re asking for my permission, it’s a little late for that.” He smiled like he was teasing and then took a drink of his beer. “And I’m happy to get rid of her, especially if you’re the one taking her. Today, she told Vince that she wanted to be taken off the pharmaceutical piece and to take a step out of the fast lane. He was shocked…but understood.”
I hadn’t had a chance to talk to her today, and I was surprised she’d made the decision so quickly. Since she always procrastinated, I’d expected her to procrastinate about this. “How is she?”
“She said she’s totally fine. Still seemed really happy.”
That meant the world to me. “Where’s she going to be working now?”
“She’ll still be in the same office. She’s going to do the big interviews with celebrities and influential people, so it’s kind of a promotion anyway…just less dangerous.”
I smiled. “That’s great news.”
“I suspect Vince had been planning to promote somebody else and give them that position, but he changed his mind when Carson said she would be taking a step back. He’s really fond of her, so he obviously doesn’t want to lose her.”
“Can’t blame him.”
He took a drink. “So everything’s good. What did you want to talk about?”
For a second, I’d forgotten about my dilemma. “Can this stay between us?”
He turned serious at the question. “Depends on what you want to talk about. You know where my loyalty lies.”
“It’s something I’ll have to talk to her about, regardless. I’m just running it by you first.”
He nodded. “Then I guess it’s okay.”