Page 15 of Beautiful Betrayal

“Shut your eyes,” he orders.

“Eyes shut,” I say, doing as commanded.

He kneels beside me or I believe he does. My eyes are, of course, shut. “What if I was to blindfold you?”

My eyes open and meet his sea-green stare. “Is that what you’re going to do?”

“Would it be a problem?”

“Of course not. I trust you. Is that what you’re going to do?”

“Not until later.” He sets an envelope in my lap. “Open it.”

My teeth sink into my bottom lip and my curiosity is ripe. I unseal the flap and pull out a contract. “You bought the lighthouse from the man who retired it?”

“I did,” he says. “Look at the name on the deed.”

I scan and note the extreme price this place cost, and I know he did this for us, for me. “There’s no name. I don’t understand.”

“I want you to fill in your name.”

I shove at his chest. “No. No, I won’t take this. No.” I stand up and he sets the paperwork on the chair and joins me, his hands shackling my waist and pulling me to him. “I want you to have it.”

“I want to be here with you. I don’t want a present like this. I’m not with you for this.”

“What’s mine is yours, Mia.”

“No. No, that is not true and all I want is you, Grayson. I don’t care about the rest.”

He cups my face. “I left it blank for a reason. I want your name on that deed, but I want it to be my name.”

I blink. “I don’t understand.”

“Marry me, Mia. I need you forever.”

I suck in a breath. “What?”

“I love you. I need you with me forever. Say yes.”

“I—I have to sign a prenup. I don’t want you to ever think-”

He kisses me, a deep slide of tongue before he says, “Is that a yes?”

“Yes. Yes, you know it is. You know I love you. You know I need you, too. Forever.”

His lips, those perfect lips, curve. “Then I have something else for you.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a satin pouch. “It was easier to carry this in this than in a box today.” He removes the stunning, incredible, giant ring inside. “If you don’t like it-”

“My God,” I say, eyeing the emerald-cut diamond that sparkles with hints of blue. “It’s gorgeous, but I think I need a security guard to wear it.”

He laughs. “I’ll be your security guard.” He slips it on my finger. “It’s a rare blue diamond. I special ordered it. I wanted you to have something no one else would have.”

I look at it and then him. “Thank you.”

“Thank me by spending the rest of your life with me.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I swallow hard. “I hate that my mother isn’t alive to know you.”

“As do I of mine, Mia.”

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