Page 9 of Dating the Don

“So, be a good girl and listen to my offer,” I continue, my lip curling higher at the corner.

“Don’t talk to me like that.”

“Why not?” I grin as her face reddens further.

“Because I don’t… like it,” she protests, but her body sags further into my hold. I’m barely having to hold her back at all now. We both know she’s going to cave.

“I promise I will do everything in my power to get you the answers about your mother. We will look into her murder again and see if there are any ties between it and the Irish Mob, but you will not go to the police,” I warn her. There’s no room for argument in my tone.

“I wouldn’t… really…” Maeve sighs.

I know that too.

“Of course, not.”

“Is that all?” Maeve looks at me again, her face unreadable.

“No, one more thing. You’ll have to marry me.”

My words don’t register with her right away. She scoffs, thinking that I’m joking and then her brows lift and her eyes widen. “You can’t possibly be serious!”

“Oh I’m gravely serious,” I smile.

“No. Absolutely not. I’m not going tomarryyou!” She scoffs, completely out of it. Honestly, she’s got to keep her emotions in better control than that.

“It would not be arealmarriage, Maeve. Come on now, use your beautiful brain for a moment.” I brush her hair away from her face. “The only reason my men won’t ask for your head on a platter for seeing what you did is if they realize just how important you are to me. That you can be trusted. That they can see for themselves without a doubt that you are on the same side as we are. At least until the heat dies down. You want freedom? This is how you get it.”

“That hardly seems like freedom,” she grumbles. But, there’s something else there too. Something that I can’t name. “A fake engagement?”

I dip my chin in a nod. I wholly and utterly ignore the way my heart seems to race at the mere notion of her seriously considering this.

“Fine.”

I release her. I carefully fold the apron, place it on top of the counter, and take a small step back from her so that we both have room to breathe properly.

“Good. I will arrange for us to purchase an appropriate engagement ring, and tell my mother the happy news. But, for now, go and fetch your things. You’re moving in.”

That gets her attention all over again. “What?!” She whirls on me.

“How else am I supposed to make sure that you’re doing what you are supposed to? I have to keep a close eye on you until I’m sure that you can be trusted.” I answer easily.

“You’ve known me my whole life!”

“Not like this. Clearly, the Maeve that I knew never would have threatened me like that.” I wink. I only say it to rile her up. “Go on, hop to.”

I grin the whole time that she sulks toward the door. “We have a ring to buy.”

CHAPTER FIVE

MAEVE

Later that Day

The outfit Cristiano has dressed me in likely costs more than I make in a year.

It’s not that I’m not grateful for it, but I’m just not sure how to take it. It’s a perfectly lovely dress in its own right, although not something that I would design. But it’s clear that he chose it with me in mind. The bright pops and swirls of color catch the sunlight as we walk into the jewelry store.

Engaged.

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