Page 120 of The Keeper and I

She paused to take a breath, and Jordan was about ready to jump out of his skin. If she was going, he wanted her to say it. Rip the band aid off and get it over with so he could start panicking properly. Inside, of course. Outwardly, he would be the supportive boyfriend if called upon. The “but” was coming, he could feel it.

“But,” she went on, and he fought back a wince. “BB, being the brilliant superstar she is, worked it out with the designer. They’ll let me work just the New York and LA shows in July. Afterward, I’m free to come back home to London.”

“Fuck…” he said, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That’s…that’s great fucking news.”

She grinned mischievously at him. “Had you going, didn’t I?”

He smirked back at her. “Aye, so you did.”

“You’re alright with it?” she asked seriously.

“How long will you be gone?”

“A month. Two weeks in each city.”

He knew the next question was pathetic, but he asked it anyway. “Can I come with you?”

She blinked, taken aback. “You’d want to?”

“Fuck yeah. I’d love to see you in action. You look so hot on your magazine covers and shit. I know you’d bowl me over on the runway.”

Her lips parted into a flattered smile. “I’d love to have you there.”

“I don’t know if I can stay the whole time with our pre-season schedule, but fuck, I’d miss you too much to go a whole month without you.”

“I’d miss you too,” she said and rested her head on his shoulder. “Which brings me to my next thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Since we will be apart for some time, I wanted to…well…see how you felt about committing to each other. Really committing.”

“Are we not already?”

“We are.” She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “I mean in a way that’s more public and official—”

“Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce for the first time as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Knight!” the DJ called.

Billie and Ethan arrived on the dance floor and a smooth trumpet solo began. They swayed together and guests surrounded them to witness their first dance. Laci started to get up, but Jordan took hold of her wrist and guided her toward him, so she was standing between his legs.

“You were saying?” he asked.

“We should go see the first dance.”

“Laci, tell me.”

“I was gonna say…” she trailed off. “I want to be committed in a way that’s, y’know, legally binding.”

He was so stunned, he almost dropped her hand.

“Laci Miller, is this a proposal?” he asked, keeping his tone light so she could play it off if she wanted. But God, she had his hopes up.

She nodded. “Are you saying yes?”

He pulled her onto his lap and cupped her face. “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

He kissed her, deep and tender. When they parted, he saw her eyes shining.

“You want to get married before you go? Don’t things like this take time?” he questioned and looked toward the dance floor.

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