Page 236 of The Re-Proposal

Her eyes go wide and she sits straight up.

“What? You don’t believe me this time?”

“Right now?”

“No, I want you in a big dress. A giant wedding. All our friends there. The people you love. The people I love. I want you in the spotlight. I want doves flying out of freaking cages while I pledge my life to you.”

“That’s animal cruelty.”

“Robot doves.”

“AI cruelty.”

I laugh and nuzzle her neck. “I want to spoil you.”

Her lips twitch. “That sounds awful.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

“You’re already planning the wedding?” she asks. “I haven’t said yes.”

“You’d say no?”

“Has this nightnotbeen eventful enough for you? You want to add a marriage proposal on top of everything else?”

“I’m not stupid enough to let you slip away from me again. Twice is more than I need. I’m locking you down this time, princess.”

Her smile makes my ice-cold heart pound like a congo drum. Everything I’ve been missing, everything I’ve ever wanted, is in my arms. I can’t live without her.

I don’t want to try.

My thumb slides over her jaw. “I’m sorry for going behind your back and doing that interview, Ris.”

“You should be.”

“I deserved that.”

She scrunches her nose.

“Things will be different going forward.”

“How different?”

“Not that much.”

“Hmf.”

“I can’t help that I’m obsessed with you. That part you’ll just have to live with.”

She flails dramatically. “Oh what a burden. A handsome, kind, sexy man is obsessed with me.”

I put her hand down so she knows I’m being serious. “I’ll do better at working things out together with you because I value your opinion. I don’t want you to think your voice, your needs, your dreams don’t matter to me. They do. I’m on your team. I have your back. I want to make all your dreams come true. There’s nothing that would make me happier than to shake out every secret wish in that pretty head of yours and turn it into reality.”

“What’s the catch?”

I look down at her with a smile so bright it could make the sun weep. “Full. Security. Detail.”

She groans.

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