Page 122 of Beyond the Hate

“But you are afraid.”

She glances away. “Being concerned about jumping into a relationship too soon is not an indicator of fear.”

I pinch her chin and force her gaze to meet mine. “Lace, love of my life, we are not jumping into a relationship. We’ve been tap dancing around each other for years. I know what my heartwants. And it wants you. Hell, if I knew you didn’t approve of marriage, I would have already proposed.”

“Instead, you’re gradually moving all of my things into your house.”

I shrug. “I have no remorse.”

She snorts. “Of course, you don’t.”

“What do you expect? You can’t possibly think I’m going to apologize for wanting the woman I love to live with me.”

“It’s a big step. I don’t want to be dependent on you for housing.”

I smirk. “I have a solution to your problem.”

“If you dare me again, I’m going to deny you sex for a week.”

I chuckle. “As if you can resist me for a week.”

She sniffs and lifts her nose in the air. It’s adorable. “I can and I will.”

“Good thing I’m not going to dare you then.”

I pull a manila envelope out of my pocket and hand it to her.

She doesn’t accept it. “What’s this?”

I wiggle it. “You won’t find out unless you open it.”

She snatches it from me and starts to stand. I grasp her hips to keep her right where she is. I want to be near when she reads the documents.

She frowns at me but doesn’t put up a fight. Instead, she flicks open the envelope and removes the paperwork. She scans the first page and her frown deepens. She flips through the entire document without speaking a word.

A pit grows in my stomach. Is she going to reject my proposal? Reject me?

“Well?” I push when I can no longer handle the silence.

“This proves it.” She shoves the document back into the envelope and throws it on the bed. “You’re crazy.”

“I’m crazy because I deeded you half of my house?”

She nods. “Yes.”

“Why is it crazy to give the woman I plan to spend the rest of my life with half of the house I want her to make into our home?”

She throws her arms over my shoulders. “Because I would have moved in without ownership of the house.”

“When would you have moved in? After our children graduate from college?”

“No. Next month.”

My breath hitches. “Next month?”

“I have it all planned out. I didn’t want to move in together until six months after your birthday party. In two weeks, it’ll have been six months. Basically, you wasted a lot of money for nothing.”

I growl. “Not for nothing. I want us to be equal partners. I want you to have half of my wealth.”

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