Page 99 of Dirty Grovel

“Careful, Oleg,” I whisper. “If you’re not careful, I’m going to think that you’re actually proposing to me.”

He smiles. “I know we got off to a rough start. I’ll take responsibility for that. I confused the situation. I confused you. But allow me to clear things up now. I want to marry you, Sutton. Not just for our child, but for myself, too. There are still a ton of things we need to work on and work out. But I’m willing to do the work.”

I’m in serious need of a pinch. Surely, I must be dreaming, right?

Because there’s no conceivable way that Oleg Pavlov is standing in front of me, proposing marriage like he means it.

My gaze drops from Oleg’s eyes to the ring between his fingers. Then my head twists from side to side.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

I take a couple of steps back. “Looking for the hidden cameras. I’m being pranked, aren’t I? You’re bored and you’re having some fun with me.”

“If I wanted to have fun with you, princess, trust me—this is not how I would do it.”

Ignoring the blush on my cheeks, I scowl. “This isn’t funny, Oleg. I don’t understand the joke, but I don’t appreciate being made the butt of it.”

“This is no joke, Sutton?—”

“You expect me to believe that after everything we’ve been through, you honestly want tomarryme.”

“Yes.”

“Why?!”

He takes a step towards me, his fingers rising to my cheek, caressing it gently. “Because I realize that I want you in my life,” he murmurs. “As more than just a—what was it?—‘baby oven.’”

“Are you drunk?”

He grits his teeth. “Areyou? Why is this so hard for you to believe?”

“Because not so long ago, you thought I was guilty of conspiring against you with my ex-boyfriend.”

“And I’ve since come to understand that you weren’t.”

My eyes practically bug out of my head. “Interesting that you made this big realization and Istillhaven’t gotten a sufficient apology.”

“Is this the way you usually deal with marriage proposals?”

“Only the ones made by arrogant assholes who think they can snap their fingers and I’ll just come running with my tongue hanging out and hearts in my eyes.”

“Save the tongue out for the honeymoon.”

I push at his chest, annoyed and nervous and completely breathless. “You’re anass!”

“Is that a no?”

“Yes!” I shout, feeling the color drain from my face. “No! I mean… I have no fucking clue what I’m saying.”

“Maybe you should take a breath.”

“Maybe you should stop telling me what to do.”

“I’m not telling you anything, princess,” he says gently. “I’m asking you a question. One that you still haven’t answered.”

I stop short, eyes falling to the ring he’s still holding out to me.Is this real? Can I trust it?“It just doesn’t make sense…”

“That’s where we disagree. Ever since you came into my life, it feels like everything makes sense.” He inches a little closer and pushes a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “You want to know why I want to marry you? The answer is simple. When I look into my future, I see your face. I want you, Sutton Palmer. For life, if you’ll agree to it.”

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