Page 89 of Diamonds & Deception

“If you haven’t noticed, I’m not very good at these buttons.” I loosen his tie and undo the top two buttons with ease.

“That will come with practice.” He takes my hair out of the elastic and runs his hair through my long strands. “I’ve also gotten really bad at cleaning myself. I can use a daily hand in the shower as well.”

“I don’t know. This sounds like a lot of work keeping up with you.”

“See? Big problems. The common denominator is you. I need you.”

“You’re not afraid of coming off desperate and clingy, are you?”

“Full disclosure?” He sips my bottom lip between his. “I love you. I don’t want to spend another day without you in my life. Stay here in Boston with me. We can buy a house outside the city so Daisy has a lawn to run around in, or we can stay here. I don’t care, as long as you’re in my life.”

“Full disclosure?” I wrap my legs around his waist. “You had me at nooner.”

“Really? It took that long? Hell, woman, the moment I put that Red Sox hat on you outside Fenway, I knew I was a goner. I’ve never in my life loved another human being the way or as much as I love you.”

“That’s when I fell in love with you, too. I want to keep making memories with you, Drake. I love you so much.”

He carries me to the couch and presses his body on mine. We don’t rush our lovemaking and kiss each other with a level of passion and love never experienced before.

I’ve finally found somewhere I belong. Someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. Drake is the most perfect man for me, and I have Carly and Lenora to thank for bringing us together.

EPILOGUE

“So this is where you’vebeen hiding.”

I glance up from my laptop and fight back my groan. I’ve managed to escape Kelsey since I declined her offer to take her to bed after the gala last month. I wasn’t the least bit tempted that night, even with her pressing her curves against me, even though I was still fuming at Nora’s betrayal.

And I’m even less tempted now. She’s a beautiful woman, but her problem is she knows it. Her dumping me after we graduated from college was a gift, and her coming on to me now that I have seven figures in my bank account makes me want to lose my good-boy image and tell her how I really feel.

I won’t, because it won’t get me anywhere, and she’s not worth my effort.

“What brings you by, Kelsey?” I’m not surprised she waited until Nancy left for the night before finding her way down to my office. Kelsey is anything but dumb.

“I’ve missed you.” She glides across my office in her ridiculously high heels and short, yet still professional, tight skirt. Her blouse is unbuttoned, revealing more cleavage than is appropriate for a business meeting, and her lips are painted cherry red.

Nora doesn’t need war paint to make her beautiful, not that Kelsey does either, but I much prefer Nora’s simple and natural look to Kelsey’s made-up one.

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