Page 96 of Legacy's Call

“In the other bedroom.” She pointed across the hall.

“Why?” He turned and almost clocked her with the door frame. She caught it with her hands. “Careful. Because this is your room, I didn’t want to invade your privacy.”

Ronan marched over to his bed and tossed her onto the soft, king-sized mattress. He crawled over her. “Strange because all I can think of is invading your privacy.”

“Then do it.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and let the world narrow until there was only them. The beautiful magic between them was deeper than she remembered. His taste, his smell, and how he could make her shiver with a brush of his lips went beyond magical. His ability to send her into the deepest recesses of pure sensuality and still bring herto the heights of desire defied any connection she’d ever experienced before.

Much later, he held her in his arms, and she sighed in complete contentment. “Your sisters are amazing.”

“They have issues, but I won’t trade them in on a new model.”

She laughed and turned toward him. “Gabby and Charley offered me a job managing the charities that Guardian supports. But they offered me way too much money to do it. I’d love to take on the challenge, but please tell them they don’t need to pay me that much money.”

He frowned. “How much did they offer?”

She told him, and he narrowed his eyes at her. “I’d be surprised if they didn’t do a market study and offer you what they felt was fair.”

She dropped her chin to his chest. “That’s what Charley said they did.”

“Then they won’t change the offer.” He rolled her so he was on top of her. “Never underestimate those two. They are cunning and capable women. Just like you are.”

“Awww … you think I’m cunning.” She laughed when he rolled his eyes.

“I think you’re everything I need in my life.” He lifted away from her. “Don’t move.”

She lifted up onto her elbow and watched him pull on his jeans, commando. He pointed at her. “Don’t move.” He sprinted out of the room.

She looked at the clothes strewn all over his room. By the time she’d decided to get up and pick them up, he was back and jumped onto the bed and straddled her. “Here.” He handed her a ring box.

She blinked and took it. “What is this?”

“Open it,” he urged her.

Fleur eased the top up and gasped. “Ronan!”

He took it from her and lifted the square, cushion-cut ruby from the box. It had to be at least five carats, and two channel-cut diamonds flanked it.

“It isn’t an engagement ring. It’sa promisering.” He slid the ring on her left hand. “I had to google that shit. What a promise ring means and what hand to put it on.” He laid down beside her, and she turned to face him. “I wanted you to have something that showed you my commitment to you and what we have.” He looked around his room. “This is just a house?—”

She lifted onto her elbow. “No, sir, this is a mansion.”

He shook his head. “It’s building materials—bricks, wood, paint, and nails. Without someone to share it with, it’s shelter and nothing else. That was what my life was before you—just the bare structure. With you in it, my life is so much more. One day, that ring will be replaced with a diamond and a band. When you’re comfortable and know in your heart that you’re ready, you’ll be Mrs. David Alexander.”

She pushed away. “Who the hell isDavid?”

He laughed. “Thatismy first name. It’s also my father’s first name. So, I go by my middle name.”

“Oh.” She looked at the weighty ring on her finger and then back to him. “I do love you. But … there’s so much to still discover about each other. What if …”

He put his finger over her lips, hushing her. “A bridge too far. We aren’t crossing it, and hopefully, we never will. Your concerns, though, are why this isn’t a diamond. I want it to be, but I also didn’t want to scare or rush you.” He leaned down for a kiss. “When you’re ready.”

She stared into his intense, dark eyes. “How did this become my life? You’re too good to be true.”

He shook his head. “I’m just a man who loves you.” She lifted her lips for another kiss.He loves me. She let that truth soak into her soul. She loved him.She knew that in the fabric of her being, but she’d yet to let herself believehecould feel the same forher, even though he’d said the words. Perhaps it was time to accept love could happen for her because the truth was this man, Ronan or David, the name didn’t matter, but this man was in love with her, and she was in love with him. Love, no matter the origin or the speed it developed, was here between them, and it was real.

EPILOGUE

Deacon watched his extended family acting like idiots. But that was the nature of things. He laughed at Smoke as he approached Charley and grabbed her by the hand, ending the argument that she’d lost over fifteen minutes ago. If she ever won an argument with Con, he’d never heard about it. Yeah, Dan had the patience of a saint.

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