Page 61 of Until You're Breathless

She lifts her head from her phone for a second. “Jagger, I told you, it doesn’t matter.” I wait, letting her finish writing the email. “There. That should eliminate the problem.”

“What problem?”

“I just gave him an update on Boston. Evidently my ex wasn’t stupid enough to threaten me or you, but he was stupid enough to threaten Wesley. He told him that he was making a huge mistake doing business with us. I set him straight and told him that Boston had made a call to you and I last night, too.”

“Boston will fry for that.”

“Exactly.”

My eyes search hers.

“What’s the matter, Jagger?”

“I just...” I trail off, wanting to come out and say this without making it sound like a hidden agenda, without making it sound like I haven’t given my heart and soul to this woman, just for one thing.

“You just what?” She’s concerned.

I take her hand in mine, but instead of just holding my hand, she holds me to her. “Jagger, I love you. There isn’t anything that you can tell me that can change that.” She pulls back so her eyes search mine and mine search hers. “Now, I know that it bothers you, that you feel like you have something to prove to me, and you think that by putting my name on the business, that that proves it, but I’ve told you more than once now that it doesn’t matter.”

My hands cup her face. “There is one way that this business can also be your name....marry me. Take my name.”

Her eyes widen for a moment. “You...you want to get married?”

“I want to marryyou.” I clarify. “I never thought I would really want to, but now I do. You and I...we were meant to be together forever...since high school. You are the one. You are the only woman for me, Bowie. I’ve never loved another woman. And I never will. And this way, you can also be a Lawson, and then you’ll be part of this company just like I am.”

She blinks, but she isn’t frozen, she isn’t pulling back, she isn’t recoiling. She’s shocked. I’ve completely taken her by surprise.

“I...I don’t have a ring or anything, and we’re both naked, so you don’t have to say yes right now. I mean, this isn’t exactly the proposal you were probably hoping for, but I just felt it. It hit me as soon as you left the room. It hit me that I want to be your husband, and I want you to be my wife, and I don’t want to go anywhere else or be with anyone else unless you’re with me. I don’t ever want to lose you again, and that fucker Boston was insane to never marry you.Iwant to.Iwant to be the guy that watches you grow old and loves you every day for the rest of your life and mine, and I don’t want it to bemylife anymore. I want it to beourlife, and...will you marry me?” I chuckle, knowing that I’m rambling like a fucking idiot.

She gasps a chuckle at me.

“Okay, so I fucking suck at proposing, okay?” I admit with another chuckle.

She smiles, as tears form in her eyes. “No.” She swallows, grinning, as I watch a tear fall down her cheek. “You nailed it.”

I grin, prompting her with a hand gesture. “Will you...?”

With a nod, she cups her face, and I envelop her with my arms, kissing her head. “God, I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Jesus Christ, Jagger. Are you crazy?” Halen chortles, as I pull up to the party venue in my Bel-Air.

“Why would driving my car here be crazy?”

“Because...where the fuck are you going to park the goddamn thing?”

“In the underground parking. It’s secure.”

“Fine.”

“Besides, it goes with my suit, and it makes for a great getaway car if this thing goes to shit.”

“Why the fuck you had to invite the whole fucking world to this I’ll never understand. Egotistical much? I mean, the whole fucking world already knows now that you got the biggest fucking automotive deal of the century.”

“So, if everyone already knows, why does it make such a big fucking difference?”

“Because you’re rubbing it in everyone’s faces, that’s why.”

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