Page 53 of Hers to Love
“Kat, could you give us a minute please?” Kori asked without facing her sister.
Kat chuckled. “Take more than a minute.” She winked and then shut the door.
Marshall laughed. “I like your sister. I think I won her over.”
“Kat’s the sweetest and the most romantic out of all of us. She’s definitely your ally.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
Kat stared up at him, uncertainty in her eyes. “Are you sure, though? About us?”
“Do you doubt me?” He cupped her face. “Kori, I am absolutely certain you are the woman for me. There are just a few words that I’m waiting to hear.” His brows raised in anticipation.
“Before that…” Marshall’s brows angled down. “No, don’t look like that,” Kori chuckled. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “I just want to say thank you for what you did for me—helping me win my case against Brigham. Why didn’t you tell me he had contacted you?”
“It was a voicemail he’d left and I never listened to it all the way through. I only remembered it later on. Either way, you weremyemployee. It was my job to have your back and protect you. And I didn’t want you distracted when we had so much to do. Brigham’s predatory, and I figured I was enough of a barrier to keep you safe.”
Kori smiled, her gaze full of awe. “You did. You should’ve seen Brigham’s face when Robin quoted his voicemail.”
“Yeah, what an idiot. He sounded drunk when he left it. I guess he just had to have his say.”
“I can’t believe he threatened you and your company. Your board must’ve been so afraid for its bottom line.”
Marshall snorted. “Bunch of wimps. I’m sorry they didn’t have faith in me—in us.”
She cupped his cheek. “You don’t have any regrets, do you? About leaving your company?”
Marshall kissed the tip of her nose and then softly brushed his lips over hers. “None. Although I’m sure they regret letting me go. Letting you go too, since wherever you go is where I want to be.”
Her full lips parted. Her mouth was driving him crazy. There were three words she hadn’t said, and he was torn as to whether to wait to hear them or just kiss her senseless.
“Marshall, are you sure?”
“Positive. Do you want to stay here?”
Kori shrugged. “I’m not married to here either way.”
“Okay, Kornelia, I can’t stand it anymore. You’ve kept me in suspense long enough. Now, you know I love you, how do you feel about me?” He pinned her with his sternest gaze, hoping she got the idea that he meant business.
She fingered his shirt and drew her finger around the curve of his mouth. His lips crashed into hers. She laughed. “I love you! I love you! I love you!”
He picked her up. “Finally,” he said with a growl, laying her on a table and placing firm kisses along her neck, his teeth nipping at her flesh.
“Stop!” she said, laughing. “Stop! I’m at work.”
He paused, his body angled over hers. “You want to work with me?”
“You mean for you?”
He shook his head. “I mean partners. I couldn’t be with you if you were my employee.”
She grinned, showing teeth. “What’s the compensation package?”
He looked down at his body. “Me, obviously.” She closed her eyes and laughed out loud, but he wasn’t embarrassed. “And it’ll be six figures, I promise. Right after we get it off the ground.”
She drew his face down to hers. “I accept, but I only want you.” She kissed him full on the mouth, and he savored the sweet flavor of her kiss.
Epilogue
