Page 123 of Flirting with the CEO

He started to bend, but then the puppy started crying, and Colton instantly straightened up. Then he took the ring out of the box.

"It's so beautiful," I whispered. The diamond was huge. "That'swhy my parents left."

Colton smiled. "Zoey, I love you. I cannot put into words how much you mean to me. How much I care for you."

"Oh, I have an inkling. You’re my dream man.”

"And I will strive to be that every day for the rest of our lives. I'll show you the best I can be, how I feel about you."

He slid the ring on my finger. I cleared my throat. "You’re not going to pop the question? I think that comes before putting on the ring."

He swallowed hard. I realized he couldn't get the words out. Then he cleared his throat and asked, "Will you marry me?"

I opened my mouth, but now it was I who couldn't speak properly. I finally managed a strangled "Yes."

Colton sealed the deal, placing his mouth on mine with a kiss that put all others to shame.

I loved this man with every fiber of my being. Our life was so damn perfect. He was getting better at delegating lab work thanks to the systems I'd put in place, so I had him more to myself. Now we lived together and were engaged.

A sound pierced the air, breaking the magic. I stepped back, glancing at the puppy. Colton had put her down and she’d walked to the far edge of the island, and now she was looking down, clearly afraid of what was below her. Colton scooped her up with one hand, easily bringing her to us. The puppy lifted her paw, aiming it at me.

"She likes you more than me already," Colton said. Then, to my surprise, he pressed her tiny head to his cheek.

Oh, this is so adorable.

Holding the puppy in one arm, he pulled me close with the other and kissed me yet again. This time, it was even better. I rose on my toes, putting my arms around his neck. He kissed me until my legs shook. I pressed them together, feeling heat pool between my thighs. And then I felt something fluffy push between us.

I stepped back yet again, laughing. The puppy was wedging her head between us, clearly needing attention.

Colton chuckled. "I figured we’d all need time to adjust to one another," he said, looking directly at the puppy, "but I didn't imagine you’d be a cockblocker from day one."

I burst out laughing, covering the puppy's ears. "Hey, don't tell her that. She'll believe you."

"I wasn’t joking."

"Don't listen to him, little puppy. We love you already."

He snorted. “I’d love her even more if she hadn’t interrupted my speech.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You were kissing me.”

“I was getting to the important part. This is the best day of my life, Zoey. And I look forward to spending every single day of my life with you," he said.

I smiled, sighing. "I'm going to make you the happiest man on earth. I promise you."

The puppy wailed again, and I laughed, looking down at her. "I didn't want to agree with Colton, but you don't have great timing, do you? But we love you anyway. Can we call her Liv? I’ve always liked that name.”

“Sure.”

We spent the rest of the day in bed and taking care of Liv. In the evening, we went to Jeannie and Abe's house. They were heading to Martha's Vineyard for a month so she could relax a bit.

Jeannie greeted us at the door. "Oh, come in. I'm so glad you made it. Congratulations on your engagement! And you brought Liv with you."

We'd FaceTimed before coming over, just to make sure it was okay, and Jeannie instantly noticed the ring.

She smiled at Colton. "You're going to make this woman so happy."

My heart sighed. I completely agreed with her.

---