Page 21 of Fiancé for Hire

Edward chuckled and waved him off. “Ah, man it’s nothing. I’m over here talking trash.”

“Yeah, well your trash-talking is about to get your ass—”

“Dre,” Antika said, the word snapping through the air like a whip. She placed a hand on his chest, effectively quieting him.

The heat from her touch through his linen shirt was like some calming elixir, settling him down. Drevon’s gaze met her eyes.

Ignore him, please, she mouthed, then gave him a shaky smile.

It was clear the asshole’s words had bothered her, and Drevon couldn’t let Edward get away with that shit. Antika was a very desirable woman, and she deserved to feel like one. He had to say or do something, and he needed to do it now to shut the jerk up once and for all.

Without overthinking his next move, Drevon reached for Antika’s hand and held it within his.

“I hadn’t planned to do this just yet,” he said as he dropped down on one knee, “but there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”

ChapterEleven

Drevon stuck his hand into the front pocket of his pants and wrapped his fingers around his diamond pinky ring. He had put it there earlier before lotioning his hands.

What he was about to do might go down as being the stupidest thing he’d ever done, but he was going to do it anyway. He hated when guys bullied or belittled women, and he especially hated that the jerk’s words had hurt Antika.

Down on one knee, Drevon gazed up at Antika. Her eyes were as round as dinner plates, and her chest heaved. But then she narrowed her eyes slightly as if to ask:what the hell are you doing?

He ignored the daggers she was now shooting at him and pulled the ring from his pocket. It was by no means a typical engagement ring, but it was a white gold band laden with more small diamonds than anyone in that room had ever seen.

Antika and a few others gasped when he held it up.

Her free hand hovered near her mouth. “Dre, what are you doing?” she murmured, and it almost sounded like a warning, but he ignored that, too.

“Antika, from the moment you walked into my life, I knew you were different…special,” he said, smiling as he recalled her telling his aunt that he wasn’t what she’d requested. “You’re one of the most beautiful, amazing women I’ve ever met. Add that to your kind heart and quick wit, and that makes you the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”

She stared at him as if he was a Martian dropped down on planet earth. She had every reason to think that he was crazy, but at least this would shut Edward up.

When she hesitated too long, Drevon grinned and tugged on her hand that he was still holding. “Come on, babe, don’t leave me hanging here.”

Considering this wasn’t a part of their “fake relationship” plan, he wasn’t sure what she’d say or what he wanted her to say.

Wait. That wasn’t true.He wanted her to sayyes. Otherwise, he was going to look like a damn fool.

And as if reading his mind, Antika said, “Yes.”

She nodded and her grin matched his. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Cheers went up around the room, jarring Drevon, since he’d temporarily forgotten that they weren’t alone. His attention was on Antika as he stood and cradled her gorgeous face between his hands.

Might as well get this awkward first engaged kiss out of the way.

His mouth covered hers, and within seconds, he got lost in the softness of her lips. The kiss was like soldering heat that melted metals together, and he couldn’t pull away from her even if he wanted to.

And at that moment, he definitely didn’t want to.

As his tongue swept into her mouth, she tasted as sweet as he assumed she would. He’d wanted to kiss her at lunch the other day, but thought making a move like that would scare her off. Now that he was getting the chance, warmth spread through his body and ignited a need that he hadn’t felt in a while.

Drevon savored every stroke of her tongue, but if they didn’t stop, they were going to give her coworkers more of a show than was probably allowed at her job.

He eased his mouth from hers, but their lips were still only inches apart. “Can you get away for lunch?” he asked.

“Yes! Yes, she can,” Megan yelled, and Drevon laughed. “Antika, I’ll reschedule any calls or meetings you have this afternoon. If there are any that I can’t change, I’ll call you.”

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