Page 77 of Bad Boy Billionaire Protector

“So much nicer than back in Stanford.”

“You seem so much more relaxed now that you’re here.”

She let out a deep breath and smiled at me. “I am. I’m just relieved that all the bad times are finally over. I can put that part of my life behind me and start afresh. Mom and dad are happy that I’m here with you, Jackson is happy. I’m happy.”

“Good. I’m glad. I’m happy that you decided to transfer to UC San Diego.”

“Well, of course, I wanted to be close to you.”

I put my hand out and helped her to her feet.

“I’m glad. Walk with me?”

We walked along the beach at the ocean’s edge hand in hand. She rubbed my fingers with her thumb.

“I never dreamt I’d be here by the ocean with the man of my dreams.”

I smiled over at her. “When I took the undercover assignment, I had no idea what would happen. I never expected to meet anyone- never mind you, the perfect woman.”

“Now we both sound really cheesy,” she chuckled.

I laughed with her. “Cheesy, but truthful.”

“Yeah. Nothing but the truth, so help me God.”

I stopped and put my hand on her face, tracing a line down from her temple to her chin. She looked at me with doe eyes, the kind of eyes you could fall into and never come out the same again.

“I never want to lose you. I nearly lost you twice – once because of my lies and the second time because you nearly died. My heart can’t take losing you a third time.”

“Where has this come from? You’re not going to lose me.”

“Well, I want to make sure of that.”

I went down on one knee, taking her hand and holding it out in front of me. Her eyebrows shot up.

“What are you doing, Mason?”

I took a small box out of my shorts pocket and opened it. Inside was a white gold engagement ring with a huge princess cut central diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds.

“I love you more than anything in the world. I think I’ve known from the very beginning that I wanted you in my life forever. Amber, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Her mouth dropped open and then a huge grin spread across her face.

“Yes! Of course, I will. Yes, yes, yes!”

Also grinning, and my heart in my mouth, I slid the ring on to her finger. It fit perfectly.

I stood and picked her up and whirled her around in my arms. She clasped her hands around my neck and kissed me deeply. I responded in kind. She had just made me the happiest man alive. I was never going to let her go again.

Chapter 37 – Mason

Threedayslaterwearrived on Naxos and a driver drove along the winding narrow roads up along the hillside that led to my villa. We were meeting my family later in the day, so I thought it would be nice to show Amber my own villa before we headed up to the family’s villa later for dinner.

Amber stepped out of the car and looked around in wonder. “Wow, this is such a beautiful part of the world.” She marveled at the white buildings with blue accents and the way the waves crashed against the rocks on the promontory the villa was situated on. Down some winding steps was a private beach.

I slipped my arm around Amber’s waist and kissed her before we went inside the villa. It was a traditional Grecian stone villa with whitewashed walls, small wooden framed windows and doors, all painted in various shades of blue. It had five bedrooms, many of them with private balconies that overlooked the ocean side. Inside the spacious hall, the color combination continued and my staff had arranged for the villa to be fully stocked with food and drink for us. Inside the huge kitchen on the island countertop, there was a welcome basket with bread, eggs, baklava and ouzo, the potent aniseed drink famed throughout Greece.

“I love your villa, Mason. It’s so beautiful. I wish we could live here!”

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