Page 103 of His Deadly Lies

His eyes light as he presses the screen, and “Glory Days” starts to play. He carefully sets the phone down on his empty lounge chair and holds out his hand for me. I stare at it, and my mind goes blank.

“Get your sexy ass over here, Mia Balestra,” he says in an undertone, the words laced with heat.

“Are you serious?” I ask with a laugh. But there I go, reaching for his calloused palm and pressing mine against it, allowing him to draw me up.

Winding myself around him as he moves me in time with the music. Laughing, he spins me around in a circle before grabbing my hips and pressing himself against me.

“I never would have pegged you for a closet romantic.” I lean my cheek to his chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart.

“There are a lot of secrets about me that I thought you’d have figured out by now,” he murmurs. “You miss nothing with those eagle eyes of yours. Somehow you managed to miss the fact that I am Mr. Romance.”

“It’s a gift. But yes, I missed it.”

He spins me around in a second circle, and by the time I complete the circuit, Carter has dropped to his knee in the sand.

“You’re kidding me. You know we’re already engaged,” I tease. My heart starts to thud loudly, though.

“You deserve it done right. By a man who adores you rather than a man you have to marry.” He gestures with his nose toward the engagement ring. “That piece does belong to my family, it’s true. But it wasn’t given to you by me. It wasn’t placed on your finger by me.”

“Oh, I still have to marry you. It’s not my choice at all.” I’m deadpan, which he only semi-appreciates. “Papa insists on the merger.”

“I’ve come to know you well enough to know that when the chips fall, you won’t do anything if you have a strong enough objection. And I’m frankly shocked your eagle eyes missed this as well.” He reaches into his other pocket and drags out a black velvet box.

He’s not the only sap here.

I’m feeling just as emotional as he looks, fighting against the urge to lift my hands to my mouth in shock as he pries open the box. Nestled inside is a ruby surrounded by two smaller diamonds, all rough cut rather than the polished solitaire already on my hand.

“You’re too wild for a traditional ring,” Carter continues. “Too unconventional for anything like that. I thought you deserved something new. Special.”

“When did you manage to do this? I thought I’d kept you in my sight at all times.” Shit, even my throat has clogged.

It’s a beautiful ring.

Not something I would have ever thought to pick for myself but absolutely perfect nonetheless.

“Run our business beside me, Mia,” Carter continues as he takes the ring and reaches for my hand, gently removing the band I have and replacing it with the ruby. “Be your sexy, badass, smart self. Be any kind of woman you are or want to be, and know that I’m going to be with you through it all. We’re going to grow together the same way you’ll grow one day with our babies, making new life.”

“You’re such an asshole.” I drop to my knees in front of him and pry my fingers from his, taking hold of his face.

“Why am I an asshole?” He cocks his head to the side.

“Because you’re making me fucking cry.”

He smooths his thumb beneath my eye. “I know. But good tears. Right?”

“This time,” I warn.

“Say yes, Mia. Say yes, and let’s do this right,” Carter urges.

The song is just winding down, and together on this horribly perfect beach, I can’t think of a better way to kick off our lives together.

“Yes.” I punctuate my agreement with a searing kiss. “Yes, Carter Vittorio, I’ll marry you. I’ll bury our enemies with you. I’ll build this empire with you.”

“I love it when you talk about burying our enemies.” He swoops his arm around my midsection and drags me against him. “It gets me all hot.”

“That’s the sun.”

“It’s you, smart-ass.”

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