“Just a man who fell in love with your daughter while she was in my country,” Magnus finishes for me.
“I see,” Mom says slowly.
“Well, I don’t,” Dad says, giving Magnus a speculative look, then turning to me. “What exactly were you two up to in this Monte Carlo?”
“We were—” My gaze drops, unable to look any of them in the eye.
As I stare down at my lap, my insides revolt in protest: my toes, which flex in my shoes, ready to shoot me out of the seat to shout it to the heavens; my brain, which berates me like a drill sergeant for cowering in this manner. They all remind me.
I’m no guppy.
My head rises, and I turn to my mother. “It just happened. I didn’t mean for it to, but here we are.”
“So…does this mean you feel the same way about him, Sloane?” Dad asks.
I turn to him with just as defiant a look.
Then, I turn to Magnus, who already sees the shark that I’ve become.
“Yes. I love him.”
Chapter Sixty-Two Magnus
ONE YEAR LATER
“This offer is far too generous,” Sloane protests, looking at the sheet in front of her. She lifts her eyes and gives me an incredulous look. “You might as well just wrap the money in Christmas paper and stick it under the tree.”
We’re in the office we now share looking over the latest prospects who might just be the beneficiaries of the revamped Magnus Venture Capital. Having spent the first half of my career destroying people and companies, it feels good to provide funding to start-up businesses and charities instead.
As I watch Sloane get worked up over this, I think about the other thing that is different—I now have someone by my side.
It took less than a month for her to pack up her life in New York and move here to be with me in Monte Carlo, surprisingly, with her parents’ blessing. That night at the restaurant brought them to the starting line. The way I properly courted their daughter after the fact was enough to finally convince them.
We’ve managed to get them to visit a few times. This last time, her father rode the winding streets of Monte Carlo on my Harley Davidson. Sloane nearly killed me for that one, but it did get him to consider part-time retirement as an option if only to discover what other excitement there is in the world.
Theo works for us in the New York office, mostly handling computer security. I’ve made sure he has a long leash to work on his own projects, several of which I was more than happy to fund financially. The man truly is a damn genius.
“It’s a solid company with amazing growth potential,” I counter, getting back into the debate.
“They’ve only been in business a year and show no profit.”
“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood the “Venture” portion of the name of Magnus Venture Capital.”
She tilts her head and glares at me. God, she’s gorgeous when she’s fired up. “Are you seriously trying to school me?”
“Maybe you need a little schooling,” I say with a grin. “Should I get the ruler out to spank you?”
She coughs out a laugh. “Just for that, I’m taking an extra-long lunch.”
“You know I can still fire you.”
“Do it,” she says with a grin, she leans back in her chair and seductively releases the top button of her blouse. “Because I know exactly how to get my job back.”
That gets a laugh out of me. “I beginning to suspect the only reason you don’t have your own desk in here is so you can tease me by sitting across from me.”
“Why Magnus, whatever do you mean?” she purrs, slowly and sensually crossing one leg over the other like something straight out of that movie Basic Instinct. Too bad Sloane is actually wearing underwear.
I laugh again and slowly shake my head. She never ceases to surprise me, even now.
“But really,” I say, getting serious. “This is just as much your office as it is mine.”
She considers me for a long moment. “I do like sitting here. We work better this way.”
“You could position yours across from me.”
“Then, I’d be too far away from you.”
It’s the almost tender look on her face as she stares at me that does it. A look that assures me she never wants me to let her go again.
I’d been waiting for the right time, knowing it would eventually come. Even though Sloane and I are more inseparable than ever, I want something more.
I surreptitiously open my desk drawer where the box has been stored since she moved to Monte Carlo almost a year ago. I knew doing this too soon would never work. Sloane is like me, not so easily tamed.
Now, I’m more confident than ever that this is the right time.
“Well, we can’t have that,” I say, rising up from my chair.
A crooked smile forms on her lips as she watches me round the desk, wondering what the hell I’m up to.
She’s not the only one full of surprises.
When I fall to one knee before her, her eyes go wide. The look on her face is quickly replaced by pure joy when she realizes what I’m about to do.
“Sloane, will you do me the honor of staying by my side forever?” I say, opening the small box.
I can read her answer before she even says the words…
Chapter Sixty-Three Sloane
“I do.”
I hear the cheers, applause, and laughter as the final vow is said.
It’s the wedding event of the year for Monaco.
Which is saying something.
Along with family, the guest list is The Who’s Who of almost every industry from business to entertainment, and even a few members of royalty—as well as a former Pirate and his very fascinating fiancée.
But Magnus and I only have eyes for each other as our lips connect in a kiss. Our first as husband and wife. Even as the cheers grow louder around us, we savor it for a bit too long.
When we separate, we
