“I’m not complaining,” I assured her. “I love to watch you dance. You look very happy today.”
“And you look like you could use a ten a.m. beer.” She reached up and ran her palm over my cheek. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I promised her, covering her hand with mine. “I’m just a little shell-shocked from work.” I pulled her toward the door. “Let’s get an early lunch then come back here and make the most of my free afternoon.”
“How can I resist an offer like that?” she asked.
“Hopefully, you’ll never be able to resist me.”
“I don’t think you’re in danger of that ever happening.” She slipped on her shoes and snagged her purse before allowing me to usher her out and toward the elevator.
Chapter Nine
~ Laura ~
The next week was…bliss. I couldn’t say there wasn’t a thread of unease lingering off in the distance, a worry that my father or that guy he’d arranged would show up, but otherwise, all was good. When Luke wasn’t on the phone dealing with work issues, we were together. It didn’t matter what we were doing, seeing Las Vegas sights, having a fancy dinner, lounging on the couch watching TV or a movie, we were inches from each other. That didn’t change when we went to bed. I spent all day next to him and every night wrapped around him as he clutched me to him.
Right now, I was kind of at loose ends since he’d had to go into the office to finalize some crap about the permits that had gotten screwed up earlier this week. His brother had done something to smooth the way. I wasn’t sure what, except I’d heard Luke exclaim, “You did what?” this morning. A few minutes later, he’d rushed out with a quick, knee-buckling kiss and a promise he wouldn’t be too late.
I glanced around the large penthouse. There were boxes and parcels basically taking over the dining area. Since the things were here, I might as well get to making this place into a home. I’d decided to keep Luke’s furniture. It was sturdy and workable, but when I was done rearranging and adding my decretive flair, it wouldn’t look like the sterile unused home anymore. Gosh darn it, there would be color. Lots of it.
Like a kid at Christmas, I opened the first of the boxes. This one had come today, and I gasped in delight when I pulled back the flaps. I’d sent photos from my phone to one of those places that made wall prints out of the snaps. These were from my first couple days with Luke, so there wasn’t a big timeline, but it was the two of us together. Gathering all the canvases, I headed toward the bedroom. I was excited for making this place ours, but I hoped Luke wouldn’t regret giving me carte blanche.
A few hours later, I stood back and surveyed the living room. I’d gone with varying shades of blue—Luke’s favorite color. Overall, against the steel and glass, the geometric throw and decorative cushions added a warmth that had been missing. The modern-inspired landscape painting over the couch pulled it all together. I’d kept the clean, uncluttered lines, while carefully adding small conversation pieces and books here and there.
I was nodding to myself when I heard the door opening. Turning, I headed for it and threw myself into Luke’s arms as he entered. What a change from a week ago.
“Whoa!” he exclaimed, catching me with his free arm. My legs went around his waist as I kissed his face all over. His briefcase dropped to the floor with a loud thud and he cupped my ass with both hands. A second later, my back hit the wall as he caught my lips and kissed me deeply. I groaned, arching into him and rubbing my center against the hard ridge pressing into me.
“I missed you,” I breathed against his mouth in between kisses. My hands buried in soft, thick hair.
“I could come home to this every day.”
“Yes…” I hissed out as his mouth traveled down my neck.
“Marry me,” he grated against my shoulder.
My head jerked back and smacked into the wall. “What?”
Chuckling, he reached up and cupped the back of it. “Don’t do that. There’s precious perfection inside. We can’t have that brain of yours hurt. I love what you’ve done to the penthouse.”
“You haven’t even seen it.”
“Um, well…” He glanced up at the corner of the living room.
My eyes narrowed. “You have cameras watching me?”
“Protecting,” he clarified. “I had them put in while we were out last Wednesday.”
My eyes narrowed, brows drawing together, but I couldn’t even be mad. I knew he was…overly protective and possessive of me but he’d not once tried to control me. “We’ll talk about that in a little bit. Now, what did you just say?”
“Marry me.” Letting me to my feet, he stepped back and shoved a hand through his hair. “Look, I know you probably think it’s fast but—”
“Okay.”
“—I’ve wanted to make you completely mine since last week. Hell, longer than that…” He trailed off, his head cocking to the side. “What?”
“Okay.”
“Now?”
“What?” The word seemed to be a theme this afternoon.
“Let’s go and do it now.”
“Your family—”
He waved it off. “We’ll do a thing for them later. I just want you to be mine now then come back here and make love all night long.”
“Luke, I’m already yours.”
“Legally. I don’t want a single chance of someone trying to take you from me.”
“No one could. Wait… What are you saying? Is there something I don’t know?”
Luke sighed heavily. “There was a tracer on your car.”
“That really doesn’t surprise me,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “When did you find out?”
“The night I picked you up in Michigan,” he admitted.
I wanted to be angry at him for keeping that from me, but I wasn’t. This was one of those things he did, thinking he was
