“They were more like interviews than dates,” he said, “and it was my cousin Neil’s idea. See, if I don’t get married, all the rest of my uncle’s money goes to charity instead of me. I’d be fine with that, honestly; it’s not like I need it. But Neil would definitely rather I have it, so he can keep wheedling little bits of it out of me over the years, like he’s been doing ever since I got the first million. So, a couple years ago he started trying to find a woman for me. I wasn’t opposed to meeting someone, so I just let him have his fun, thinking maybe something would come out of it. My only stipulation was that he not tell my dates anything about the money. But it didn’t matter. I never liked any of the girls he picked out for me very much. Certainly not enough to marry them. And not the way I like you.”
Now Lucy was starting to sweat. “Are you…I mean, is this…what…?” She swallowed and tried again, but the words still wouldn’t come out.
Aaron picked up her hand, his thumb stroking her fingers. “When I invited you to dinner the other week, Lucy, I was hoping it’d be the start of something serious. A relationship. I still want that. I’ll be honest, though. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about marriage. Seeing how close I was to my birthday, and that you and I had never even gone out yet, I’d basically just decided to write off the whole wedding goal. I didn’t want to rush into anything that major just to get my hands on more money. But now, after everything that’s happened lately…” He tightened his grip on her hand, looking at her intently. “Well, I don’t know where I’m ever going to find anyone else quite as perfect for me as you.”
Lucy’s temperature shot up another degree. “What are you saying, Aaron?”
“That maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to try and make the deadline. What do you think? We can date for a little while, get to know each other even better than we already do, and then in a few months, if things are still working out, maybe you’ll pencil in a week in your planner to fly to Vegas with me? Become Mrs. Aaron Ames? How does that sound?”
Lucy gawked at him. “How do you know I won’t just marry you for the money?”
“Because I know you would never do something like that.” When she looked at him inquisitively, he went on, “You want to know why Ava dumped me? The second time, anyway? It was because I’d told her about my plan to quit Acray-Sys, and she hated it. She thought I was throwing everything away, that I was going to end up in the gutter or something.” A soft chuckle punctuated the last sentence.
“You mean, she didn’t know about your inheritance?”
“Nope. And I didn’t want her to. I tried to reassure her, though. I didn’t get specific, but I told her she didn’t need to worry. I had plenty of money to live off of, and to maybe support a family someday, if that’s where things ended up between us. But hearing that didn’t change her mind. So, that’s what we argued about. I figured it wasn’t an insurmountable problem, and that eventually I’d get her to come around, but then…while I was at the Red Palm that night, we talked on the phone, and she gave me another earful about what a dumb decision she thought I was making.”
He caressed Lucy’s hand, gently stroking each of her fingers. “Look, it’s not like I think Ava’s the devil or anything, but we’re obviously not on the same page about things that are pretty important. For her, it isn’t only about the money. Dating a manager on the corporate fast track just seems a lot more appealing to her than being with some bartender at a gastro-pub.” He lifted his free hand in a relinquishing gesture. “I can’t fault her for wanting whatever she wants. But when I told you what I was doing, you were just happy for me. The only time you seemed sad was when you said you would miss me.” He smiled at the memory. “You didn’t ask me about money or seem to care what I was giving up. In fact, you’ve never seemed to care about anything like that, and, believe me, I’ve been paying attention.” A sparkle ignited in his eyes. “And, come on, let’s not forget you risked your life to save me from getting stuck as a vampire. That was before you knew I had a cent to my name. So, yeah, I think I’ve gotten a pretty good glimpse of your character, Lucinda Booth, and I like what I see. I think I can count on you to have my back in just about any situation, supernatural or otherwise.” His mouth tilted into an adorably crooked grin. “Also, I think you might have a thing for me.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” Lucy laughed.
“Maybe just a little bit?” He held up his thumb and forefinger, pinching at the air.
Lucy felt an answering grin breaking out over her face and assumed she looked completely goofy, but she couldn’t help it. And she didn’t really care. Her head was abuzz with excitement, her heart dancing with joy. “I’m in love with you,” she said. “I have been for, like, the past six months!”
“Six months? You mean it took you two whole months to fall in love with me?”
“Okay, maybe it’s been more like seven months.”
He was chuckling as he leaned in and finally touched his lips to hers. His kiss was everything Lucy had remembered and more. His mouth was warm, his lips firm but soft, and Lucy’s eyes fluttered closed as her body started to melt into the bench beneath her.
“Mmm,” he said against her mouth, the whisper of his breath making
