“What?” Victor asks. I shrug one shoulder.
“I was really beginning to think Arden was a vampire, but you just made him human. I’m a little disappointed.”
Victor chuckles and takes a sip of his wine. “I never said he was human, though. Did I?”
He arches an eyebrow at me and I squint at him, trying to figure out if he’s joking or not. I huff and shake my head.Wouldn’t that be something? If vampires really did exist.I’ve seen Arden in the daytime, even if it hasn’t been often. They definitely don’t sparkle if he is one.
“Why did you move Lane to the nightclub?” I move around the island and climb back onto my chair while Victor leans against the counter, waiting for the food to finish heating.
“Because it will keep him busy and he’ll be watched.”
My heart begins to thud in my chest. “Do you think he’s dangerous?”
Victor shakes his head. “I don’t know, but something didn’t sit right with me the first day you got the flowers. He didn’t notifyme about the flowers. I had no idea until you called me. He should have let me know immediately.”
I set my wineglass down and think through this, rubbing my thumbnail along my index finger. I don’t realize I’m doing it until I see Victor watching me, then I stop and take a deep breath. “How would he know the flowers were for me? It could have been a delivery for someone else.”
“Because James found out who they were for before he let the delivery guy upstairs and Lane said it was fine.” Victor runs his hand over his head and takes a deep breath. “When I called Lane, he said he was following the delivery guy back to the flower shop to find out more information, but he didn’t find out anything. Julian was able to get more information than Lane was. Since I don’t know for sure, I removed him.”
“Was he upset?” I ask.
“He wasn’t the happiest about it, but he didn’t fight me. That’s why I’m having him watched to see if my hesitation about him is warranted or if he made a bad judgment call. He is young, and he’s not as experienced as Leo or Arden, but when it comes to your life, I’m not willing to take chances.”
I smile as warmth spreads through my chest. “Thank you for taking care of me,” I tell him.
He walks over to me and turns my stool so he can stand between my legs. “I will always take care of you. Always.” It’s a promise. He steps back and studies me for a moment. “Now, we need to talk about what happened today.”
Nerves flutter in my stomach because I’m not sure where this conversation will go. So, I simply nod, waiting to see what he’s going to say. He rubs his hands up and down my thighs, pushing my dress up slightly. I’m reminded of how wet I still am from the makeout session we had in the garage.
“I like where Bailey was coming from regarding staking my claim to you in a very public way.” My mouth drops open, notexpecting him to say that. “I didn’t like your response, though.” I close my mouth and swallow, not sure how to respond. When he doesn’t say anything else, I know he’s waiting.
“I haven’t told them. Well, I told Ansley, but that’s because I needed someone to talk to.” I lift one shoulder. “Everyone in your life knows about us, but my friends don’t. So, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to respond.” I murmur.
He nods in contemplation, his eyes never leaving me. “Well, we’ve now established that you belong to me. I am not ashamed of that. I am sorry I haven’t addressed this before now, but that is also why I reminded you about your journal. There might be times you’ll need to tell me things that are hard to say. So, use your journal.”
I nod and push my hair behind my ear. “Okay. I will.”
“Good. I’m sure Donovan has seen us together. It’s not like I’ve been secretive about us at my pub or outside your office building. I have a feeling he’s seen something recently between us that made him show himself. That, on top of you returning the flowers, has pissed him off.” He rubs his hands up and down my thighs again, pushing my dress up further. I swallow, trying to focus on his words and not what his hands are doing.
“So.” He turns my chair again so my back is against the island and drops to his knee. He pulls something out of his pocket and I realize it’s a small black box. My eyes widen and I bring my hands up to my mouth. “Will you marry me?” he asks. I look from his green eyes to the ring and back.
I nod. “Yes.” My voice is hushed, but I’m in shock. He smirks and stands. Taking the ring out of the box, he removes my hands from my mouth and takes my left hand in his, slipping the ring on to my ring finger. I stare at it. “It’s so beautiful.” It’s an oval cut diamond, and the band is encased in diamonds as well. I look up at him and smile.
He cups my face and leans down to kiss me. “We’ll be getting married in one month.”
“What?” The timer on the oven goes off, indicating the food is done warming up. “You were that sure I was going to say yes?” He chuckles as he steps back and walks over to the oven. Grabbing an oven mitt, he takes the dish out and places it on a pot holder. I turn my chair around and stare after him. When he turns to face me again, he has a smirk on his face that makes me want to kiss him.
“Me asking was a courtesy. Regardless, you and I were going to get married one month from today.” Victor’s voice drops to that octave I love so much, and I can’t help but grin at his confidence.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing I wasn’t going to say no.”
He shakes his head at me in amusement. “That is a good thing.” Victor grabs a knife and begins to cut up what I’m now realizing is lasagna. “Grab the salad out of the fridge and the dressing.” Hopping off my chair, I admire my ring as I do as he says. I smile to myself at how nonchalant that wedding proposal was. Some women would want more. Maybe at a fancy restaurant or on vacation, but this is what I needed.
It’s the next step in our relationship that solidifies what he told me in the garage. I grab the salad and dressing, turning toward him. “I need to ask one thing,” I say as I close the fridge and place the salad on the island in front of our plates. He nods at me as he grabs my plate and places lasagna on it. “You’re not asking me to marry you because of Donovan. Right?”
Victor pauses as he puts lasagna on his plate, but he finishes, then places it back on the island before turning and giving me his full attention. He walks to me and places his hands on either side of my neck, his thumbs rubbing along my jaw. “I bought that ring the day after we signed the contract. Have I struggled with the thought of being married again? Yes. That’s why it’s taken me this long to ask you. But you’ve been mine since that day.Before that day really, but the day we signed the contract made it official.”
I stare up at him. There’s probably a goofy smile on my face, but I don’t care. He kisses me and it’s so sweet I might cry again. He steps back and releases me.
