Page 59 of Zane

"I-I panicked."

Clamping his hands on her shoulders, he turned her to face him. "Let's straighten some things out, shall we? This is me. I live here and it's home to me. I don't want fancy trappings. I spent my life living in the lap of luxury and decided it didn't suit me."

He shrugged. "I'm the heir to a fortune, and I'm not saying I despise money. I don't. It has its uses. But I'm not going to let it control me or allow it to make me think I'm better than anyone else."

"I live life my own way. I have tattoos because I wanted them and I bloody well do as I please. That said-" He paused, studying her face and feeling the yearning that had been with him ever since he met her.

"That said, ever since I met you, things have changed for me. My perspective is different. I'm not going to change for you, but I'm willing to compromise. I'm in love with you-" He stopped and smiled grimly when she jolted, her eyes going wide.

"I felt something from the very first time I saw you and the feeling just increased." His hands drifted to her throat and upward to cup her cheeks. "You hurt me that last time we were together and made me consider changing my entire lifestyle. But I want you to accept me for who I am, just as I'm prepared to accept you for who you are. And I want you to marry me. What do you have to say to that?"

Kara wondered if he could hear how much her heart was thundering. The sound of it was drowning out everything else.

"Zane." She had to swallow the lump in her throat. "I-we barely know each other."

"That's not an answer, and we can remedy that starting now. Will you marry me?" His expression gentled. "I cannot settle for anything else. I want it all. I want to be there for you, to see your face when I wake up each morning."

His thumbs caressed her smooth cheeks. "I want to be your protector, your best friend and the person who holds you when you're feeling sad. I met with your mother today."

She blinked. "What?"

"I saw your mother today. I had to set her straight on some things."

Kara stared at him dazedly and wondered if she was dreaming. "You-you spoke to my mother."

He nodded.

Understanding dawned and had her eyes widening. "That would account for the very strange phone call I received from her this afternoon, right before I left the office."

"Oh?" He lifted his brows as he waited for her to explain further.

"She wanted to apologize and wish me all the best. She also said she would not be questioning my choices again, and that everything she ever did was because she loved me." Her hands crept up his chest as she tilted her head to stare at him.

"You did that. You made her call. What did you say to her?"

"I persuaded her in my own way to reconsider her position when it comes to you and me." He did not bother to tell her about the threats. After all, the woman was her mother and soon to be his mother-in-law.

"Zane, this is crazy."

"Do you love me?"

"I-" She closed her eyes briefly. "Yes. I'm in love with you. But-"

"We're going to leave it at that."

"But the time-what will people say? And your parents-I've never even met them."

"You will on Sunday. We're going there for dinner."

Her hands curled into his sweater. "What if they don't like me?"

"They will."

"What if they don't think I'm good enough?"

His lips curled into a smile. "They'll probably think you're too good for me."

She gasped when he suddenly swung her into his arms.