Page 116 of Lovestrung

I tensed up at once.

“What kind of deal?”

“Well, if you still haven’t found a place in two months, you’ll let me ask Luke to help you out.”

I narrowed my eyes at him and extended my hand. “You’re on.”

He grinned and nodded as he shook my hand.

“Good. And…”

“Oh, lord, what now?” I looked at the ceiling, ready for this conversation to be well and truly over.

He laughed. “Come on, it’s nothing dangerous.”

I raised my hand and covered my eyes which only made him laugh harder. I loved the sound so much, I couldn’t help the small smile that wanted to break free from spreading on my lips. I peeked through my fingers.

“What is it, then?”

His laughter died down, and I felt a tingling in my lady bits when the tenderness returned.

“When you’ve lived on your own for six months, I’m going to ask you to marry me.”

My legs buckled as the world shifted, and if he hadn’t still had his arms around me, I’d have fallen dap smack on my head.

“And you’re going to say yes,” he continued, completely ignoring my state of duress.

“What?!” I shrieked.

He kissed the tip of my nose again. “That’s settled.”

“Absolutely not! You’re insane.”

He grinned down at me. “Not insane, darlin’. I’ve got the woman of my dreams – the only woman I’ve ever loved and wanted to call mine – in my arms, and I’m not letting her go.”

Exasperated, I shook my head. “You’re too cocky for your own good.”

His smile died out. “I prefer calling it confidence.”

I chuckled and smoothed the hair that always seemed to fall into his eyes. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me?”

I snorted. “I already do, and I always will, you doofus.”

“That’s all I need, darlin’. Everything else? It’s just details.”

As he bent down to kiss me, I silently vowed that there was no way he was going to get his way. I wasn’t going to move in with him. I wanted time to simply be with him. I wanted it badly.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered against my lips, “we’ve got all the time in the world.”

“It’s like you’re reading my mind right now.”

He rubbed his lips across mine before he leaned away.

“I’ve known you practically all my life, Penelope Montgomery. I can tell when you’re secretly freaking out.” His hands ran down my spine and splayed on my ass, giving it a good squeeze. “And while I do want to raise a family with you one day, I want to be selfish and keep you all to myself for at least a couple of years.”

I sighed. “Fine. I won’t freak out. But if you’re under the illusion that kind of proposal is good enough for me? You have another think coming.”