Page 38 of All Fall Down

“You aren’t going to let this go, are you, West?” I push onto my tiptoes and give him a soft kiss.

“That wasn’t an answer.” Before we can continue to debate our relationship in philosophical terms, his phone rings again.

“Go on and take it,” I urge him. “I’ll still be here when you get back.”

He hesitates long enough that the phone goes to voicemail.

“Just one thing.” His arms fall away from me, and, a moment later, he retrieves something from his pocket.

“Technically you said yes, Duchess,” he says as he pops open the ring box.

“Listen,” I say, pulling away. “Your mom demanded we come home, probably because she wants to make sure we didn’t go to New York to elope. I don’t want to give her a heart attack.”

“Believe me. My mother has endured far worse shocks than this.” He ignores my protest and slips the platinum band onto my ring finger.

“The tabloids are going to have a field day with this,” I warn him.

“Let them.” And for the first time today, a genuine grin brightens his handsome face. “I want the world to know you belong to me.”

“Belong, huh? They think I’m a blood-thirsty, psychopathic gold-digger. I think the world assumes you belong to me.”

His laughter dissipates the tension in the air. “Then they’ll know you’re my psychopathic gold-digger.”