Her smile blossomed too. ‘You grow the roses for me.’
He brushed his lips against hers and took a step backwards into the hall to close the door.
‘I have a graduation present for you.’ His breathing quickened.
‘I haven’t graduated yet.’
‘Mere technicality.’ He gifted her a teasingly light kiss. ‘I was going to give it to you when they were all here because I figured you couldn’t refuse it in front of everyone. But then I thought that wasn’t fair.’ He put his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out a box.
Her heart stopped. ‘Brad—’
‘Two years we’ve been together,’ he interrupted mock crossly. ‘Don’t you think it’s time you made an honest man of me?’ He opened the box.
She went hot and cold and hot again in a nanosecond.
His hands gripped her shoulders as if he knew she’d gone light-headed. ‘You can’t take advantage of me so long. Taking what you want, when you want it. Demanding all those pictures of me and treating me like some kind of sex object.’
‘And you’re not?’
He shook his head, his eyes dancing. ‘No, I need solid commitment from you. I want a public declaration. I want this rock flashing on your finger to show those pups at that law firm that you’re taken. And I want a family.’
‘Oh, you do?’ Her sass answer was totally undermined by her breathless gasp.
‘Yes.’
She took a moment to inhale a few times. ‘Got anything else to add to this list of demands?’
‘Speed,’ he snapped. ‘I want the big wedding as soon as possible. And one hell of a honeymoon. In fact—’ he drew breath ‘—I’ve already started planning it.’
‘The family?’ Her voice rose. She was still getting to grips with that idea. She’d thought he never wanted kids.
‘No, that part can wait ‘til after you’re crowned biggest fee earner at the firm and you’ve taken me on a round-the-world trip.’ His reply was tinged with laughter.
She didn’t care about being the biggest fee earner. She cared about her parents and him and everybody staying well and happy. So happy. ‘So it’s the honeymoon you’re planning?’
‘No, the wedding. I’ve decided on the flowers already.’ He winked.
She giggled. ‘Well, we know party planning is your niche. You should jack in the law practice and just do parties.’
‘Now, that wouldn’t be fair on my clients.’
‘No.’ She sobered and placed her palm on the side of his face in the gentlest caress. ‘They need you.’ He’d worked so hard mediating with Gage’s parents and the stepmother—finally hammering out a solution that had made that sombre-eyed boy so happy. She leaned closer. ‘I need you too. More than I can ever tell you.’
‘Same here.’ He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her right into his heat. ‘So that’s a yes to my proposal, then?’
She rested her head on his chest. Her big, strong playboy loved her no matter what, supported her no matter what, and together they could build it all. ‘Yes.’
‘It’s going to be one hell of a party, Mya,’ he whispered.
Yes. One that would last the rest of their lives.
***