‘Really, Logan!’ she pretended to be shocked. ‘Not in front of Dumbo!’ She pulled the grey ears over the pink face.
‘Dumbo!’ he scorned.
‘I loved that film, did you?’
He looked deliberately blasé. ‘I think I may have seen it in my youth.’
‘Oh yes?’ she mocked.
‘Yes. Really, Callie, I’m not sure I can take the transition from Charlotte Bronte to Walt Disney,’ he taunted.
Her happiness instantly faded, and the light died from her eyes. ‘I’m too young for you.’ She bit her lip.
‘Like me to prove you’re wrong?’
She swallowed hard, wanting to be the adult he wanted, that he needed. ‘Yes,’ she answered firmly.
‘Like to belong to me?’
‘Yes.’ Her head went back proudly.
‘Sure?’
‘Yes—’ This last affirmative came out in a sigh, and her head lowered as she looked at her hands.
‘Then so you shall.’ There was a movement behind her, and then Logan had joined her on the carpeted floor, taking the pink elephant out of her hands. ‘For you.’ He replaced the elephant with a small square jewellery box.
Her lashes flew upwards in surprise, searching Logan’s face, finding none of the hardness she had seen seconds earlier. ‘Is this— Have you—’
‘Open it.’
She did so with trembling fingers, and gasped at the emerald surrounded by diamonds—the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.
‘Here, let me.’ Logan took the ring from the box, discarding the latter on the floor and slipping the ring on the third finger of her left hand. ‘Perfect,’ he said with satisfaction, still holding her hand. ‘Do you like it?’
‘I love it!’ Callie looked down at it in awe. ‘But isn’t it—’
‘Perfect for my future wife,’ he told her arrogantly. ‘We can hardly be engaged without a ring, Callie.’
‘I didn’t know we were engaged.’ She couldn’t stop looking at the ring, sure it must have cost a small fortune.
‘Only for a week or two.’ His arms came about her. ‘Just until we can arrange the wedding.’
‘Won’t everyone be shocked at the rush we’re in?’ She snuggled into his arms.
‘They’ll be even more shocked if we don’t rush.’ He chuckled as she blushed. ‘I can hardly wait for the day you promise to love, honour, and obey me.’
‘I shall have obey left out of the service,’ she told him primly. ‘You have to promise to worship me with your body,’ she reminded shyly.
‘I already do.’
She suddenly felt as if she had too much, as if something were going to happen to take her happiness away from her, and she couldn’t repress the shiver of apprehension.
‘What is it?’ Logan was instantly sensitive to her mood, looking down at her. ‘Callie?’
‘You won’t ever leave me, will you?’ She clung to him. ‘I think I’d die without you now.’
‘You silly child—’