“Sebastian Bennett, are you asking me to work for you?” I pull myself straighter in his lap. Amazing. A few minutes ago, I had the distinct impression I was carrying a rock weighing a ton on my shoulders. Now? I could fly.
“Yes, I am. The team likes you, and you’re very good at what you do. Are you interested?”
“I don’t know.” Scrunching my nose, I massage my temples, pretending I’m thinking hard. “I have some requirements that must be fulfilled first.”
“Like what?”
“Like having my office far away from the CEO so I can actually get work done.”
“Absolutely not.”
“That was the easiest request.” I pinch his chest playfully.
“Why do I get the feeling I’ll say no to all of them?” He lowers his hands to my hips and then my thighs.
“You’ll jeopardize my work ethic.”
“Not at all. I’ll reward your efforts.” The hint of a smile plays on his lips. It’s my favorite one: sexy, with a dash of mischief.
“You’re quite good with rewards.”
“Am I?” He runs his thumb over my lower lip. “Say yes.” To my astonishment, there is a shadow of doubt in his eyes, like there’s a real chance I’ll say no. As if.
“Yes. Of course. I’ll—”
He drowns the rest of the words with a kiss that is as sweet as it is passionate. Tangling his
fingers in my hair, he pulls me to him with thinly disguised desperation. We both laugh after we break apart.
“Out of respect to my future employer, I must tell you I am not as brilliant as you think. I thought through one hundred scenarios, but working for you wasn’t one of them.”
“Thank God you agreed. If you didn’t come back with me to California, my family might have killed me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Pippa all but kicked me today. Logan joined Pippa in kicking me. Mom called to berate me. You’re not alone, you know. My family cares about you. Once you become a Bennett, you’re always a Bennett.”
“An adopted Bennett?” I ask hopefully.
“A real Bennett.”
He puts me down on the couch. Then he drops on one knee, pulling a jewelry box out of his pocket. When he opens the lid, my heart leaps in my chest.
“My ruby,” I whisper.
“Pippa turned the necklace into a ring today. Ava Lindt, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Yes.”
He slides the ring on my finger, and I can barely take my eyes off it. “It’s beautiful, Sebastian.”
We both rise to our feet, and he hooks an arm around my waist. Cupping my cheek in one hand, he laughs wholeheartedly, and I join him. “You complete me, Ava. Right from the beginning, something in you was beckoning to me. I can’t imagine going on without you.”
Too emotional for words, I rise on my tiptoes and plant a kiss right on the tip of his nose.
“I can’t believe you proposed to me when I haven’t showered, surrounded by a pile of boxes.”
“Oh, we’ll have to do a do-over in front of my family, don’t worry.”