His eyes widened, the darkness sparkling. “You mean?”
“Yeah. Let’s make it an engagement ring. If that’s what you want.”
“Oh, baby.” He kissed her lips hard. “I’m going to be a gentleman and do this right. Stand up.”
Annie rose and Dallas knelt before her, taking her left hand in his. “Annalisa DeSimone, I love you with all my heart. Will you be my wife?”
Tears of joy flowed as Annie knelt down to face Dallas. “I love you too. Yes, I would be honored to be your wife.”
Dallas slipped the ring onto Annie’s finger. “A perfect fit.” He smiled. “I knew it would be.”
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“Me too,” Annie said. “A perfect fit.”
Jet panted and wiggled around them. “How long did you make this poor dog sit out here on my stoop?”
“Long enough for Dusty to get you out the door.”
“Tyrant.” She clasped her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God. When I opened your note, something fell out. Was it…?”
“Yeah, it was the ring.”
“You put an antique diamond ring around a dog’s neck?”
“I’m no dummy. I know you can’t resist Jet.”
“You’re no dummy?” Annie laughed. “I can see we’re going to have to have a little talk about priceless objects and their care.”
“I don’t put much stock in things, Doc, although this ring does mean a lot to me, since it was my grandma’s.”
“I’ll take excellent care of it,” Annie said. “I promise never to put it around a dog’s neck. In fact, I promise never to take it off.”
“Then it will be exactly where it belongs.” Dallas stood and pulled Annie to her feet. “And now I’m going to make love to you, my beautiful wife-to-be. I can’t wait any longer. So go get rid of Dusty.”
“I can’t just kick her out.”
“I can.”
“Dallas!”
Annie stood helplessly on her stoop for less than a minute before Dusty came rushing out.
Annie opened her mouth to speak, but Dusty shushed her. “Don’t say a word. I understand completely.” She pulled Annie into a hug. “I’m so happy for both of you. Bye.”
When Annie entered the bedroom, Dallas was already lying on the bed. Naked. Her breath caught. She would never tire of the beautiful, magnificent sight of him. She undressed slowly and provocatively, purposefully tormenting him.
“You’re killing me, Doc.”
“I know. I love this power I have over you.”
“Get your pretty self over here. Now.”
“Ah. Exerting husbandly authority already, are we?”
When she had finally disrobed completely, he pulled her onto the bed. “I’m going to love you until dawn,” he whispered.
Annie climbed on top of him and impaled herself, easing down slowly, the sweet stroke of him completing her. “Only until dawn, huh?” Her words were a breathless rasp. “I’m going to love you forever, Cowboy.”