“You deserve them.” She nipped his lips.
He slid a hand along her cheek. “I’m okay, beautiful. I promise.”
She smiled. “I know.”
God, he looked handsome. After the mild weather of the weekend, the British weather had changed its mind. It was cold again. She was wrapped in her favorite camel-colored coat, while Bennett wore a navy-blue three-quarter length coat that looked hot on him.
“All I want is you,” he murmured.
“Well, luckily you’ve got me.”
He slid an arm around her and cupped her ass. “By the way, I’m planning on buying you a country estate.”
She groaned. “I don’t need a country estate.”
“And I’m getting you a Bentley Continental GT. I know you liked it.”
“I don’t need a car either.”
“And I’ll never stop getting you more jewelry.”
Her nose wrinkled. “I won’t say no to all the jewelry. Within limits.” A woman was only so strong.
“Soon, that jewelry is going to include a ring.” He grabbed her left hand and her chest hitched. “I know we don’t have all the logistics worked out yet.” He stroked her ring finger. “But I can’t wait to declare to the world that you’re mine.”
Her heart melted. “Bennett.”
He kissed her, pedestrians flowing around them.
“Hadley?” a female voice clipped.
They pulled back, and Hadley suppressed a groan. “Mother.”
She saw both her mother and father standing there. As always, they were impeccably dressed. Her father was in a gray suit, and her mother was wearing a long, olive-green dress and a black coat. They’d clearly been at some sort of appointment.
“I didn’t expect to find you…cavorting on the street.” Her mother’s disapproval was clear. Like Hadley had been having naked sex in the gutter.
She suppressed an eye roll. “It’s called kissing, Mother. It’s perfectly legal, and people do it all the time.”
“You’ve been avoiding my calls,” her mother said frostily.
Hadley sighed. “I’ve been working.”
“And are you working now?”
“Mother—”
“Really, carrying on like this in public is unseemly, Hadley.”
Hadley didn’t really care. Her parents’ opinions had ceased to truly matter to her a long time ago.
She was happy. She was good at her work, had great friends, and now a man who loved her. She didn’t care what they thought.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Lockwood.” Bennett stepped forward. “It’s partly my fault.”
He was all smooth manners, but Hadley saw the dark glint in his eyes. He was ready to protect her.
She took his hand and smiled.