The guys smirk and smile. Already on my feet, I shoot them two fingers and follow Candace to the foyer where I hang out at the side of the doorway out of view, until she shuts the door. I take the garment bags from her hands. “No,” she says before I speak.
I lower my voice for her ears only. “This might be the only time outside our wedding you see me in a tux, baby.”
She blanches. “Wedding?”
“Hell yes, Candy, baby. Wedding. I’m not going to blow this night and miss the chance to make you mine again.”
“Is that a proposal?”
“Hell no. I wouldn’t propose with those assholes here and us standing in the damn foyer. This right now is a promise of what’s to come after tonight. I’m not blowing that. Trust me. I’m asking you to trust me.”
“If he touches me—”
“I won’t lose my shit unless he pulls some shit.”
“Define ‘pulls some shit’.”
“I will protect you. You know I have to protect you.”
Her eyes soften. “What comes after tonight, Rick, that’s what matters.”
“Is that right?”
“You know it is.”
“Well then, baby. Let’s go finish this planning and get you packed, so we can go home together.”
She nods and kisses my cheek. I cup her head and give her a long stroke of tongue while she gives me a sweet little moan that has my cock twitching and my heart burn every shade of right. That’s when you know you have the right woman—when she can talk to your cock, your mind, and your heart, all at the same time without even trying. I wouldn’t just kill for this woman. I’d die for her. I just hope like hell that doesn’t happen. It’d be a bitch to win her back and then end up dead. I stroke her damp lip and motion her to the living room.
We rejoin the Walker team and I’m pretty sure I just asked her to marry me, and she said yes. I just need to get us through this night and ask her properly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Candace
My body is still warm from Rick’s kiss, my heart even warmer from his promised proposal when we enter the living room and rejoin the Walker team. We’ve barely sat down in our chairs again and I’ve barely started to gather my thoughts when my cellphone rings.
“It’s Gabriel,” Smith warns, tapping his MacBook that sits in front of him before I can even reach for my cell “I can tell you from our surveillance that he’s sitting at breakfast with his campaign manager.”
“I hope she takes him back to his room and spreads her legs again after they eat so that he stays away,” I say, grabbing my phone from my pocket.
Smith snorts his coffee. Rick snorts laughter. “Quiet!” Asher snaps.
I inhale and take the call. “Hi,” I say, and I don’t look at Rick or anyone in the room. I stare at my sneakers, praying this is the last call from this man that I have to take, ever. “How are you?”
“Running late,” he says shortly. “I’m about to walk into a meeting with the governor which is why I’m calling. I’m sending a car to pick you up at eight. I’ll meet you at the party.”
“And then you fly out after the party?”
“Unfortunately, yes. When I get back, we’ll fuck like rabbits to make up for all this fucked up separation.”
Spoken as he sits next to the woman he’s fucking like a rabbit. The man really is a priceless turd as my mother used to say. “I’ll see you at the party.”
“Okay. You’re upset?”
“I’m not upset,” I say, and my voice lifts, damn it, why does my voice lift?
“You’re upset.”
“I’m not upset, Gabriel. Go to your meeting. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m bringing you a gift. You’ll forgive me when you see it, I promise. Gotta run. Love you.” He hangs up. I disconnect and slide my phone back into my pocket, glancing at Rick. “He’s sending a car at eight. And he’s leaving right after the party.”
“Thank fuck Eric came through,” Rick grumbles, handing me my coffee. “And I heard. He’s bringing you a gift.”
“He’s not meeting the governor,” Asher interjects, clearly avoiding that bad topic, before he explains to the group. “He told Candace he was headed to a meeting with the governor.”
“As long as he stays away, I don’t care what’s he’s doing,” I say, grabbing my coffee.
Adrian eyes my hand and points. “Don’t forget to wear your engagement ring tonight. He’ll notice that shit is missing.”
My eyes go wide. I threw it on the floor last night. “Oh, crap.” I start to get up.
Rick catches my arm. “I have it.” He doesn’t offer to give it to me. Instead, he hands me a taco. “It’s better for you than that ring.”
I give him a “really?” look and he leans in and kisses me. “Really, baby.”