Billionaire's Contract Engagement (Kings of the Boardroom #3)(55)

She sucked in her breath as tears flooded her eyes.

“I think I can tolerate you,” she said teasingly. “If you can tolerate the fact that I can’t cook worth a darn. I’ll probably never meet you at the door wearing an apron, and the thought of having children scares the bejesus out of me.”

A slow grin spread across his face. “I think I can handle all that. So will you? Marry me? Put me out of my misery?”

“You don’t mind me keeping my job? I’ve fought too hard and have spent too long coming to grips with my issues regarding public opinion. There’s no way I’d want to quit now.”

He cupped her chin and smoothed a thumb over her cheek. “You can’t quit. You’re handling all my advertising. I’d be broke inside of a year without you. Besides, I’m way too damned proud of you to ever want to clip your wings.”

“I love you,” she said fiercely. “And, yes, I’ll marry you.”

He lowered his head to hers and kissed her long and sweet. “I love you, too,” he whispered.

He reached down into his pocket and pulled out the same ring he’d given her before. He grasped her hand in his and slid it back on her finger.

“I’ve kept this in my pocket ever since you gave it back. I can’t tell you how wrong it felt when you handed it back to me that night. Promise me you’ll never take it off again.”

She glanced down at the glittery diamond, tears blurring her vision. Then she glanced back up at the man staring at her with so much love in his eyes that her knees threatened to buckle.

“Never. This time our engagement is for real.”