Learning Curves(26)

“I can’t go with you. I have some other unfinished business.” She looked across the room, and a wave of unease curled around him. Jesus Christ, if she was talking about Matthew, he was going to knock the guy out cold, drag her out of there caveman style, and tie her to his bed until she could see he was the right man for her.

But he wanted her happy, and if that asshole was the one who made her happy… Fuck!

“Lauren…” He gripped his hair and tugged. “Is it Matthew? Do you still have feelings for him?”

She went up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “Oh, hell no. Unlike us, Matthew and I don’t have any unfinished business. I just can’t leave my cousin’s engagement party before dinner.”

A huge wave of relief moved through him. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her clear off the ground. “Fine, but we leave the second dessert is finished.”

She shook her head. “No.”

Okay, she was seriously killing him here. “No?”

“We leave before it’s served.” She kissed him. “I have a much better idea for dessert.”

He swallowed hard as both his heart and his cock swelled. He set her back down on the floor, using her body to shield the tent in his pants. “Thanks for that. Now I’m going to be sporting a hard-on through dinner.” She chuckled, but the smile fell from his face, hoping she truly meant it when she said there was no unfinished between her and Matthew. He looked across the room and found Matthew watching them. “What did he want?”

“Me.”

“What did you tell him?”

A smile spread across her mouth. “That I was already engaged to someone else.”

His heart missed a beat. “Say it again.”

She gave him a perplexed look. “I told him I was already engaged to someone else. I know it’s not true, but it was worth it to see his face. He kept asking about the ring, so if he says something to you, it’s being sized.”

“Oh, there’s going to be a ring. A big one. Huge actually. As soon as the jewelry store opens, you’ll have it on your finger.” He put a possessive hand around her waist and hugged her to him. He bent and sank into her warm wet mouth, kissing her with all the love inside him. “When the news gets back to your parents, it won’t be a lie.”

She broke the kiss and inched back. “Linc, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“If you think I’m saying I want us to be engaged for real, then yes.”

Her eyes went wide. “That’s…that’s kind of fast.”

He grinned, gave her a wink, and said, “But it’s the good kind of fast.” She stood there blinking up at him. “Marry me, Lauren. You are the sweetest and sexiest woman I know, and I’m crazy about you.”

“I think you’re just crazy.” She put her hand on his face. “And just so you know, I think I’ve been crazy about you for a very long time now.”

“Same here. Say yes.”

A beat passed and then, “Yes.”

He squeezed her tight. She was his.

“But can we date for awhile before we get married?”

“If that’s the way you want it. But I’m not going anywhere.”

“Neither am I.” She glanced at the TV over the bar. “And I’ll take that bet.” She poked his chest. “If I win, you’re mine for the weekend. If you win, I’m yours.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “Another win/win.”

“Don’t be so sure of yourself. I spent the weekend in the Keys and never did get that toilet cleaned.”

He laughed, and she chuckled along with him. “Is that really how you want to use me?” he asked.

“No,” she said, that one word coming out breathy, as the heat dancing in her eyes flooded him with need. “I believe there was some mention about bending me over a rail…”

He shook his head, his cock throbbing. “You keep it up, and I’m going to bust my zipper.”

She glanced at her watch. “We do have a minute before dinner.”

“Oh, you are so going to pay for that.”

“Promise?”

“You can bet on it.”