No Romance Required(78)

“So we’ll fight only in the bedroom to ensure a horizontal space is always available?” He tugged on her ponytail. “Doable.”

“Oh yes, you are.” Laughing, she pressed her mouth to his and kissed him until he forgot they were in the airport, forgot they were in Pennsylvania, forgot even that he wasn’t weightless and floating in space. Her hungry kisses were his only tether to reality.

But he had things to say. Important, headache-producing things.

When he pulled back and stared into her whiskey-brown eyes, already glazed with pleasure, pieces he hadn’t even known had broken loose inside him simply locked into place. Suddenly he wasn’t scared anymore. He couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “I love you. For real.”

She blinked quickly, but not quickly enough to dispel the sheen of tears. “I love you, too. For real.”

The biggest grin he’d ever grinned spread across his face. “Really?”

“Yeah.” She sniffled and poked him in the chest. “Either that or I’m in it for your big—” he braced as she smirked “—telescope.”

“Jesus, Vic.” Laughing with her, he tugged her into his arms and brushed a kiss over her sweetly fragranced hair. She smelled like home. Like everything he’d ever wanted. “I shouldn’t have forced your hand in my office. Shouldn’t have been so rough, shouldn’t have demanded you choose—”

“Choose what?” she asked softly.

“Me,” he murmured, shutting his eyes.

She edged back and laid her hand on his jaw until he opened them. “I choose you every time. I always will.”

The lump in his throat threatened to block his airflow. Instead of sputtering out what was sure to be an inadequate reply, he fumbled out the black box and pulled her closer. He was supposed to do this on bended knee, but since it wasn’t technically an engagement, he could cheat. Anything so he could hold on to her a few minutes more.

At her gasp, he shook his head and popped the top. “Don’t panic. This isn’t an engagement ring.”

She stared at the star-shaped diamond surrounded by rubies, her birthstone. He’d gotten the idea from that starfish necklace she wore all the time and hoped like hell she didn’t hate it. The jeweler had worked miracles to acquire an acceptable piece in such a short amount of time. “It sure looks like one to me.”

“It’s a pre-engagement ring. I didn’t want to freak you out. I know we haven’t been, uh, seeing each other long and I wanted to give you time—”

“For what?”

That was a good question. They were both decisive people. Why pussyfoot around when they both knew what they wanted? Or at least he knew, and maybe she knew, too.

He tugged her closer and gazed into her guileless eyes. The honesty and love beaming back at him staggered him and made him want to be the man she deserved. “Will you marry me?”

She didn’t hesitate. “You bet your fine ass, Cory Santangelo.” Then she giggled. “Oops. I mean yes.”

The band around his chest released, and he let out a hiss of breath. “Okay, then. Good. One more thing.”

“You think I’m disappointed our wedding night won’t be white?” She stroked his cheek. “No worries, honey. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t save yourself for me.”

As much as he wanted to laugh, he wanted to get his next words out more. “I bought my parents’ farm, Vic. It’s ours. If you want to live there. And I promise you, I’m not going to be like I used to be—only coming home to sleep, and barely even that. I want a real life with you, away from work.” His lips quirked. “I’ll even let you put my old solar system up in our bedroom, if you insist.”

She grabbed her head. “Here it goes again.” She took a couple of unsteady breaths. “All right. Yes. I’m lucid.”

“Positive sign,” he murmured, unsure if he should grin or frown.

“Sorry for my freak-the-fuck-out dizzy spell. They keep coming and going tonight.”

“I can get you a paper bag—”

She waved him off. “I told Bryan about our mom. He doesn’t hate me. I don’t think.” She blew out another breath. “It’s like my family is coming together all at once. Like I actually have a family again.” As his chest tightened once more, she nodded. “God, yes, I want to live with you on your family’s farm. I want to make it ours. And I want glow-in-the-dark cling-ons on the ceiling over the bed.”

“You’re on.” He pried out the ring and slipped it on her finger. “It fits.”