Lia frowned as he propped himself up on one elbow, watching her through half closed eyes.
Opening the box, Lia gasped, unable to process what she was seeing. Inside was an engagement and wedding ring. They were gold; a single solitaire diamond stared back at her.
“Do you like them, baby?”
The diamond was a soft pink, her favorite color. Lia was enchanted by it. She gently touched the sparkling solitaire, giving him an incredulous look. “They’re gorgeous, Cav!”
“But do you like them?” he asked again, grinning at her.
“I love them!”
“I want to marry you, Lia,” he told her quietly, holding her gaze. “No rush, baby, but I wanted you to know I was serious. I’m committed fully to you. I have been from the day we met.”
He pointed to the rings cupped in her hands. “This proves it. You don’t have to do a thing with them right now.” He searched her face, his voice deepening. “They’re there when you want them. I know how you feel about one-night stands, and just for the record, this isn’t one.”
Her heart spilled over with love. She saw the sincerity in his burning gaze, heard it, and absorbed every word of it. “Yes,” Lia whispered, her voice unsteady, “I understand.” She placed them on the bedstand, then turned, rose to her knees, leaned over, and enclosed Cav’s shoulders with a hug—hugging him as hard as she could.
Her voice was wobbly as she whispered against his ear, “I love you so much…so much…”
Cav brought her against him, her head rested on his upper arm as he tucked her in, knowing she needed that sense of protection right now. “The last two months have been a special heaven and hell,” he told her, resting his palm against her cheek. “We have the time now, baby, to really get to know one another. I don’t know how you feel about this, but I’d like nothing better than for you to move into my condo with me. I want you in this bed, beside me, every night.”
He moved his thumb across the warm velvet of her cheek, watching for a reaction. “What do you want? Because in the end? I’ll do what you ask of me, Lia. I never want you to feel pressured by me. A relationship is about two people, not one.”
“You’ve never pressured me, Cav. Not ever.” She smiled a little. “Dilara is going to be over the moon about this!”
Snorting, Cav grinned sourly. “Yeah, she’ll be saying, ‘I told you so.’”
Giggling, Lia pressed her full length against his hard, lean body. “First,” she said, “I want you to come home with me and meet my folks.”
“I thought about that,” he said, curving his hand across her shoulders, holding her gently. “Name the time. I’m sure Dilara will give us a week off.”
“Yes,” Lia said with a half laugh, “and in the next breath, she’ll want to know when we’re getting married. I know how that woman’s matchmaking brain works.”
His grin broadened. “I agree.” Seeing her become pensive, he squeezed her shoulders. “What are you thinking about?”
She sank into the warmth of his gaze. “That I’d like to marry you before Artemis Security is fully operational because once it is, our lives are going to be crazy. It’s going to take a good year to get all the wrinkles ironed out of the company and moving smoothly.”
“No disagreement there. They’re looking at next June for it to go live.”
“Yes.” She chewed on her lower lip, thinking. “There’s so much for us to get ready for, both at home and at work.”
“Uh, oh,” he muttered, “You’re going into worry-wart mode,” and he kissed the tip of her nose, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Grudgingly, Lia nodded. “What would you think of a March wedding next year, Cav?”
“Baby, you just name the date and I’ll be there.” He caressed her cheek. “I want you and your Mom, and of course, Dilara, to plan this. I’ll be there to support anything you want. Just don’t ask me to get involved in the planning, okay?”
A small smile flitted across her face. “All you want to do is show up at the altar. Is that it, big boy?”
Chuckling, Cav said, “Yep. I want you to have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of, Lia, nothing less. Why should I put my ideas about the wedding in there? I’ll be waiting for you at the end of that walk down the aisle.”
“Men!” she muttered, shaking her head, stifling another laugh. “I know Dilara will want to be involved in the planning stage, and so will my mom.”
Cav grinned. “I’ll bet your father is just like me. He’ll want nothing to do with it except to pay the bills.”