“Fuck off, Davy boy, or you’ll have nothing to ruin the girls with when I’m done with you,” he growls, pointing a finger at the others in warning.
“Now then, imp, meet Garret, David, and Ryan, our brothers. Lads, say hello to imp.”
“Yeah, hi, nice rack.”
“Bloody brilliant eyes. They gold?”
“I already told you you have a nice bum.”
I’m giggling by the time they’re done, and even Logan cracks a smile.
“Why don’t we leave these two to talk? There’s a burger joint around the corner that makes a mean chili fry.”
Logan rounds them up and has them out the door before I can move.
“Traitor!”
“Yeah, yeah, thank me later. You hurt my sister and I’ll end your miserable existence, asshole. You got me?” he barks, narrowing his eyes.
“Clearly. Get the fuck out then, unless you want to see me kiss her.”
He slams out, and I grin, till I remember that my back is pinned to Devon’s chest and we’re alone.
“If I put you down are you going to hit me, imp?”
I snort and consider it before shaking my head and getting as much space between us as humanly possible. I can’t be that close to him without feeling things, and I really don’t need to feel these things. Not now, when I’ve just gotten stuff sorted out.
“I came to beg you… You’re pregnant with my baby, yes?” he asks, and I swallow, nodding when his gray eyes light up and he grins.
He gets so excited, and I flinch when he stalks closer and grabs my hands, bending at the waist to look down into my eyes.
“I’m so glad, and…and I wanted you to know that I am so happy—”
“Dev—”
“No, please, let me speak. For the longest time I haven’t allowed myself to love anyone but my brothers and the few friends I have. I’d convinced myself, after I was left at the altar—but that’s another story. Anyway, I’d convinced myself that loving people was weakness and that I had no room in my life and heart for anyone else.”
He pauses, and I feel myself freeze.
“And then you came along, and I couldn’t keep my hands off you. You’re so fucking beautiful and smart and funny, and you rocked my world that morning in bed. It scared me to death when I heard you singing in the shower and I got this happy feeling…it felt so close to contentment that I could hardly breathe for the terror I felt. So I ran away and convinced myself it was the right thing to do.”
“Devon, I need—”
“When you called it was like lifting a curtain of misery I didn’t even know I was under. For the first time in six years I felt like maybe I stood a chance at the happiness I’d written off, like I could possibly have everything I always wanted but wouldn’t let myself have.”
He takes a deep breath and grins, making my stomach dip and quiver with butterflies.
“I sold some of my interests abroad and made some changes. The lads and I have bought a house here in Georgia, close to your parents but far enough away that we won’t have to worry about them turning up at all hours, and we’ve started decorating the nursery, and I even kitted out this little hobby room for you where you can knit and crotchet and do all those artsy things you enjoy doing.”
“Dev.”
He’s so excited about everything—a house, and he’s moved here! —that I feel dread unfurl deep within me when he drops down to his knees and takes my hands, looking up at me with so much affection and hope my heart aches.
“I can love you, imp. I want to love you. I want to make love to you every night and watch you swell with our baby, and…and I want you to learn to love me back. I’m asking you, imploring you, to be a part of my family, brothers and all,” he whispers, kissing my hand with a smack of his lips.
“Will you please marry me, Rebecca Slade? I promise you I will do everything in my power to deserve you.”
I’m so shocked I don’t feel the tears pouring down my face. I don’t hear or see anything but his bright and hopeful face, till the door opens and Dillon walks in.
“What the heck? What’s going on here, Becky?”
Devon stands and scowls at him, his mouth thinning when he sees the key in Travis’s hand and the bunch of roses.
“Who the fuck are you then?” he snarls, and I feel my vision blur when Dillon grins and points to my finger.
“Her fiancé.”
Chapter Fourteen
The air is thick around us, filled with emotions that I’m struggling to assimilate as Dillon strolls into the room and smiles down at me, his eyes sparkling with an emotion I’m pretty darned sure is glee.