Taking It All(47)

"Oh Jensen," she whispered. "Swear to God if you make me cry I'll kick your ass."                       
       
           



       

He grinned and then pulled a small velvet jeweler's box from underneath   the sofa cushion. Then he slid from his perch on the couch and got down   on one knee, opening the box to reveal a sparkling diamond engagement   ring.

"Will you marry me, Kylie? We don't have to set a date right away. I   just want your promise that one day, when you're ready, that I'll be the   man you marry."

She couldn't breathe around the knot in her throat and the weight   bearing down on her chest. Tears blurred her vision and she sucked in a   steadying breath through distended nostrils. Her hands shook   uncontrollably but he made no move to slide the ring on her finger. He   was waiting for her answer.

She threw her arms around his neck, holding on to him for dear life.   "Yes! Oh my God, yes. I love you so much, Jensen. There's no one I'd   rather spend the rest of my life with than you."

"Thank fuck," he muttered. "You scared the shit out of me there for a   moment when you were so silent. I thought I'd screwed up and moved too   fast."

"No one can ever accuse you of taking things slow and easy," she teased.

"I move fast when there's something I want. Why wait? I couldn't take   the risk that some other guy would steal you away from me."

She rolled her eyes. "As if. No one else would put up with me. I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

"There's no one I'd rather be stuck with than you," he said, nearly echoing her own words.

"Thank fuck," she said, returning his words in kind. "What was it we decided? We'll be fucked up together?"

He laughed. "That about sums it up. Hell, who else would put up with us   but each other? I guess that means we're perfect for one another."

"Hell yes," she said fervently.

"Don't you think you should put the ring on now?" he asked in a teasing voice.

"Oh my God, I almost forgot the ring!"

He pulled the ring from the velvet clasp and his hands shook as much as hers as he gently pushed it onto her ring finger.

She stared at it in awe. "This is huge!" she whispered. "I'm afraid to   wear it, Jensen. What if I lose it? Or the diamond falls out? I'll live   in terror of something happening to it."

He kissed her on the nose. "That's what insurance is for."

She wrinkled her nose as he drew away. "They insure rings?"

"Of course. You can insure anything of value. So now you can wear it   without worrying that you'll lose it. In fact, I will not be pleased if   you ever take it off. This ring signals that you're mine."

"I think I can live with that," she said with a smile. "Now what can we do to celebrate?" she asked innocently.

"Oh I can think of something," he growled.

He swept her up and into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom, his mouth fused to hers.





THIRTY-ONE


CHESSY hummed cheerfully as she bustled around the kitchen putting the   finishing touches on dinner. Tate had called earlier to let her know he   was on his way home and he should be pulling up any second.

Just as she set the pan of baked chicken out on the table, she heard the   front door open and she turned to greet him as soon as he walked   through the kitchen door.

"Mmm, smells delicious," he said as he swept her into his arms, kissing her thoroughly in greeting.

"If you're ready to eat, go ahead and sit unless you want to get changed into more comfortable clothing first," she said.

He simply loosened his tie and removed his coat, tossing it over one of   the unused chairs at the table, and then took his seat catty corner to   where Chessy would sit. She made one more trip to the stove to carry  the  two pots of vegetables to the table and then she sat down with  Tate.

He served up the chicken for them both and she spooned out corn onto her   plate before passing it to Tate. Butter beans were next and then they   both dug in.

"How was work?" she asked. "How is the new partnership going?"

Tate hesitated and glanced up, his expression growing serious. Her   stomach plummeted and she braced herself for what was to come. Surely   not again  …

"I may be late the next two days," he said quietly. "We have a very   important meeting with a large company who wants us to manage their   private equity fund. It would be a huge account and if we ace this then   it will set us at the forefront of financial firms. It could very well   lead to more business."

Her brow furrowed, confused by the worry she saw in his eyes.

"Tate, are you worried that I'm going to be pissed because you're going to be late a couple of days?"                       
       
           



       

He looked chagrinned. "You have to admit the timing sucks. I just get   you to move back in and give us another chance and after only a few days   I have to tell you that I'll be late because of an important meeting."

She reached for his hand, hoping her sincerity showed. "I don't expect   you to sacrifice your entire career in order to kiss my ass. I   understand you have to work, that you have clients and important   meetings. My problem before arose from the fact that it was all the time   and that when you were at home, you weren't really here, if that makes   any sense. You'd pulled away completely from me. We were like two   strangers living in the same house. But it's not like that now."

"I hope you know it won't be that way."

"I do, Tate. I do."

His face softened with relief. The he squeezed her hand. "How are you and the little one doing?"

"We're doing great," she said enthusiastically. "I called to set up my   first OB appointment today with the same one Joss uses. I was queasy   this morning but managed not to throw up. I think I'm handling it far   better than poor Joss."

"Tell me when you appointment is," he said seriously. "I won't miss it for anything."

"It's on the thirteenth. A Wednesday."

"I'll mark it down on my planner. What time?"

"Ten in the morning."

"How about I just plan to go into work after your appointment. I'll   stick around and drive you to the doctor and we'll have lunch after."

"That sounds wonderful," she said with a bright smile.

He studied her a long moment, his gaze drifting over her features. "You   look happy," he said. "I hadn't realized how long it's been since you   truly looked happy. I'm so sorry, Chess."

Her heart softened at the vulnerability and true regret in his voice.   "You make me happy, Tate. You've always had the power to make me the   happiest woman on earth."

Left unsaid was that he also had the power to make her the unhappiest woman in the world. But he understood.

"If you're going to miss dinner tomorrow night, I may see if Joss and Kylie want to go out," Chessy said.

Tate nodded. "Tomorrow we're holding a planning meeting. Not sure when   we'll wrap up but we're planning to have dinner delivered to the office   and eat there. Day after tomorrow, we'll be in meetings starting at   eleven with the CEO and CFO of Calder Enterprises. We'll have lunch and   then give a presentation and then likely have dinner so I'll be out of   pocket all day."

Chessy stood to clear her plate from the table and she dropped a kiss on   Tate's cheek. "I have every confidence you'll win the account."

He stopped her, pulling her down into his lap so she had to set her   plate back down on the table. He cuddled her to him, simply holding her   as he kissed her forehead and then both eyes and finally her mouth.

"I love my girl. I don't deserve such blind support, but knowing you   believe in me makes me feel like I can accomplish anything."

She put her palm to his jaw and then kissed him back. "Our child is counting on her father. I know you won't fail her or me."

He hugged her to him, shuddering with emotion. "I'm going to be a father," he said in wonder.

Chessy smiled. "We may not have planned her but I'm thinking she must be   very strong-willed because she was conceived in nearly impossible   odds."

"You think it's a girl, huh."

"Oh I'd love a boy or a girl. I've just gotten into the habit of saying   her. I like to picture you with a precious little girl and spoiling her   rotten."

"I plan to spoil her mama rotten first," he said gruffly. "I haven't   been a very good Dominant, Chessy. But that's all going to change   provided you still want my dominance. I'd understand if you didn't."