I frown. "Proposal?"
Marina frowns back. "Yes, you know. The one where you mentioned marriage?"
"Ahh." I'm a complete bonehead. Reaching inside my front pocket, I pull out a small box and hand it to her. "Here you go."
She opens the box with shaking fingers, a small gasp escaping her when she sees the glittering two-carat diamond nestled inside. "It's too big," she immediately protests, glaring at me.
"It's perfect." Taking the box from her, I withdraw the ring and grab her left hand, sliding the solitaire onto her ring finger. It fits. "You're perfect." I kiss the tip of her nose.
"Hmm. I think you're the one who's perfect." Leaning up on tiptoe, she kisses me, turning it instantly deep and hot. She sways against me, I grab hold of her hips and let myself become acquainted with her delicious, persistent lips and tongue when I hear a voice clearing nearby.
Popping my eyes open, I find Gina starting at us, her expression irritable. "You two kids made up then?"
Marina turns within my embrace, her back to my front as I wrap my arms around her waist. She settles her arms over mine, our fingers interlaced, her head resting against my chest. I've never felt this content. "We have," she admits dreamily. "Gage asked me to marry him."
"And you said yes."
She nods her confirmation.
"What about your parents?"
I feel her stiffen and squeeze her closer, willing her to relax. She finally does. "I think I can convince them to come around. Dad is more agreeable then Mom," Marina says.
"Well, you have your work cut out for you then, don't you, Pretty Boy?"
I inwardly groan at her choice of nickname. "So we're back to Pretty Boy?"
"Well, you sure are pretty with that shit-eating grin on your face now that you've got your woman back in your arms." Gina smiles and tilts her head toward the café. "You two need to get out there. Everyone wants to talk to you."
"Really?" Marina asks incredulously.
"Really," I say, kissing her temple. "They all know I did this for you."
"How come I was kept in the dark?" She pouts.
"You did that by choice, by becoming a total recluse," I tease, though it hurts me too. I hate that I made her feel so bad she could hardly drag herself out of bed.
She turns so she's facing me once more. We promise Gina we'll be out there in a few minutes just as she exits the kitchen.
"I am the luckiest woman in the world," Marina sighs against my lips before she starts kissing me again.
Damn it. She keeps this up, and we'll test out that new desk I had installed in the office. See if it's as sturdy as it appears. I set her away from me instead. "Later. Right now, we need to go greet our guests."
More mock pouting. Damn, her lips are luscious. Unable to resist, I drop a kiss on her forehead, her nose, lingering on those delicious lips. "Let's go out there and tell them our good news. You can show off your ring."
"Maybe I want to stay back here with you instead." A wicked gleam lights her eyes. "If there weren't so many people out there I'd suggest we reenact the first time we fooled around in the kitchen."
Damn. This woman blows my mind constantly. "You're out of control. Don't you still have the video? We can watch it later."
That wicked glow shines brighter. "I do still have it."
I drop a kiss on her nose. "Maybe we should make another one sometime." I can't even believe I made the suggestion, but that's how far gone I am for this woman. "Now come on, let's go talk to your customers."
"Gage." She stops me before I start out to the café front, a frown on her face. "So does our engagement mean you lost the bet?"
I frown, realization dawning as soon as I hear the words. "You know about the bet?"
Slowly she nods, nibbling on her lower lip. "Ivy told me a while ago, one night when we were hanging out. She said I had a right to know."
"And you're not mad?" I remember how Ivy had reacted. Not a pretty sight.
"Of course not. I wish you would've told me about it sooner." She loops her arms around my neck. "I would've helped you win."
Damn. More confirmation of just how perfect she is for me.
Gently pushing her away, I take her hand and we exit the kitchen, immediately greeted by the wild applause and celebratory shouts from our neighbors and customers. I even recognize a few friends in the crowd, though I hadn't noticed them before. The both of us step back, overwhelmed by the response, and she grins up at me, squeezing my hand.
My heart expands in my chest, filling up so much space, I'm almost afraid I can't breathe.
But that's okay. As long as I have Marina by my side, we can get through anything.
Together.
An Excerpt from
CRAVE
Ivy
A KNOCK SOUNDS at the door and I jump, grabbing the robe off the hook with lightning speed. Throwing it on, I approach, figuring it's Gage ready to tell me something lame before he goes to bed. He's always been a little overprotective, so he's probably just checking up on me.
"I'm fine, Gage. Really," I say as I open the door, stunned silent when I see who's standing before me.
"Really?" Archer raises a brow, one hand in his pants pocket, the other clutching an article of clothing. "Why wouldn't you be anything but fine?"
Oh. Shit. He should so not be standing in front of me right now. "What are you doing here?" I whisper, glancing over his shoulder to thankfully see Gage's door is closed.
"Making sure you're comfortable." He thrusts his hand out toward me. "I brought you something."
I'm ultra-aware of the fact that beneath the terry cloth, I'm wearing absolutely nothing. The impulse to untie the sash and let the robe drop to my feet just to see Archer's reaction is near overwhelming.
But I keep it under control. For now.
"What is this?" I take the wadded-up fabric from his hand, our fingers accidentally brushing, and heat rushes through me at first contact.
"One of my T-shirts." He shrugs those broad shoulders, which are still encased in fine white cotton. "I know you didn't have anything to wear to . . . bed. Thought I could offer you this."
His eyes darken at the word bed and my knees wobble. Good lord, what this man is doing to me is so completely foreign, I'm not quite sure how to react.
"Um, thanks. I appreciate it." The T-shirt is soft, the fabric thin, as if it's been worn plenty of times, and I have the sudden urge to hold it to my nose and inhale. See if I can somehow smell his scent lingering in the fabric.
The man is clearly turning me into a freak of epic proportions.
"You're welcome." He leans his tall body against the doorframe, looking sleepy and rumpled and way too sexy for words. I want to grab his hand and yank him into my room.
Wait, no I don't. That's a bad-terrible-idea.
Liar.
"Is that all then?" I ask, because we don't need to be standing here having this conversation. First, my brother could find us and start in again on what a mistake we are. Second, I'm growing increasingly uncomfortable with the fact that I'm completely naked beneath the robe. Third, I'm still contemplating shedding the robe and showing Archer just how naked I am.
"Yeah. Guess so." His voice is rough and he pushes away from the doorframe. "Well. Good night."
"Good night," I whisper, but I don't shut the door. I don't move.
Neither does he.
"Ivy . . ." His voice trails off and he clears his throat, looking uncomfortable. Which is hot. Oh my God, everything he does is hot and I decide to give in to my impulses, because screw it.
I want him.
Archer
LIKE AN IDIOT, I can't come up with anything to say. It's like my throat is clogged, and I can hardly force a sound out, what with Ivy standing before me, her long, wavy, dark hair tumbling past her shoulders, her slender body engulfed in the thick white robe I keep for guests. The very same type of robe we provide at Hush.
But then she does something so surprising-so amazingly awesome-I'm momentarily dumbfounded by the sight.
Her slender hands go for the belt of the robe and she undoes it quickly, the fabric parting, revealing bare skin. Completely bare skin.
Holy shit. She's naked. And she just dumped the robe onto the ground so she's standing in front of me. Again, I must stress, naked.
My mouth drops open, a rough sound coming from low in my throat. Damn, she's gorgeous. All long legs and curvy waist and hips and full breasts topped with pretty pink nipples. I'm completely entranced for a long, agonizing moment. All I can do is gape at her.
"Well, are you just going to stand there and wait for my brother to come back out and find us like this or are you going to come inside my room?"
An Excerpt from
SAVOR
Bryn
"I SHOULDN'T DO this." He's coming right at me, one determined step after another, and I slowly start to back up, fear and excitement bubbling up inside me, making it hard to think clearly.