by Ravenna Tate
She settled back on the sofa next to him, but left the wine alone. She needed a clear head for this. “The only man who told me he loved me before you said it was Donny, and it was rare when he did. If I didn’t want to have sex for one reason or another, he would tell me he loved me. I know it sounds clichéd, and probably stupid on my part. By that time in my life, if a man said ‘I love you’, I believed it meant the sex he wanted to have was true. It was pure. Not simply his urges taking over to the point it was forced on me, or me giving in so he’d stop pestering me about it.”
She studied his face, trying to gauge his reaction. “Am I making sense?”
“Yes. Yes, you are. What else could you have concluded, after all? Going through what you had experienced.”
She nodded. “That’s what the shrinks said, too.”
“Blair, it breaks my heart to know you eventually drew those conclusions about love and sex.”
“I don’t feel that way with you. You taught me not to.”
He caressed her shoulder, sending shivers down Blair’s spine. “Thank you for telling me. I’d do anything to help you. But, I can probably guess how you feel about marriage. You’re not a fan of it.”
She sighed. “You would think that, but it’s not true. At least, not with you it isn’t. My only concern is that I don’t want to make your life miserable.”
“How could you do that? To me, you’re perfect.”
“You’re perfect to me, too. Is it crazy to think I don’t deserve to be this happy?”
He smiled. “If you’re crazy to think that, then so am I. Promise me you’ll give us getting married some serious thought.”
“Are you asking me to marry you, Oliver?”
He winked. “Not tonight.”
She was sure her heart would burst from joy. “Oh, I see. It’s going to be a sneak attack.”
His expression turned serious. “It’s going to be when I’m convinced you believe you’re worthy of a love that lasts a lifetime, and that doesn’t include you being abused by the man who promised to love, cherish, and protect you.”
Blair let out a shaky breath then stood. Every shitty thing that had happened today faded into the distance. There was only Oliver, this apartment that was now her home, too, and the words he’d said to her tonight.
He loved her. He wanted to marry her. She was worthy of the kind of love and the kind of life she’d always dreamed of having. He knew every crappy thing about her and still he wanted her, and only her. There was no place else Blair wanted to be.
“Make love to me, Oliver. Make love to me until neither of us can breathe.”
He stood and picked her up, cradling her against his body. “Your wish is my command, dear lady.”
Chapter Nineteen
One week after Blair and Oliver were served suit papers, the suit was dismissed. Blair was amazed his attorneys had been able to do that so quickly, but Oliver wasn’t. He paid them well because they were that good.
Penny had also dug up a few more facts on Donny, including the fact that he was in over his head on old debts, and had changed his Internet phone number several times in the past couple of months. Oliver showed the information to Blair one morning as they ate breakfast.
“I’m convinced he changed the number this frequently in an attempt to evade calls from creditors.”
She shook her head. “No wonder he came looking for money.”
“He won’t bother with us again. He won’t get past security here, and never again at the office.”
“Speaking of security, do you still have bodyguards tailing me?”
“Yes, and that won’t stop. It’s non-negotiable. I want you safe.”
She grinned. “Do all of you have guards assigned to your girlfriends?”
“Yes.” Her expression grew serious, so he put down his toast and took her hands. “Blair, this isn’t a joke. We’re wealthy men. We’re powerful and connected, and that makes us easy targets. That means we have to protect not only ourselves, but the people we love.”
“Okay. It’s cool. I kind of like it, too. No one will ever try to mess with me.”
“No, they won’t. Never.”
****
Later that same week, Oliver left the office mid-morning with the excuse he had a meeting with a business associate across town. What he really did was take Barclay with him to search for the perfect engagement ring for Blair.
“None of my business,” said Barclay, “but are you certain she’s ready to accept?”
“I won’t know until I ask her.”
Barclay gave him a look of incredulity. “You’re willing to risk her saying ‘no’?”
“Weren’t you willing to risk it with Rissa?”
He chuckled. “Yeah. I was. We all were. Okay. Let’s find the perfect ring. What does she like? What are her interests?”
“Plays, flowers, and cheeseburgers that rip a hole in your gut.”
Barclay laughed. “Okay. Well then, what kind of jewelry have you bought her that she loved?”
Oliver snapped his fingers. “The necklace. I found a necklace downtown at one of the craft booths made with real rubies and topaz. She wears it all the time when we go out.”
“Let’s start with the booth where you bought it. After we find the ring, we’ll talk about how and where you’re going to propose to her.”
Oliver grinned. “Oh, I have that part all figured out.”
Barclay raised his brows. “Really? Tell me.”
“I suppose I should since I want you and Rissa there.”
“What?”
Oliver clapped his friend on the back. “Come on. I’ll tell you the plan as we walk downtown.”
****
The day after Oliver found the perfect ring, he received a call from Penny during breakfast in his apartment with Blair.
“Donny Gallagher is dead.”
“Excuse me?” Oliver gave Blair a quick glance, but she was absorbed in a book she was reading on her tablet. Oliver took the phone into another room. Blair would assume it was a work-related call.
“He was found dead early this morning. Single gunshot to the head.”
“Shit. You think it was related to the money he owed?”
“The cops are working that angle.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I wouldn’t want Blair to see this first online.”
“That’s why I called.”
Oliver returned to the kitchen and watched Blair for a few seconds from the doorway. She was eating scrambled eggs with one hand, not even looking at her fork, while she read at the same time. She finally looked up, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry to tell you this.” He crossed the room and sat next to her. She put down her fork, and he took her hands. “Donny was found dead early this morning. The police believe it was related to the money he owed.”
She blanched. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I mean, I don’t wish that on anyone.”
“I know, sweetheart.” He pulled her into his arms and held her until she stopped shaking. Neither of them stated the obvious. Donny would never bother them again.
“Should we have given him some money?” Her voice was small and tinged with guilt.
“No. He would have ended up in the same place eventually. You know that.”
It took a few seconds for her to answer. “Yes. You’re right. He never would have changed.”
He pulled away so he could look into her eyes. “You didn’t do this to him. He did it to himself.”
“I know. Honestly. I’ll be all right. It’s just such a waste.”
“I agree with you, love. A horrible waste.”
****
Friday afternoon, Blair walked around the ridiculously large closet Oliver had given her to use, trying to decide what to wear. All he’d told her was that they were going to Dirty Harry’s, but with friends, and it was a special occasion. It wasn’t her birthday, it wasn’t his birthday, and she had no clue what other special occasion he’
d choose to mark with friends, but she was happy they were going out with others.
She was happy to be going out with him, period. The past two weeks had been even better than before. She’d even had the chance to spend some time with Rissa. Two days after she’d moved out of her old apartment, Rissa had called and asked if she could have a long lunch one day that week. All Blair had to do was ask Oliver, and he told her to take the entire afternoon off if she wanted.
She and Rissa had gone to a place across town that was practically empty, and talked for three hours about Blair’s past, and about what it was like to be engaged to one of the Weathermen. Rissa had grown close to Nadine Jarvis, who was engaged to Addison Carlyle, and to Valerie since Liane’s wedding.
“They’ll drive you crazy,” she had said. “They’re all so protective, but that’s because they value what they have, including people.”
“I don’t mind the bodyguards. I don’t even mind him being possessive because he’s not a jerk about it. I was afraid something else from my past will surface and he’ll change his mind.”
“And do you still feel that way?”
“No. I really don’t. The fear is gone, and that’s due to him making me feel so cherished.”
“I’m glad to hear it. He’s not going to change his mind about you, Blair. I saw that look in his eyes. Trust me on this one. He’s totally smitten with you. He’s marked you as his, and resistance on your part is futile.”
Blair had laughed. “You make it sound like I don’t have a choice.”
“You don’t.”
“Well good, because I only want Oliver. No one else.”
Rissa’s expression had grown serious. “I was engaged to a guy I’d known all my life before I moved underground. He died in a storm on the surface. I rarely dated after that. I didn’t have sex for seven years. Seven years, for God’s sake. All that changed when I got together with Barclay.”
“I’m so sorry about your fiancé.”
“Thank you. Barclay … he changed everything for me. I didn’t think it was possible, but I was wrong. I fell under his spell, and without my knowing it at first, he fell under mine. Once those guys decide they’ve found the right woman, it’s a done deal. You’re powerless in their presence. And nothing changes their mind. Nothing.”
Blair had laughed again, but she’d also agreed that at the heart of Rissa’s words was the truth. She’d seen the same intensity in Oliver, and she’d heard the conviction in his words.
“So,” Rissa had asked, “when he asks you to marry him, are you going to say ‘yes’? Because he will ask. Trust me on this one. And I know you’re crazy about him. It’s written all over your face, in your voice, and in your body language.”
There was no denying that, but Blair had already known it before she’d had lunch with Rissa. “I love him so much. Of course I will say ‘yes’.”
And now, she had to find something to wear tonight. Not too dressy, but she wanted to look really nice. Nicer than jeans and a sweater. She finally chose a skirt and top that she’d worn before and Oliver had liked. She paired it with dressy sandals, and she wore the necklace he’d bought for her. When he came home from work, she was waiting.
He whistled, smiling broadly. “You look too good to take out. I’ve changed my mind. Let’s stay here.”
She laughed. “Oh, no you don’t. You can’t tease me like that and then say ‘Sorry, I’ve changed my mind!’”
He pulled her into a tight embrace. “You’re right. I can’t. I’m really looking forward to this evening. Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”
There weren’t nearly as many cars in the parking lot next to Dirty Harry’s as there usually were, and she wondered why the place was so quiet on a Friday night. Before they went inside, Oliver cupped her face. She swore his hands trembled slightly.
“Whatever happens in there, I need you to know one thing.”
What was going on? Was there more bad news he hadn’t told her about? “Okay.”
“I love you, Blair. With my entire heart and soul I love you, and I always will.”
“Oliver, I love you, too. So much. But you’re kind of scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“Why is it so quiet here tonight?”
“I rented it.”
“Excuse me?” Only he would do something like this and get away with it. “Why?”
He kissed her deeply, and then just as abruptly he released her mouth and took her hand. “Come on. You’ll see why in a second.”
When they walked inside, the first people she saw were Rissa and Barclay, smiling like they knew a fabulous secret they couldn’t wait to reveal. But then she glanced around and realized she knew almost everyone in the place.
All the project leaders were there, her entire team was present, and others from work she or Barclay interacted with on a daily basis were also inside. The only people she didn’t know were the workers. They stood behind the counter, smiling.
She turned to face him. “What is this?”
“Back here. Come on.” He led her to the booth they’d sat in both times they’d eaten here previously. Everyone crowded near, and Blair didn’t understand why he asked her to sit on the table, but she did.
He knelt on the bench seat against the wall. “I hope you don’t mind me kneeling here instead of the floor.”
Several people laughed softly, but her focus was on Oliver. He pulled a small velvet box from his jeans pocket, and she gasped. Tears welled up in her eyes as understanding finally dawned on her.
“I thought this was the most appropriate place to ask you,” he said, his voice soft and tender. “I hope you don’t mind that I wanted others to celebrate this evening with us.”
“It won’t be a celebration unless she says ‘yes,’” said Barclay softly, but he was close enough that Blair heard him. Rissa smacked his arm and gave him a look filled with horror.
Oliver didn’t even glance at him. He held Blair’s gaze, his eyes filled with love. “We’ll all likely have heartburn tomorrow, but I don’t care. Blair, I love you so much. I know this is a huge step for you, but I promise I will help you heal from your past for the rest of your life, if that’s how long it takes. I will love you, and cherish you, and protect you until the day I die. Will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?”
Blair didn’t bother wiping the tears off her face. She could hardly breathe, let alone move. “Yes, Yes, I will marry you. Oh my God, of course I will. I love you so much.”
The stones in the ring matched the necklace, and it was no surprise at all that it fit perfectly. He stood before her, beaming, and she swore his eyes were wet as well. Then he kissed her, tongue and all, and Blair barely heard the catcalls and whistles around them.
The pain and fear melted away until there was only Oliver, his incredible mouth, and the love that filled her body, heart, and soul. Everyone took their seats and the place erupted in conversation, but Blair only had ears and eyes for the man sitting across from her. He knew every horrible thing about her, and still he wanted her. He wanted her to be his wife.
Her dreams really had come true. And now she would spend every moment of her life making sure Oliver knew how very, very much she loved him.
The End
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Other Books by Ravenna Tate:
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