On Her Terms (Premiere Companions Book 2)
Page 9
“Would you really have told me who you were, had I not run?” she asked.
Jamie ran a hand through his hair and nodded.
“Of course. I planned to give you this and ask you to marry me properly.” He reached into the pocket of his suit and pulled out a little velvet box. Nicole’s heart beat faster when he opened it to reveal the most beautiful engagement ring.
“Did you never wonder why your elusive fiancé didn’t send you a ring?” he asked, and the world tilted a little more when he got down on one knee in front of her and held that box up for her.
“No, I just took it to mean that you weren’t really interested in me. I was just a means to seal a business deal.” Nicole grimaced at the croaky quality of her voice, and Jamie shook his head.
“Perhaps that was the case at first. I mean when your father first approached me with this idea I told him he was insane. No woman nineteen years my junior would want to marry me, let alone to put me in her father’s shoes in the organization.” He smiled grimly at Nicole’s sharp intake a breath. “Guess he didn’t tell you that either. I’ve been working for some time to establish the more legitimate sides of your father’s business, which has been something of a struggle against the fierce opposition of your uncle for one and your father’s enemies. They would love nothing more than for him to show weakness and crumble, so they can claim his territories. Without a son to succeed him, they were a set to continue. Then he found you, and well … let’s just say it would be in lots of people’s interests if you never got married, and just disappeared.”
“Oh.” A shudder went through her at the implications, and Jamie grasped her hand and squeezed.
“There was no way I was going to let that happen, so as harebrained as that scheme of your father’s seemed, I went along with it. He promised he would explain all this to you, and I’m pissed that he didn’t, but your father is a man of few words. Never doubt that he loves you though, and did all this with your best interest at heart.”
He squeezed her hand again, and when she nodded, continued.
“Besides, judging by the pictures he sent me, I figured it wouldn’t be too great a hardship to have to fuck you.”
She flinched at the harsh words, and he turned her hand over and kissed her palm.
“I didn’t expect to fall in love with you, bellissima.”
“What?” She couldn’t have heard him right, could she? Over the sudden roaring in her ears she heard his self-deprecating laugh.
“You’ll think me a fool, but from the minute I saw you sitting there, shredding those napkins to pieces, looking terrified but oh so determined, I was hooked. The more I got to know you … well.” He looked up at her and smiled that bone melting sexy smile of his.
“I realize we still hardly know each other and marriage is not something to enter into lightly, but I reckon we’re off to a pretty good start. I didn’t dare hope that you might have developed feelings for me, but then your father said your maid told him you thought you were in love, so…”
He stopped speaking, and Nicole lost herself in the tenderness of his oceanic gaze. Right now, here, in this moment this big strong man carried his feelings in his eyes. No one had ever looked at her like this, and she was pretty sure she must look just as lovesick, because her heart was positively brimming over with happiness. He must have read her expression correctly, because he lifted that box up again.
“Well then, Miss Nicoletta Raffaela Cabrizi, will you please put me out of my misery and let me make an honest woman out of you?” He asked with a wink and then sobered. “I love you, bellissima, and I want to be the one to protect you for the rest of our lives. Will you let me do that, please?”
There was only one answer Nicole could give, and that was the one on her heart.
“Yes, yes, of course I will. I love you, too, Sir.”
The End
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