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Ivan smiled. “Oh, my lady also has a few hidden talents. Can’t wait to see what else you have in your bag of tricks.”
When the song ended, Ivan went to pour two glasses of Dom Pérignon. He handed one to Tiffany before unbuttoning his jacket and taking it off. He laid it across a dining room chair.
“Did I mention how incredibly hot you look in that suit? All the women stared when we came in just now. That must happen in a lot of places you go, doesn’t it? London, Venice, Dubai…”
Ivan set his glass down on the table. He sauntered over to Tiffany. He slid a finger down her bare arm. “I only have eyes for one woman. Anything else is a job hazard.”
Tiffany heard the words, and the solemn way he said them.
“There were a fair share of men ogling you tonight, too. I should’ve set up a fail-safe on your security system to alert me when a man’s checking out your delectable backside.”
She heard the same hint of jealousy in his voice that had been in hers. “I only have eyes for one man. Anything else is a job hazard.”
Ivan wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her up so they were at eye level. “That’s good to know, because I don’t play nice with my toys.”
She felt pure satisfaction at his possessive words. Tiffany kissed him. “You’re the only man who’s ever getting my toys.”
Ivan carried her into the bedroom. It was laid out in a similar fashion with only candles illuminating in the room. He stopped at the bed, but did not set her down.
“I’d like to seal our pledge of fidelity with a kiss, but I think I can go one better than that.”
He placed her on the bed and retrieved a bag from the dresser. He took out a light blue box with a white bow and placed it in her lap. She gazed at the signature wrapping.
“Tiffany?”
“A Tiffany for my Tiffany.” Suddenly, Ivan burst out laughing. “Okay, who would’ve thought I’d ever get to say that?”
She laughed, too, then untied the box and opened it. Her fingers trembled as she held the small package suspended in midair.
“Ivan…it’s an engagement ring,” she choked out.
“Yes, it is. A one-carat Tiffany Novo, to be exact, but only if you let me put it on your finger. That’s the engagement part. If not, it’s just a brilliant ring in a box.”
The tears welled up in her eyes. She gawked at him. “Really?”
He took the ring from the box, and then took her hand. “I could give you thousands of reasons why I want you to spend the rest of your life by my side, but the truth is, Tiffany Adele Gentry, the most important one is that I simply—” his voice faltered “—love you, and can’t live without you anymore. The time we were apart truly put things in perspective for me. You’re everything to me, and I want you by my side—always. So will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes, Ivan Thomas Mangum,” she said simply. “Yes, I’ll marry you…because I love you and can’t be without you, either.”
He kissed her left hand before sliding the diamond ring onto her third finger.
“It fits perfectly—just like we do.”
“We just got engaged.” She sn
iffed. “We’re getting married.”
“You got that right.” Ivan pulled her into his lap. The fabric from her gown pooled around them.
Tiffany took his head in her hands. “I love you, Ivan Mangum. I always have.”
“You’d better, Tiffany soon-to-be Mangum, or this would have been the most expensive date I’ve ever had.”
“Ivan?”
“Yes, my lovely fiancée?”
“Make love to me.”
