Page 55 of The Billionaire's Vow

“I’m a little confused.”She looked at the ring.“How did we get to a proposal?”

He shifted slightly so that he could see her face.Giselle’s eyes really were the window to her soul.Or her thoughts, he clarified.“An engagement ring generally means marriage.You haven’t taken the ring off, so I’m assuming that means you aren’t opposed to marrying me.”

She grinned, shaking her head.“No, a ring does not automatically indicate a marriage proposal.And if you want to marry me, then you’re going to need to get down on a knee and ask the question properly, Mr.De Luca.”

“Is that right?”

She nodded firmly, but she still didn’t take the ring off.

Suddenly, she was flipped onto her back.A moment later, Dimitri was down on his knee.Naked.He even paused to take her hand into his.“Giselle Carrington, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She laughed, rolling onto her side as she stared at him.“Mr.De Luca, think about what we’ll say to our children?’

“How the hell does this conversation have anything to do with our future children?”.

“Our kids are going to ask how you proposed.Do you really want our children to hear how we were naked when you popped the question?”

He tilted his head, considering.Then he nodded, stood up and…wrapped her up in the sheet so that she was a burrito.The sheet was so tight, she couldn’t move.Dimitri even tucked in the ends so that she was more securely wrapped.Then he grabbed another sheet and wrapped it loosely around his waist.Getting back down on his knee, he glowered at her.“One more time.And this time,” he declared threateningly, “youwillgive me the proper answer.”His growl was countered by the amused expression on his handsome features.“Will you marry me?”

Unfortunately, Giselle was laughing so hard, she could barely breathe, let alone answer.She wiggled and shimmied, but she couldn’t quite free herself.

“Giselle?”he teased, pulling her closer again.“I’m not hearing the right answer.”

That only made her laugh harder.

“Yes!”she gasped between breaths.“Yes!I’ll marry you!”

“Good,” he said with a firm nod.Then he unrolled her from the sheet and pulled her back into his arms.Before she could stop laughing, he kissed her deeply.

A long time later, as she snuggled sleepily in his arms, Giselle realized the reality of what she’d just agreed to.

“No!”she yelped, abruptly sitting up.After several rounds of sex, even Dimitri was pretty sated.Still, he opened one eye and looked at her.“No?”

Giselle shook her head.“I can’t marry you, Dimitri.I can’t!”

That roused him completely awake.“Why the hell not?”

“Because of my family!They’re horrible!And you’re rich!They’ll drain you of every penny!No!”

He realized what she was saying and sighed with relief.“I can handle your family, Giselle.”Then he tried to pull her back into his arms.It was late.They needed sleep.And he needed her close, snuggling her soft body against his.

“You can’t,” she replied, trying to wiggle away from him.But he caught her and tucked her back against his side.“It’s late” he grumbled, shifting so they were spooning.“We’ll discuss this in the morning.But we are getting married.I’ll handle your family, and we’re going to have lots of kids and be happy together.Any questions?”

Giselle heard the drowsy tone and knew that he was more than halfway asleep.She was pretty sure that she should argue, but Dimitri had a point.It was late and she could barely handle her family when she was wide awake.Trying to handle them when she hadn’t gotten enough sleep wasn’t a good idea.

Chapter 23

“Well,it’sabouttime!”Diane Carrington sneered the moment Giselle stepped into the house.She barely looked up from her phone, tapping with one hand while holding the device in the other.“Hurry, dear.If you just send me the money like last time, I might be able to call them and beg them to stop the late fees and interest.”

Giselle stopped just inside the doorway.

The familiar smell hit her first.Stale beer.Cheap perfume.Something fried hours ago and left to linger.Her stomach tightened as her gaze swept across the room.

Shopping bags covered the sofa.Bright logos.Crisp tissue paper peeking out of the tops.Her mother had gone out today—again.

Her fingers curled slowly at her sides.

She’d barely been inside for ten seconds, and already the guilt was being laid at her feet.