“Yeah, Kitty’s pretty protective.” I smiled fondly and gazed around at the beautiful roof. A giant pool glimmered invitingly, some patio furniture set up perfectly for lounging, and a very familiar cabana bed with sheer yellow drapes made me do a double take. “Is that the same…?”
Cade followed my gaze, nodding. “I had it moved here from the ship. Sentimental reasons.”
I swallowed thickly, thinking about what that meant. And he still hadn’t let go of my hand.
I frowned at him. “I don’t understand. What happened to the guy who wanted to be fake married for a year and then ‘split amicably’?”
He at least had the decency to wince.
“I didn’t want to marry you for the promotion,” he said slowly, watching me closely. “I was lying to myself when I said that, and it took a few interventions from my family to realize it. The offer was just an excuse for you to stick around so I’d have a year to convince you to fall in love with me.”
I blinked, then almost scowled, but mostly I just wanted to bop him over the head.
“You know, for such a smart guy, you can be a real idiot.” I tried to frown, but it immediately softened. “I’d already fallen for you, Cade.”
His jaw flexed, and something flickered in his dark gaze that I’d never expected to see—vulnerability. “…Oh?”
“Yeah. I mean, how could I not? You gave me your chocolates and held me when I puked my guts up.” Tears blurred my vision, and a few slipped out, which I quickly brushed away. “That’s why it hurt so much when you wanted to keep it pretend.”
He stepped closer and drew me gently into him before I’d finished speaking, tucking me close to his chest.
“The last thing I want to do is make you cry,” he whispered against the top of my head. “I’m sorry, Darling.”
Any other day, I would’ve laughed if a man dressed up as a giant rainbow unicorn hugged me, but all my emotions bubbled to the surface instead. I wasn’t too proud to admit I just wanted to be held. Sniffling, I wrapped both arms around him and hugged him back. He was the same big and warm furnace I remembered cuddling up against at night.
We stood there together, wrapped in each other’s arms, until Cade pulled back enough to press something small and solid into my palm. “Here. Put this back on.”
I glanced down, then stared open-mouthed at the sparkling diamond. An engagement ring. “What?”
“It’s already yours,” he said. “We can wait before making it official this time, but you’re going to be my wife.”
My blood pressure went through the roof, and I spluttered incoherent noises. Was he insane? I had no idea what part to even focus on right now, so I chose the thing right in front of my face. “You had another ring made?”
“It’s the original. I hired a team of divers to retrieve it.”
My jaw came loose, and I gaped at him. “You’re joking. You said it was insured.”
His gaze softened, warming my insides. “Your eyes light up when you look at this one, so a new one didn’t feel right. Put it on.”
Speechless, all I could do was stare at the ring.
He wanted to getmarried?
“Wait a second.” I cleared my throat, shaking my head. “Aren’t you supposed to ask first?”
Amusement flickered in his eyes. “I did. Before we got on the yacht.”
I whacked his arm. “That was a fake engagement! And you hardly asked.”
Chuckling, he pressed a tender kiss to my lips, then backed up just far enough to send goose bumps racing up my spine. “Be my wife, Ellie Darling.”
I huffed, even as my blood heated. “That still wasn’t a question.”
A sly smile took shape before he leaned down and stole another gentle kiss. “Asking isn’t really my style, but maybe there’s another way I can convince you…”
His fingers traced the band of skin between my shorts and crop top, and my breathing faltered at his sure touch.
“Cade,” I warned softly, bracing a hand on his arm.
