Page 34 of Meant for Mayhem

When the driver’s door opened and Mikko stuck his head inside, I asked, “Have you heard her talk at all? Anything that sounded intentional. Like b sounds for ball, or d for Daddy?”

I looked up in time to see his expression change from what looked like nervous energy to concern.

“She makes a lot of noise, but I’ve never heard words, no. Is that bad?”

I looked back at Leena, asking again, “Where’s your doll?”

This time, I didn’t point at it.

Leena looked around her car seat before leaning over the side and pointing to the floorboard where Cinderella laid on the floor.

I reached down and handed it back with a smile. “That’s right. There’s your doll.”

Leena let out a joyful shriek before launching Cinderella over her shoulder at Mikko’s face.

He caught it out of midair—because of course he did—and handed it right back to her, all too familiar with this game.

I pulled out my phone and jotted down a note. “I don’t think it’s her hearing.”

“They tested it at her eighteen-month appointment.” Mikko climbed into the driver’s seat and set something on the center console. “Everything came back fine. Is there something I should watch for?”

I looked up to answer, but my train of thought vanished as I caught sight of the dark blue bag sitting between us, Vail Valley Jewelers stamped across the front in gold script. “What’s that?”

His mouth pulled into an almost shy smile. “For you, wife.”

Wife.

The word landed differently this time.

When I didn’t reach for the bag, Mikko slipped his hand inside and pulled out a velvet box only big enough to hold a ring.

“My options were limited considering I only had a few hours.” His gaze stayed fixed on the box instead of me. “If you hate it, we’ll find you something else.”

My brain refused to catch up with what my eyes were seeing. “You... You bought me a ring.”

Finally, he looked up. “My wife would have one.”

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in his voice. No grand declaration. No attempt to impress me. Just a simple statement of fact.

My wife would have one.

Until that moment, I’d done a great job of convincing myself that this arrangement wasn’t that different from being Lori’s live-in caretaker.

But caretakers didn’t get wedding rings…

“You didn’t have to do this,” I said quietly. “I don’t need this.”

Before I had time to elaborate, Mikko climbed out of the SUV and came around to my door. He opened it, holding one hand out toward me.

My heart was racing too hard to even fathom what he wanted from me now, but Mikko apparently didn’t feel the same.

“Don’t hate me,” he muttered.

I looked at him, eyes squinting right before one hand settled on my thigh. In a split second, he slid me across the leather bench seat toward him with almost embarrassing ease. Heat shot through me before my brain could catch up with what was happening, which was wildly unfair.

A man shouldn’t be allowed to look like Mikko Laaksonen while manhandling people.

I yelped, putting my hand up to keep me from crashing into his chest. “What the⁠—”