Page 67 of Tristan’s Temptation

Damn, Tristan reflected. She could be glacial to Adam too.

To his credit, his brother took it well. He leaned closer to Shannon and said in a half-whisper, “He showed me the ring before he found out about the baby.”

Shannon wobbled a little bit and reached behind her for a chair. Sat with a plop. “Are you being straight with me?”

“Is that true?” Kat glanced from Adam to Tristan and back again.

“He showed it to me when we were watching football. Told me he had something to confess. Admitted he was seeing Shannon. That he was in love with her.”

Kat frowned. “You knew this and you didn’t tell me?”

Adam held up his hands. “There wasn’t time. Right after we talked, he went into the kitchen where you and Mom let the cat out of the bag.”

Kat crossed her arms over her chest. “It wasn’t me.” She turned to Shannon. “It wasn’t me! Adam overheard our conversation the other night. Let something slip to his mom. It was Elaine who told Tristan. But none of us knew. I mean, we didn’t know Tristan was the father.”

Adam grinned, looking full of himself. “I knew.”

Kat smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “You should have told me.”

“Come on, sweetheart.” Adam snaked an arm around Kat’s waist and steered her to the door. “Let’s give these two some space. I think they have some things to discuss.”

“Yeah,” Kat said as Adam led her from the boardroom. “But you should have told me.”

The door closed and they were alone. Tristan dropped his gaze, suddenly nervous. Suddenly scared spitless.

“Is it true?” Her voice was soft, came to him through a fog.

He glanced at her and was, once again, nearly unmanned by the tears in her eyes. “Is what true?”

“Did you already have the ring?”

He knelt before her and took her hands in his, kissed her fingers. “I bought it on Monday.”

“Monday? A week ago?”

“They day after we got back from Ensenada. Shannon, I know I’ve been an ass.”

“You said idiot.”

He smiled. “That too. It was wrong of me to hide from Levin. I should have been a man. Introduced you and to hell with…with everything.”

“It wasn’t about Levin.”

“I know. It’s about us. Being proud of each other and wanting to share our love with the world. And I am. Proud and happy and humbled you would even consider being with me.”

“If I marry you…” His heart lifted and his expression must have as well, because she repeated, “If I marry you…everyone will know. It won’t be a secret anymore.”

“I don’t want it to be a secret. I want everyone to know you’re mine. Especially every man.”

“But your rule…”

“It was a stupid rule. We both know it was a stupid rule.”

She cupped his cheek. “It wasn’t a stupid rule. It was a good rule. It was just stupid for us.”

“It was hell on me. Shannon, can you forgive me? Can you forget what a dolt I am long enough to say yes? I do love you. I really do.”

“But enough to spend your life with me?”