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I release her, then hold up my hands. "I think you’ll find it worth your time to listen to my proposition."
She folds her arms across her chest and leans back in her seat. "Not that I’m even remotely interested... But in the interest of getting you out of my home, what is it?"
I lean forward, lock my fingers together, then fix her with my gaze. "Marry me."
7
Elsa
"What?" I gape at him. "I think I heard you incorrectly."
"You heard me right." He looks back at me placidly. "Marry me."
I burst out laughing, and Avery turns to stare at me. I reach over, pick up half a grape, and hold it to her mouth. She flicks her tongue around it, then closes her lips around my fingers, and begins to chew on it. I pull my hand back, and she proceeds to smash her fist into the tray next to her food bowl.
"And I thought I was the one to take a blow to the head," I mutter under my breath.
Anger radiates off of him, and I can’t stop myself from glancing at him. His features are set in uncompromising lines, his lips firm. He glares at me and my insides flip-flop. "Whoever chased you yesterday is not going to stop until he gets to you." He jerks his chin in Avery’s direction. " What happens to her then? Have you thought of that?"
"I’m a mother. What do you think?" I snap at him.
"So, then you know what I’m offering you will help you take care of all of your problems in one stroke."
"You’re joking, right?" I half laugh.
His face grows even more stormy and a nerve throbs at his temple. He seems to be barely controlling himself, if that set jaw of his is any indication.
"Anger leads to high blood pressure, which leads to all sorts of other problems," I murmur.
"Excuse me?" He frowns.
"You’re perpetually frowning. It’s also bad for your skin. Not that the lines don’t look good on you... They do add a certain distinguished air... But still, when you smile, the whole world smiles, you know?"
His scowl deepens. "Don’t change the topic of discussion."
"I wasn’t aware we were having a discussion."
He pulls something out of his pocket, and places it on the table between us.
"What the hell—?" I gape at the blue diamond surrounded by golden-yellow sapphires in an intricate setting. The ring is not store-bought. Everything about the piece points to it being a family heirloom. This was not a spur of the moment decision.
"What… what is that?" I finally mange to force the words out through a throat gone dry.
"It belonged to Nonna." He glances at the ring, then at me. "I want you to have it. I want you to be my wife."
"W-wife?" I shake my head. "I barely know you."
"You don’t need to know me to marry me."
"Oh yeah?" I reach for a glass of water, take a sip, then choke on it and place it back on the table. I cough so much that tears run down my cheek.
He jumps up, grabs a napkin, and hands it to me.
"Thanks." I nod to him as I dry my eyes.
At which point, Avery begins to cry.
"Sorry, honey, I didn’t mean to scare you." I scoop her up from the highchair and cuddle her. She instantly subsides and begins to play with my hair.
