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Corinne’s big eyes focus on me. I see hope. I see fear. She wants to believe me, but… “Xavian?”
“You need me to spell it out for you?”
“Please.”
I stand straight, backing her against the nearby wall until every inch of my body is pressed against hers, until I reduce her field of vision to nothing but me. “I love you.”
Her bottom lip trembles. More tears fall down her cheeks. But she doesn’t say a word.
Because she still doesn’t believe me? Or because it doesn’t matter?
“It’s the truth, princess. People have left you all your life? I never will. They’ve withheld their love to manipulate you? I won’t. They’ve put you last? You’ll never be anything but first for me. That’s a promise.” I pull a scrap of paper from my pocket and hand it to her. “This is for you. No strings. No expectations.”
She takes it with trembling fingers and scans it. Her eyes go wide. “A check. For five million dollars? Why? I don’t—”
“You know exactly why. I just told you. Don’t be afraid to believe me.”
“B-but…isn’t this the money you saved to go into business with your family?”
I nod. “For the record, Bethany and Clint calmed down and called me about an hour ago to tell me that, if we can get the messaging right on my apology, they want to proceed with the partnership. Maxon and Griff never backed out of our planned venture. But I believe in you, in what you’re doing, in your passion for the pieces you create. So I want you to have this outright. It’s not a loan. I don’t expect any part of your company in return. I just want you to succeed.”
“You’re serious?” I can’t tell whether she thinks I’m her knight in shining armor or I’m crazy. Maybe both.
“It’s all yours.”
She shakes her head. “I-I can’t take your future from you.”
“You’re not. I’m giving it to you. I can make more money and I have time to invest in me. I’d rather invest in you first.”
A sob wracks her. She presses a hand to her chest and the way she looks at me, like I’m her everything… My heart seizes up.
Maybe I have a sliver of a chance with her. I’m fucking going to press forward.
With my heart pounding, I settle a finger under her chin and lift her tear-stained face, making her meet my stare as I reach into my pocket again. “One more thing.”
“This is already too much. I can’t—” I hold up the engagement ring I first slipped on her finger, and she gasps. “Xavian?”
Her eyes have gone so big. I had this whole speech planned about how we belong together and that I intend to do my best every single day to make her happy. But I suddenly get tongue-tied. I can only manage to say the most important part.
“Marry me, princess.”
“What?” she breathes like she can’t possibly have heard me right.
“Marry me.”
She bites that lip again as her expression falls into something both horrified and sad. “But I ruined your life.”
“No. Only you leaving me could do that.” I lift the ring closer. “What do you say? Can I put this on your finger?”
Corinne opens her mouth, still gaping. “Did you actually b-buy that?”
I nod, trying to stay calm. She hasn’t said yes…but she hasn’t said no, either. “About twenty minutes ago. It’s yours. I want you to wear it. I want you to say I do. I want to fill you up with babies so we can make a family of our own. I want you to be mine forever.”
To my right, the click of the latch warns me we have company.
Riley shuffles in and takes one look at us. His eyes narrow. He drops the styrofoam container that smells like cheeseburger and rushes toward me. Clearly, he’s pissed I’m here. And when his gaze falls on the engagement ring in my grip, his scowl deepens.
Tough shit. I’m not leaving until Corinne answers me.
“You’re not marrying her, you bastard! Get the fuck out of my room and away from her. Or I’ll ruin you.”
Corinne
My head is reeling. How did everything come to this?
The last twenty-four hours have been some of the worst—and yet some of the best—of my life. Riley battering his way back into the hotel room falls into the former category. Xavian proposing is definitely in the latter. I’m still stunned.
Xavian did ask me to marry him, right? I wasn’t dreaming?
Mouth curled in a snarl, Riley glares at us angrily. I had no idea my ex even had a temper.
Without hesitation, Xavian slides me behind him, sheltering me from Riley’s unexpected wrath. It’s not the first time he’s been protective. If I say yes to his proposal, I suspect he’ll always be possessive. That should not give me flutters…
It does.
“You can’t touch me, you fucking cockroach,” Xavian growls back. “This is between Corinne and me. Get out or I’ll destroy you.”
