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Inside, Kathleen Colton was glancing at her watch as they opened the door.
“Rylee, there you are. I was about to send out a search party.”
She rolled her eyes, but let her mother pull her into a hug. “We’re ten minutes late, mom. Calm down. Traffic was bad.”
Stepping back, she reached for Memphis, and he held out his free hand to Kathleen.
“Mrs. Colton, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
For one glorious moment, her mother was speechless as she found herself entranced under the billionaire’s spell, but then she shook herself out of it and held her arms out for a hug. “It’s so good to meet you, Mr. Foster. Please, call me Kathleen.”
“Only if you’ll call me Memphis. Shall we ask about a table?”
The three turned to the hostess station, and the employee smiled. “Your table is read, Mr. Foster.”
Rylee narrowed her eyes. “I told you no funny business.”
Memphis winked. “I just asked for a nice table. Nothing funny about that, Ace.”
When they were seated, Kathleen straightened her shoulders and stared at Memphis. “So, what are your intentions with my daughter.”
Memphis didn’t break eye contact as he reached for Rylee’s hand and brought it to his lips. “I was going to save this for dessert, but let’s just get this out of the way.”
Rylee’s heart beat faster when he stood and pushed his chair back, dropping to one knee. “Rylee Colton, I love you more than I ever imagined being able to love anyone. Will you marry me? I need you in my life, want you by my side, and in my bed. I want to build a life and have a family with you. What do you say, Ace?”
He pulled a ring box from his pocket and flipped it open. Rylee couldn’t help but steal a glance at her mother who sat open-mouthed.
“Rylee, for heaven’s sake answer the man.”
Memphis chuckled and reached up to brush a stray hair from Rylee’s face. “What do you say, lover? Let’s bet it all on each other.”
Rylee nodded and held her hand out for Memphis to slip the ring on. “Yes. I’ll marry you,” she whispered when he lifted one eyebrow at her expectantly.
A smattering of diners applauded, and a waiter approached with champagne. When they were alone again, Memphis leaned across the table and picked up Kathleen’s hand. “I hope that answers your question about my intentions.”
Kathleen smiled widely. “I should say it does. What about a pre-nup? How are you going to protect my daughter in the event that things don’t work out between you?”
Rylee put her face in her hands. “Fuck, mom. You’re embarrassing me.”
“Honestly, Rylee. You don’t have to use that word around me.”
“And you don’t have to ask my fiance embarrassing questions.”
Memphis slid an arm around her but kept his eyes on Kathleen. “I didn’t want a pre-nup at first, because I don’t want your daughter thinking I don’t trust her or that I view this relationship as temporary, but I’ve been thinking maybe we could draw one up that is designed to protect her.”
Rylee pulled away from him and held up her hand to show him the ring he’d just put there. “All in, remember?”
“Of course I remember. But your mom isn’t wrong, and I want to make sure she knows how serious we are.”
Kathleen leaned back and lifted her glass of champagne at them. “No need. I recognize that look in my daughter’s eyes. She’s committed to this, and I think you’re stuck with her.”
Memphis grinned and waved the server back to their table. “Excellent. Let’s order our meals and we can talk about the engagement party.”
Chapter 16
Four Weeks Later
“Mom,youdidnothave to break out the baby albums. How embarrassing,” Rylee groaned as she walked into the large ballroom at Elysium. Beside her, Memphis chuckled and squeezed her hand, so she turned her ire on him.
