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“I see that, Dax.” I couldn’t keep the note of impatience out of my voice. “If they do anything else, I will tell you.”
He gave a satisfied nod.
My grocery bags now empty and tucked in a drawer, I walked to the opposite end of the island from which he sat. “There’s one last thing I want to cover. We might not be all wrapped up in each other. But for me, cheating will still be grounds for this to end.”
His eyes cooled. “You think I’d do that to you?”
“Actually, no. I just want to be clear how important an issue this is for me. Some guys in my past were shocked that I wouldn’t forgive such a ‘slip in control.’ Guys who thought that getting a hand job doesn’t count. In my books, it does. Touch another woman in any kind of sexual context, and we’re done.”
“That would never happen. I expect the same loyalty from you.”
“You’ll get it,” I swore. “I wouldn’t ask anything of you that I’m not willing to promise in return.”
“Then everything is settled.” He dipped his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a black, velvet ring box.
My heartbeat stuttered, and I swallowed so hard I was surprised it wasn’t audible. He slid the box across the island toward me. My nerves scrambling, I picked it up, lifted the lid … and almost lost my breath. A sparkling round diamond lay at the center of a white gold band into which little pavé diamonds were set.
“It’s beautiful.”Understatement.It was stunning and elegant and absolute perfection. Swiping my tongue over my suddenly dry lower lip, I met his gaze. “You’re sure this is definitely what you want?”
“Positive.” He gave me a look of pure challenge. “Are you?”
“Yes.” To prove it, I plucked the ring from the box and slid it onto my finger. It fit a little too perfectly. “How did you so accurately guess my ring size?” I almost smiled at how offended he looked by the question, as if it should be obvious that he would guess correctly.
“I’ll take care of acquiring the wedding bands as well. How fast can you put the wedding itself together?”
“How fast do you want it done?”
“As soon as possible.”
I chewed on my lower lip, pensive. “Providing we keep things small and simple, we could have it a week from Saturday.” I had work commitments to stick to, and I wasn’t going to shove them all aside.
Dax briefly considered it. “An eleven day wait is acceptable.”
I almost snorted at the oh-so-imperious response.
He rose to his feet. “My villa is at the opposite end of the village. Number sixty-five. Can you be there for dinner tomorrow at six?”
I skimmed through my mental to-do-list. “Six works.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow evening.” He turned and stalked out of the room as slowly and purposefully as he’d entered it.
I trailed after him as he headed to the front door, unable to resist admiring that firm butt of his.
Dax pulled open the door and then half-turned to lock those incredible eyes on me. “Don’t take the ring off.”
I blinked. “I wasn’t planning to, but … why?”
He glanced down at it. “When you slid it on your finger, you sealed our deal. I want you to have that reminder that there’s no going back now. I also want anyone who thinks to interfere to see for themselves that they’re wasting their breath and the deal is done.”
Peoplewerelikely to take it more seriously on seeing me wearing an engagement ring. Dax wouldn’t exactly go to the trouble of buying one unless he meant business, and I wouldn’t bother wearing one unless I was sure of my choice. “Okay. Just to say, I don’t need a reminder that I’ve given you my word. I don’t intend to break it.”
“You gave me your word when we made our pact, not taking it seriously.”
“That was different. I thought we were both kidding. Now, I don’t.”
He gave a satisfied dip of the chin. “Good.” Then he walked out.
Puffing out a breath, I resisted the urge to watch him stalk to his vehicle and instead closed the door.
