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MATING FEVER
Bethany walked into Math’s penthouse suite. “What was so all-fired important that you blew up my phone with texts and I had to leave in the middle of cleaning and organizing the ballroom? The apparitional marmosets were pissed at me for cutting out early. They’re a little OCD.”
“They’rea little OCD?” Math asked, smiling at her, his golden eyes almost twinkling in amusement.
“Yes, and that ballroom has to beperfectwhen the angel investors get here. It’s, like, thecenterpieceofeverything.Except for the fountain. And I’ll totally fix that.”
Math closed his front door and locked it. His white shirt strained over his broad back like he was getting even more muscular. Bethany didn’t know when on Earth he would have had time to work out in the last few weeks, and the lean bricks of his abdominals were ripped as heck.
Two catering carts stood in the center of the living room. One had a few dirty dishes stacked on it, but the other’s plates were covered with steel warming lids.
When Math turned back to her, he had shoved both his hands in his pockets and was staring at the thick carpeting under their feet, not looking at her.
He sighed, and it was a heavy, regretful sound. His dark hair was mussed like he’d been running his hands through it or flying.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
Oh,by all the gods of magic, he was breaking up with her.
She’d thought they’d hit it off. Every time she was around him, a spark and thrill ran through her that had everything and nothing to do with sex.
She’d thought he was special.
She’d thought she was special to him.
But his downcast eyes, his hunched shoulders, and his hands clenched into fists inside the pockets of his trousers spoke volumes.
Yeah, Math was breaking up with her.
Pain lanced through her chest.
Without looking up, he gestured to the living room furniture, not toward the bedroom door. “We need to talk.”
Bethany straightened her spine. “No, we don’t. I can see what’s going on. It’s over. You’re breaking up with me. We don’t need to talk at all. I’ll just do my job in the casino and get it ready for the angel investors in two weeks. I won’t be a problem.”
She barged past him, reaching for the doorknob.
Math caught her around her waist and set her in front of him. “Hear me out.”
“I don’t have to. You’re obviously preparing me for a break-up.”
“I don’t want to break up with you.”
“Then what? You look miserable. Are you miserable atnotbreaking up with me? Because if that’s the case, consider me gone.” Even though her heart was shattering.
“Let me talk, please? Let me try to explain?” he asked, his huge hands open and imploring.
She was beyond listening. A crevasse had swallowed her heart. “Oh, it’s one of those it’s-not-you-it’s-me things, right? Or it’s beyond your control? Or something else?”
“All of that. And something else.”
“Quit being so damned cryptic!”
His voice hitched in his throat as he said, “I love you.”
“And yet you look so miserable about it!”
Math took one of her hands in both of his and lowered himself to one knee in front of her. He looked her straight in her eyes. “Will you marry me?”
