Page 92 of Her Ruthless Protector

He kind of liked all of her crap messing up the place. However, it had been mandatory within two days that another desk be brought in. No way, no how, was he going to share one with her.

He went up and grabbed his box of protein-enriched vegetable nutrition bars from the bookcase. It was the one thing in the office that A.J. didn’t touch. Not that she was a peeping tom, it’s just that she was constantly losing stuff and knew that she could find what she needed in his orderly area. Therefore, he was always having to replenish Post-its, binder-clips and thumb tacks. Of course, she often had to replace Ding Dongs and Pop Tarts.

He fished through the protein bars to the back of the box and found the powder blue velvet box. He opened it up again. The ring had just the right amount of style and a hint of flash, just like A.J.. He was pretty sure she’d love it. He hoped he was right. He was pretty sure he was right.

Fuck that noise, he was right.

He snapped the lid shut and shoved the box into the pocket of his cargo shorts.

He was right, wasn’t he?

Kane had planned dinner out, champagne, flowers, the whole nine yards, but then thought better of it. That was never going to be them. For a nanosecond he’d considered proposing at the barbeque, but if he put her on the spot like that, she’d go searching for his knife again for sure.

He left the office to hunt her down. It was time to get this thing done. He was sick of living in limbo. When he got to the bedroom door, it was slightly ajar and he heard voices. The closer he got, he realized it was A.J. talking to herself.

“Enough of this shit. It’s time to tell him. You don’t want to leave. See, it’s easy. I don’t want to leave you. Six words. You can do it, you wuss.”

H peeked inside. She was slathering scented lotion on those now golden-brown legs. Oh, God, she killed him.

“What six words?” He asked as he pushed the door in and walked inside the bedroom.

Her gaze narrowed on him and she lifted her pink sundress high up on her thigh and started to rub in the lotion.

“Trying to make me say that again to torture me. How about I just keep putting on lotion and don’t let you touch? You like the sound of that?”

He avidly watched as she parted her legs just a little and squeezed out a little more of the coconut- and lime-scented lotion and rubbed it into her inner thighs. He couldn’t tear his eyes away.

“Now this time, why don’t you tell me what all you heard?”

“You don’t want to leave me,” he whispered hoarsely.

Her fingers trembled ever so slightly. His gaze jerked up so he could look into her eyes. She had on her confident game face, but he could see just a hint of vulnerability.

He was in front of her in less than a second, on his knees, breathing in the succulent tropical scent, but mostly the scent of A.J..

“Ah, Love, how could you doubt for a second that I don’t want you here beside me, forever.”

Kane shoved his hand into his pocket.

Dammit, wrong pocket. He tried again and came out with the box.

She wasn’t looking at the box, she was looking into his eyes.

“Marry me, Love.” He flipped open the box.

She stared at him. “Marriage? I thought we’d just live in sin for a couple of years.”

He saw the twinkle in her eye as she continued to look at him. “Yes, dammit, marriage. I got you a ring and everything. Tell me you’ll marry me.”

She grinned and then paused. What a total wench. Finally, she threw her arms around him and whispered “Yes,” into his ear.

“Look at the ring,” he prompted.

“I don’t need to look at the ring. I said yes. I don’t even need a ring. All I want is us together forever.”

“Dammit, A.J., look at the ring.”

She grabbed his cheeks, one tear trickled down her face. “Why would I look at diamonds, when everything I’ve ever dreamed of is in your eyes?”

“Ah, hell, you kill me. Every damn time, you kill me.” He let the box drop to the carpet. “One lifetime isn’t going to be enough for us,” he said hoarsely, “because I’m holding on for eternity.”

He’d found his soulmate.