Page 80 of Under His Watch

He didn’t get it. That was the loyal kind of woman she was. No thanks expected.

I also explained that we’d move back to the house that I’d first brought her to. Renovating would be a good project to share with her, but Franco shook his head. “Update the utilities first, so you can have the surveillance installed. Then move in there.”

I’d already planned on overseeing those steps, but I didn’t have to tell him that. He spoke up out of care.

“When will you plan the wedding?” my father asked several minutes later.

I shrugged. “Whenever she wants. Preferably sooner than later. Why?”

“Trying to figure out if I can pace myself here. Baby on the way.Mywedding. Now yours.” He looked at Franco at the same time I did.

“What?” he asked, shrugging.

“Are you going to be next?” my father asked.

Franco smirked. “No.”

“Never?” I asked, teasing further.

“Not going near the idea of marriage ever again. No thanks.”

Again?That sounded… specific. But it wasn’t the time to ask him about his word choice. We arrived at the legal office, and I let my father lead the way.

I’d already gotten a taste of violence in killing the Giovanni guard who put his hands on Tess. I gave my father and Franco a chance to vent some of that dangerous energy. Killing Elliot seemed anticlimactic, just a single shot to the head. The two bikers positioned at the building for security were taken to a warehouse to be interrogated, then killed.

All in all, it was an efficient day of work. My father and Franco left me to return to Tess, and I smiled at her excitement the whole ride to the jeweler’s. I arranged for a private viewing of theentire store, but I wondered if other customers being here would prompt her to be less indecisive.

“They’re all too expensive!” she exclaimed after the first hour of browsing.

I leaned over one glass counter and cleared my throat for the jeweler to come closer. “No more.”

He nodded, hiding a smile.

“No more what?” Tess asked.

“No more telling you the prices when you ask.”

She pouted.

“Choose whatever you want.” If she took all night here, so be it. But I was impatient to make love with her and see my ring on her finger.

“There’s so many choices,” she argued. “Can’t you pick?”

I shook my head, amused and entertained.

“Seriously.” She crossed her arms and gave me a playful smile. “You asked. You pick.”

I sighed, playing along. I closed my eyes and spun, then turned to spin the other way twice more. Pointing my finger out, I aimed at whatever lay in my path.

“Nice choice,” the jeweler said, holding out a bluish diamond ring.

“It was random,” I deadpanned.

“Ooh.” Tess’s brows raised as she looked at the ring. “I can’t believe that worked. But, Romeo… I think this is it.”

I chuckled, walking closer as she admired the ring. “Tess, I don’t care which ring you pick, just as long as it’s mine.”

She grinned, holding up the ring and presenting it to me. “This one.” She dropped it, and the jeweler shrieked.

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