Page 35 of A Bossy Proposal

My heart races as I process his words. This is way more intimate than I bargained for. “But what if I’m not on birth control?”

West’s lips curve into a smirk. “Unless you want children, we’ll have to fix that.” He straightens up, towering over me. “We’re not going into the office today. We have both got a doctor’s appointment to get checked out.”

I blink up at him, confused. “For what?”

“To make sure we’re both healthy and...fertile.” He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching.

My face heats. “Fertile? What the hell, West? This is a fake relationship, not a baby-making operation!”

This is not at all what I signed up for. A simple arrangement, but now West seems intent on complicating things.

“This is for one year, West. No babies.”

He chuckles, the deep rumble sending a jolt of awareness through me. “Relax, Amelia. It’s just a precaution for my parents’ sake. They’ll want grandchildren eventually and proof that we can give them.”

I open and close my mouth, unsure of how to respond. West chuckles; the deep rumble sends a shiver down my spine.

At least I now know this is a joke. I gasp, “I thought you wanted to get me pregnant for a moment there.”

West shakes his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Not unless you want to be.”

He reaches out and twirls a stray lock of hair between his fingers before tucking it behind my ear. My skin tingles at his gentle touch.

“How many men have told you that you’re beautiful?” He stares into my eyes.

I lean into his touch, my body betraying the uncertainty swirling in my mind. “Beautiful.” My voice trembles. “Only my dad.”

West stares at me, his fingers trailing down my neck to rest on my shoulder. “Because everyone you’ve ever been with was scared of your beauty.”

“I doubt that.”

He smiles. “Don’t. They tried to keep that knowledge away from you. That’s what happens when you date insecure men.”

“Or they never thought I was,” I counter. My face warms under his intense gaze, a blush creeping up my neck.

He has a playful glint in his eyes that makes my heart flutter. “There’s no denying it. You are beautiful.”

No one has ever called me beautiful before, at least not like this.

His thumb traces the line of my jaw, up my cheek before resting beside my eye. It’s like he is lost in his own world. “Breathtakingly so.” His voice is low, almost a rumble that sends shivers down my spine.

I swallow hard, my pulse quickening. “I, um... thank you. I don’t know what to say.” I avert my gaze, feeling self-conscious.

He smiles as his fingers drift down, trailing along the curve of my neck. “You deserve to know how stunning you are.” He leans in closer, his warm breath fanning across my face. “And I want you in my bed, Amelia. I want to see your face every night when I go to sleep and again when I wake up.”

“West…”

West leans in closer, his warm breath fanning across my face. And I can’t help the way my heart flutters in his presence. “And in bed we will not be fake.”

Chapter 11

West

Each day we’re together, the heat builds between Amelia and me. I’m happy she is getting more and more confident about our relationship.

More confident in herself.

Like now, I can’t take my eyes off her as she breezes through the office. Her presence fills the room, electrifying the air.

---