Page 79 of Kissing Kayley
For one Special Agent Victor August Belefonte.
That’s when I realized the paper had been covering something lying on the plate beneath it?—
An engagement ring.
At least, that’s what it looked like.
My eyes widened and I’m pretty certain my jaw gaped as I picked it up, because it was a damned large diamond.
“Hope you’re still hungry for dessert, baby,” he said from behind me.
I turned and spotted him standing there, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. Yes, in a suit—damn him—and looking completely smug.
“I should add that I’m on leave starting today and running up to my retirement date, because I had a ton to use up still.” He walked over and took the ring from me, dropped to one knee, and then slipped the ring onto my left ring finger.
“I love you,” he said. “And you’re right that life is short. It wasn’t fair for me to be so chicken-shit. My career has a natural expiration date but yours doesn’t. I don’t want a full-time career and a part-time submissive. I want a full-time relationship with the woman I love, however she wants to define that relationship with me. I have my pension, but I can also pursue other employment options from nearly anywhere in the country and still be home with you nearly every night.”
I blinked back more tears. “My department head might have offered to let me reduce my class load and teach remotely while I work on my book,” I said. “All I need is a stable internet connection. Sir,” I added.
He cupped my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it. “Really?”
I nodded. “Really.” I took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I’m ready to face the full-time fury of a Montana winter, but I’d be willing to split our time between Laguna Beach and Montana. At first, at least. You know, until we decide if that’s where we want to be.”
A slow, sexy smile filled his face. “Oh, reeeeally?”
“Yeah. On one condition.”
“Name it,” he said.
“No butt plugs. At least not during allergy season. And definitely not after Mexican food.”
He snorted. “Agreed, baby. So, will you marry me?”
I nodded, full-on crying now. “Yes!”
He stood, pulling me into his arms where he laid a long, sweetly sexy kiss on me.
Exactly the kind of kiss I wanted to enjoy on a daily basis for the rest of my life.
And for the first time in several months my soul felt peaceful, like this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
“Are we good?” Ily spoke from the doorway.
Vic turned us and I spotted her playful smile. “Yeah,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Well, it was time someone did something to give this guy a foot in his ass. It was that or I was going to have him sent to Alaska to protect him from Jordan. And congratulations.” She walked in and hugged me, then him. “If you want to have the wedding here, just tell me the date and we’ll arrange it.”
I stared up into Vic’s gaze. “What do you think?”
“I honestly don’t have a preference where, when, or how we get hitched, as long as we do. I’m through wasting time.”
I thought about it. “I don’t want a public ceremony.” I turned to Ily. “Could we have a small, private ceremony here? My brother, Jordan, Elliot, my parents, and Elliot’s parents?” I won’t leave them out because they’ve adopted me and I love them. “And you, your husband, and the kids, of course.”
She eagerly rubbed her hands together. “Give me a date and it’s done.”
Vic cleared his throat. “Forget someone?”
My eyes widened with horror. “Oh, my god! Your family! I’m so sorry!”
