Page 107 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
It was hard not to chuckle at her. Women. Sexuality wasn't the only thing on a man's mind, but you'd think they all believed it was, or maybe that it was the only key that might unlock their attention. Might work on some poor chaps, but my door was locked tight. A beautiful redhead with soft lips and more confidence than I'd seen on most men had my heart. My thoughts. My body. All of me.
She'd soon have my ring too.
I picked up my napkin and wiped at my mouth. "I'm from Houston, born and raised."
"A country boy. I like it."
I smirked. "My father owns a construction company, and I originally went to school to learn accounting to go work for him, but he found a good partner the year before I graduated who had plenty of business savvy to play the part of back office manager for him. So, I decided to research the market, and I found Martin and Co. I was beyond impressed with what Rebecca Martin had done with the place, and knew without a doubt that if she'd have me, I'd work for her forever."
"Nice." The girl's eyes brightened. "And there's no way I could possibly talk you into considering a shift into industry? You know your stuff and I sure could use a man like you around to help us grow like we plan to."
I smiled and picked up my iced tea. "I will be around. Rebecca and I will take good care of your company. That's part of you bringing us on board."
"Do you and Rebecca work that closely?" She tilted her head to the side a little.
"We do." I took a bite of my lunch and watched her reaction as realization rolled over her pretty face.
"Wait. Is she just your boss?"
"And my girlfriend." I chuckled as her cheeks burned red. "I'm going to ask her to marry me this Christmas. We're all headed up to Denver for some skiing here in a few weeks." I shrugged. "It's probably too early, and she's going to give me hell for surprising her, but I found what I was looking for. Time to make sure she's mine forever."
"Oh. Wow." She sat back in her chair and reached for her wine. "I seriously thought you were single. I don't know why. You're incredibly good-looking and so damn smart. Stupid of me."
"Were you hitting on me, Dina?" I smirked, loving the way she backtracked quickly. I lifted my hand. "I'm picking at you. We're good. I'll draw up the rest of the papers when I get home and we'll get everything taken care of at Deming. I'm a taken man, and I have been for a while."
"I see." She tucked her head down a little and started to eat.
Funny enough, the conversation died out pretty quickly. I couldn't have been more pleased. My steak was incredible, and my thoughts filled up the time, like they always did. Quickly moving from the present to the future. A future where my boss wore my ring and helped me raise our babies.
I was lost to her. I could only hope she agreed when I hit my knee later that month. Her saying no was the only thing that kept me up at night.
She won't say no. Will she?
* * *
I sat on the plane, waiting for the door to close and couldn't stand the tension in my chest any longer. I hadn't talked to Becca for a few days, namely because I didn't want to look like the sap she'd turned me into. Pulling out my phone, I dialed her number and pressed the FaceTime button. I had to see her. A week was too long.
"Hey." She smiled as her beautiful face came into view on my phone.
My cock twitched in my slacks, and my heart skipped a beat. "Hey, beautiful."
"You on the plane?" Her smile faded a little.
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to getting back home. Are you still free tonight?" I hated to ask seeing that we'd moved into something more serious than casual dating, but I wanted to offer her an out in case she needed it. She was a fickle woman with more demons to slay than any other I'd met before.
"Of course I am."
Parker appeared behind her, a string of lights dangling from his fingers. "Hey, buddy. How was it? Did you land the deal?"
"Sure did." I lifted an eyebrow. "What are you two up to, and should I be worried?"
"Never." She rolled her eyes.
"Always." Parker wagged his eyebrows. "You should never leave a woman this beautiful at home alone. It's relationship suicide."
I held my tongue as Rebecca popped him in the chest and turned so that it was only her again. "You have nothing to worry about. You know that."
"I'm ready to get home to you." I let my eyes move across her face as every part of me woke up. She might not feel as deeply as I did, but I was more than ready to make the plunge into marriage with her. She was everything I'd wanted my whole life. Strong, confident, brilliant, beautiful.
