Chapter 44
Goldie
She woke feeling lighter than she had in…
well, in longer than she could remember, really.
Rolling onto her back, she stretched and grinned up at the ceiling.
Things weren’t perfect, not by a long shot.
Rowan was still on bed rest at the clinic, the Russians and Williams still had it out for her new family, and they still had no fucking clue who the mole was.
But despite everything hanging over their heads, she was happy. And that was enough.
“Someone woke up in a good mood.”
Pushing up in the bed, she grinned even wider when she spotted Brody making his way into their room with a cup of coffee in hand. “I figured out another thing that’s not bullshit in my books.”
One reddish brow quirked up as he handed her the mug. “And what’s that?”
Both to keep him in suspense and because she desperately wanted that first life-giving sip of caffeine, she made him wait while she closed her eyes and took a long pull of coffee. “Mmm. Okay, make that two things. Being served coffee in bed by a hot mafia man definitely lives up to the fantasy.”
A smug smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “And what was the other thing?”
“Falling in love.”
Everything about him softened. “Aye. That part, you definitely got right.”
“I wasn’t sure, you know.” Keeping her gaze locked on his, she lifted the mug to her lips again.
“Since I’d never really been in love like that, the way I write about in my books where it’s this huge, terrifying, all-consuming thing, I wasn’t sure it would feel the same.
And some parts of it are different, but overall… yeah, I think I nailed it.”
“What’s different?”
Because he seemed genuinely interested, she took her time answering.
“In my books, it’s all grand gestures and sweeping declarations of love.
And I’m not saying you haven’t had some doozies when it comes to both of those things, but I’m realizing now…
it’s more about the little ways you show up.
Like keeping me calm and centered when I’m panicking about an event, or standing by my side when my dad shows up unexpectedly.
And then also setting aside your own beef with the cops to get to know him, all because he’s important to me and I’m important to you.
I used to think love screamed at the top of its lungs, but now I’m seeing that more often than not it whispers in the dark, quietly reminding you that you aren’t alone. ”
Reaching for her, he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, a knowing smile still playing at his lips. “You know, as far as sweeping declarations go, that one wasn’t too bad.”
“I’m pretty proud of it. I should be a writer or something.”
“Speaking of… I have a surprise for you. Downstairs.”
Curiosity, her greatest gift and heaviest cross to bear gripped her as he pulled her to her feet and led her down the stairs. Toward the den he’d converted to an office space for her. She still couldn’t quite bring herself to consider it her office, but maybe she could convince him to let her—
Her internal monologue cut to silence when he pushed open the door. For a moment, all she could do was stare in shock at what lay inside.
It was her office. In its entirety. Her desk, her chair, her pictures on the wall, even her dry-erase board where she jotted random notes about stories she was working on or things that needed to be done relatively soon.
Stepping inside, she looked around, an odd pressure growing in her chest as she took in the transformed space. Nearly everything was in the exact right spot, though a few minor changes had been made to accommodate the different dimensions of the den.
“How?” she whispered, crossing the room to run her fingers lovingly over the planner sitting right where she always left it, on her desk in her office.
“The twins. I sent them to your apartment with strict instructions to take pictures of how you had everything set up. Last night, when we were at your dad’s, they came over and replicated it as closely as we could. I know it’s not perfect, but—”
Running toward him, she leapt into his arms, pressing her lips to his and cutting off whatever else he was planning to say. “It is perfect. Thank you, Daddy.”
“Yeah?” A smile curved his lips. “I know it’s not as, ah, pink as your apartment but we can go pick out some paint samples this weekend if you want.”
“Really? You’re going to let me paint your den?”
“No. I’m going to let you paint your office.”
Dammit. If he kept this up, she really was going to fall head over heels, irrevocably in love with him. “What’s the catch?”
“Just this.”
She got her third shock of the morning when he set her down and dropped to one knee in front of her, pulling a red ring box from the pocket of his shorts.
Love, so bright and happy she wondered how she didn’t burst into flames from the warmth of it exploded inside her as he flipped open the lid of the box and she stared down at her mother’s wedding set.
“Marry me, menace. Marry me, and I’ll let you paint every room in the house pink if you want.”
“Oh my god. Oh my god, yes! Yes, yes, yes!”
Without even waiting for him to put the ring on, she launched herself at him, knocking them both to the ground as their laughter echoed around her office.
Her office. In the home she shared with the man she loved beyond all reason.
Had she thought she was happy before? Because what she’d felt waking up that morning was nothing compared to the emotions coursing through her right now.
“Settle down, menace,” Brody growled in her ear, sending a delightful little shiver up her spine as he pinned her beneath him, one knee wedged between her bare thighs.
She was wearing nothing but a shirt that said “let me sit on your face and glaze you like a donut” with a picture of an actual donut dripping with a sugary glaze above the words, a fact she was suddenly very aware of as her Daddy’s denim-clad thigh pressed against her clit.
“Let me get this damn ring on you, and then we can celebrate.”
“Celebrate how?”
The smile he’d been wearing all morning spread to a wicked grin as he looked pointedly down at her shirt. “Oh, I have some ideas.”
Another laugh burst out of her. God, she was fucking wild about him. “Well, get it on me already!”
“Impatient little brat. I swear I’m going to spend the rest of our lives teaching you manners,” he muttered as he slid the ring onto her left hand.
Her mother’s ring, and tears blurred her eyes as she lifted her arm to stare up at the glittering ruby.
She knew how much it must have cost her father to give it up, especially to a man like Brody, and that made it even more special.
But letting her father know how much she cherished his blessing could wait. This moment was about the two of them, and the love they shared. Sliding her hand into his hair, she tugged until he lowered his head, claiming her lips in a soul-shattering kiss.
They sealed their engagement right there on the floor of her brand-new office, where she did, indeed, get an opportunity to glaze him like a donut as she rode herself to oblivion on his tongue before he flipped her onto her back and forced her up and over the cliff again, and again, and again.
Finally, after forcing her to come more times than she could count, he filled her. Whispering praise in her ear with every stroke of his cock inside her too-sensitive pussy.
Until, at last, they were both satiated and they lay sprawled out on the floor together, with her curled up in his arms and the ruby on her finger glinting in the sunlight as her hand lay resting on his bare chest.
“Once this business with Williams and the Russians is taken care of, we’re going on a proper honeymoon. A full month away from this place. On some tropical island or something.”
“Ireland.” Wriggling so she was laying more fully atop him, she brushed a lock of fiery hair from his eye and grinned. “I want to meet your grandmother and let her show me all the local places most tourists don’t get to see.”
Wariness crept into his pale eyes, delighting her even more. “Wouldn’t you rather go to the Maldives? Or if you’re set on Europe, we could do a wine tour of Italy.”
“Nope. Ireland. I’ve got my heart set on it now.”
She saw the moment she won the argument, felt it in the rise and fall of his chest beneath her as he sighed. “All right. But don’t think having my Nana around will save you from getting your ass whipped if you get into any mischief.”
Laughing, she ducked her head to brush her lips over his.
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Daddy.”