Page 109 of Takeover

But my men are waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. They both offer me a hand when I land on the last step. As soon as I’m securely on the floor, Ethan looks down at Vincent, nods to him, and Vince runs out of the room. Ethan stares into my eyes, smiles, and leans down for a soft peck on the lips.

“Looks like you’ve been busy,” I tell him. “I thought my boys would be hungry, especially you after last night.” I run my hands over his broad chest before wrapping my arms around him.

He practically crushes me to him and rests his chin on top of my head. I can feel his heart beating erratically in his chest.

“You okay?”

He holds my hand against his chest with one hand, and he rubs the back of his neck with another. “I’m good. I’m about to make the biggest merger of my life.”

“Really? Can you talk about it?” I look into his eyes, waiting to hear about what he’s been working on. “Is that why you went to Arkansas?”

He looks down at me, cups my face, and bores his eyes into mine. “No. This one is more of a personal nature.” He kisses me again, before dropping his hands and dropping to one knee.

My mouth goes dry, and this time, it’s my own heart that I hear practically beating out of my chest. He grabs both hands, and I look down into his eyes. My normally confident man is gone, and in his place is a man with shaking hands and rapid breath.

“Since I first saw you, I’ve been obsessed with you. I saw past the girl who insulted me and saw the woman that you are. The most beautiful, patient, kind, and selfless woman I’ve ever known. I felt a connection the moment our eyes met, and it was sealed when you shook my hand and I touched you for the first time. You’ve branded yourself to me since. But seeing you with my son sealed the deal. You were ours, and we want to keep you with us always. I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes, and I’ll make more, but as long as I have you, whatever mistakes I make will be okay. So, Tara Marie Taylor, will you stay with me always? Will you marry me.”

“And will you be my evil stepmother?” Vincent yells. He’s holding a board over his head that looks like it weighs more than he does. Please marry my dad is written in Vincent’s messy handwriting.

I pull my hands from Ethan and fan my face to dry my tears. Too emotional to speak, I nod. He grabs my left hand and places the diamond ring on my finger.

“She said yes, Daddy!” Vincent runs over to us and hugs our legs. Ethan picks him up, and the three of us do a group hug in the middle of the penthouse. “I’m going on a honeymoon,” Vincent declares before running around the place.

I laugh at his outburst, and Ethan shrugs.

“I was explaining the wedding and honeymoon thing, and he assumes he’s coming. I didn’t have the heart to tell him.”

“Tell him what? We would never leave our boy behind. It’s going to be a familymoon,” I tell him.

“God, you’re perfect. I love you so much,” he says.

“I love you too. Shut up and kiss me, ogre.”

“Mmhmm, whatever my spoiled princess wants. And we’re definitely serving rat poison at the wedding.”

THE END