Page 104 of Handsome Devil
It was a shitty date, sure. A couple of martinis at a decent bar with an architect who talked about himself and his latest project the entire time, and checked his phone way too much. While I checked mine to see if I had any annoying, condescending emails from my employer, because frankly, that would’ve made the evening a lot more interesting.
After impressing me not, the obnoxious architect asked me to go home with him.
I went home alone in an Uber.
Though none of this was Dane’s business, of course. So I didn’t elaborate.
“Are you seeing someone?” he asked me. “Like, anything serious?”
I stared at him. “And this is your business, because…?”
“I just wanted to know if you’re really single.”
“Not single enough to go on a date with you,” I said carefully. “If by ‘single’ you actually mean ‘desperate’ or something.” Where the hell wasthisgoing?
Did he think this was a date or something?
I looked at the glass table between us. It wasn’t set for a meal or anything. There was nothing on it but the wine. And a little candle in a bowl I hadn’t noticed.
What was he up to?
He cleared his throat as I studied him.
“Are you getting sick?”
“Just taking a moment to choose my words.”
“Dane Davenport. Are you nervous?”
“No.”
Could’ve fooled me.
Whatever this was, it was making him uncomfortable… and that just made me more comfortable.
I uncrossed my legs and recrossed them the other way, slowly,Basic Instinctstyle. His eyes dropped to my hemline through the glass tabletop. “No need to be nervous. This is your place. You invited me here.” I tapped my fingernail on the glass and he met my eyes again.
He adjusted the knot in his tie a little, like it was choking him. “Let me start by saying I’m not in love with you.”
Huh?
As if I ever thought he was?
“Uh, what conversation ever starts like that?”
He stared at me. “What I’m trying to say is, I’d like you to marry me.”
Chapter Eighteen
Devi
Iblinked at Dane. Did I hear that right?
I’d like you to marry me.
In what universe did that statement coming out of his mouth make any sense?
And yet… he said it.
