Page 58 of Haden

She skips to the bathroom.

I follow, pleased that she doesn’t even try to close the door. Nor does she flinch as she strips out of the T-shirt and jeans I put on her this morning. I let her wear the black lace bra-and-panty set, and I’m not sorry now. Watching her striptease is one of my favorite parts of the day.

I lean against the vanity, enjoying the show while she gathers her hair in a messy bun before stepping into the shower. I’ve never enjoyed glass doors as much as I do now.

Showering with Emilia has proven far too dangerous. She’s a temptation that I find hard to resist. She always manages to stroke my cock instead of bathing, causing me to want to throw my own rules out the window, pin her to the wall, and fuck her until she screams.

For now, I watch when she showers. And she puts on a great show, trying to tempt me even with the glass separating us.

When she’s done, I dry her off. “Get dressed, jitterbug. I’ll join you in a minute.”

My own shower is quick, and I ignore my hard-on, wanting to join her in the bedroom as fast as I can.

As I enter the room, I stop dead. She’s wearing the dress, and it’s so fucking perfect. Also, she’s smiling broadly. “You really like white, don’t you?”

I grin. “It’s so pure.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s me. The definition of purity.”

Keeping my gaze on her, I pull on khaki pants and a white button-up shirt that’s meant to be left casually untucked.

“You’re really going to let me wear this to dinner?”

I pull her into my arms. “Yes, baby. Like you’ve pointed out, everyone in this house is either related to you or the wife of your brothers or cousins. I won’t have to punch anyone for wandering eyes.”

Holding her at arm’s length, I drop my gaze to her chest. The top is a gathered, stretchy material that the saleslady called smocking. The bra she has on under it is pretty while also being functional and padded. It’s strapless, which works well with the spaghetti straps of the dress. No one can see a hint of her bra, and no one will know if her nipples are hard.

The skirt is loose and flowy. It reaches almost to her knees. It’s pretty, youthful, and covers up all her assets. She’s wearing white sandals with it.

I love it, and I love her.

There’s no real reason for me to be nervous about proposing to Emilia. She has to know it’s coming any day now. But my stomach is in knots, nonetheless.

While she brushes through her hair, I tuck the ring box in my pocket.

Soon, she will be my fiancée. For a week.

Chapter 22

Emilia

* * *

I feel like everyone is acting slightly odd as we arrive for dinner. Plus, they’re all dressed nicely. Usually, several of us are, but rarely is everyone cleaned up.

Sometimes, Regan and Tiago come straight to dinner after taking a group out on a hike. Hell, sometimes they come down from the third floor after Tiago’s been painting all day. He’s covered in colorful specks, and she’s barely covered, as if she spent the day naked. As his muse. Which she does.

The others have been known to work late or just don’t always feel like showering before dinner. But tonight… There’s something in the air. Everyone is smiling, almost giddy.

That’s when it dawns on me. We haven’t even claimed our seats yet when I spin around to confront Haden.

For a moment, I don’t see him, and I’m confused. He was right behind me. But in a split second, I realize he’s just no longer standing. I lower my gaze to find him on one knee. He’s beaming, and he’s holding out a jewelry box.

It’s not exactly unexpected, but I didn’t know whether he would ever actually propose or simply expect me to show up at the wedding. And I hadn’t thought he would do something like this, something so planned, in front of everyone.

But it’s perfect, and while my family starts squealing and clapping—the women anyway—tears well in my eyes. I fist my hands against my chest.

Haden clears his throat. “Emilia…” He pauses for everyone to quiet. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment I first set eyes on you four years ago. I wasn’t willing to admit that to myself, and I certainly wasn’t willing to tell your brother…”