Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
He insisted Rafe come to stay with me because no matter how far away he believed Ivanov to be and no matter how many of his associates had been killed or arrested, Dante still didn’t want me left alone, not even in the daytime.
Rafe kept encouraging me to sit down and watch something or play a video game with him. He offered to make me food. Apparently, he could cook too, though he swore he was nowhere near as good at it as Dante.
Nothing worked. I couldn’t settle. I kept thinking Dante should’ve been back already. What was taking so long?
Finally, I heard his car in the driveway. I watched from the window as he walked up the sidewalk. He smiled at me, and I felt like a meeting must have at least gone okay.
As soon as he came in, he said, “Thank you, Rafe. I appreciate your help, but we need some time alone now.”
Rafe winked at me and waved goodbye as he headed out the door.
“You didn’t have to kick him out that fast.”
Dante grinned. “Yes, I did.”
“So? How did it go?”
“Let’s sit down.” I wasn’t sure I liked his tone, but I allowed him to steer me toward the couch. I drew one leg up onto the seat so I could face him. “Don’t keep me in suspense any longer.”
“The meeting went well. I had a proposal for Dean Richard. I consulted with Xavier a few days ago, and it was his suggestion.”
That made me nervous. Xavier was scary as hell. I mean, he’d been amazing, letting us use his private island and all, but I couldn’t imagine what kind of plan he might come up with.
“Xavier suggested I endow a chair for the department. They need more teachers and more researchers if they want to be more impressive to donors and potential students. So I made the proposal.”
“And?”
“He loved it. I said I had a few stipulations, that I was allowed to keep my position, and despite our relationship, you would be allowed to remain at the university.”
I couldn’t believe it. “We can’t do that. There would be such a scandal.”
He pressed a finger to my lips. “That’s true, and it may still be a minor scandal if we go along with the plan.”
“The plan?”
Dante took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My heart hammered. What was it? What were we going to have to agree to?
“Things wouldn’t look as bad, especially with us having taken a leave of absence if we returned as a married couple.”
“Dante, you would…”
“I would never pressure you into this. I know we belong together. I know you were made for me, and I was made to be your protector, but if you’re not ready for this step—”
“Dante, I’m—”
He held up a hand. “Let me finish. I would rather resign than have you marry me only for us to keep our positions at the university.”
“Dante, I would leave with you if you asked. I would also marry you if neither of us could be there anymore and if we had to move away from everyone we care about here.”
Dante slid from the couch and went onto one knee. He took my hands in his and held my gaze. “Alexander Hebert, will you be my husband?”
“Yes! Yes, I want that so much.”
I pulled the ring out of my pocket, and his hand trembled as I slid it onto his finger. “We’ll have to make quick plans for a small ceremony, but if you want something larger, we can always do that later.”
“I don’t care at all. I just want to marry you any way that’s possible.”
“Trust me. Other people in the family are going to care.”
“Then they can throw us the biggest, wildest party they want. It doesn’t matter. I would go to the courthouse with you today and marry you. I’m so happy with you. I never imagined feeling like this.
“Me either. And if you don’t want to deal with the things people will say about us, or—”
“No. I never wanted to force you to sacrifice the career you’ve worked for. I guess I’ll just have to put up with a less-than-the-best prof for biochem.”
He laughed. “You’ll survive. I’ll help you find the best class.”
“I love you, Dante.”
“I love you too, and I can’t wait to marry you.”