Danger Next Door

“Our dads have taken over. I decided to let them fight for it so I could find you,” he murmured close to her ear, the heat of his breath dancing across her skin. “I’ve barely seen you all day.” He almost sounded pouty, which she found incredibly adorable.

Setting the platter down on the closest counter, she turned and wrapped her arms around him, linking her fingers behind his neck. “I’ve got to be the hostess while you’re cooking.”

“You should be sitting somewhere with your feet up,” he murmured, but there wasn’t much heat in his voice.

“Hush. You know I’m fine.” They’d had enough sex the past couple weeks that she knew he wasn’t worried about her being physically fragile.

His grip on her waist tightened as he pulled her flush against his body and bent to feather kisses along her jaw. “I wonder if anyone would miss us for about half an hour.”

She chuckled, her own hold on him increasing. “Ah, the real reason you were looking for me.”

He gently tugged one of her earlobes between his teeth but froze at the sound of the door opening and slamming. Belle leaned back to find her mom fighting a grin. Eirene Manikas was simply an older version of Belle and had the intimidating look down to an art, though she wasn’t using it now. She just clicked her tongue at them and picked up the wine bottles. “If I were you, Grant, I’d hurry back to that grill. I think my husband might be doing some permanent damage.”

Fighting her own smile, Belle took Grant’s hand in hers and tugged him outside, ignoring his groan of displeasure. The man was insatiable and in a few hours they’d have the house back to themselves and plenty of uninterrupted bedroom time. For now, she was enjoying being with her family and the man she loved.

And she was desperately trying to pretend she hadn’t accidentally seen the two-carat princess cut, flawless diamond engagement ring she’d found in one of Grant’s drawers days ago—that he was currently carrying around. She’d felt it earlier and realized what it was.

A few times that morning he’d acted all nervous and patted his pants leg as if he was afraid he’d lost it. She couldn’t even imagine when he’d had time to buy it, but she was glad they were on the same page. She certainly hadn’t expected him to buy a ring this soon, but it didn’t surprise her. When Grant decided on something, that was that.

Most people would say it was too soon, but she knew she loved him more than anything. When he finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry him, her answer would be a definite yes. She’d already basically moved in to his place. Eventually she’d worry about renting out her house or even selling it, or maybe they’d move into hers and sell his—but all that stuff was just extraneous crap she couldn’t even focus on at the moment. Considering she’d survived being stalked then almost tortured and killed by a serial killer—everything else was completely manageable. Well, as long as Grant was in her life.