“The paperwork for incorporating your business is straight-forward, but you’ll need an attorney to review them and make recommendations. I have the names of a handful that I trust.”
She flashed a page at him. “And this?”
“Nikolai and I have decided to turn this into a high-end shopping destination. Vivian will have a gallery of her very own down on the other end. Kazimir and Zoya will move their jewelry store into the larger center space. And this space,” he gestured around them, “will be your handbag shop. Maybe you can let Kylee share the space with you.”
“My own shop?” she asked in shock.
“I spoke to An Trinh a few days ago. She knows people in the fashion production industry here. I’m going to get some quotes from her so we can figure out a way to increase your production while still keeping your designs handmade and unique.”
“Employees? Me? A boss?”
“You’ll be good at it,” he assured her. “You have what it takes to build something truly special here, Shay." Pointing to the real estate paperwork, he said, “After you sign those, you’ll own this building. Forever,” he added. “It’s yours.”
“Mine? Forever?” she repeated in disbelief.
“Whatever you decide about me, this place will be yours irrevocably.”
“Whatever I decide about you? What does that mean?”
“It means that we can’t go on as we are, Shay.” Even before Shannon had shot him, even before the misunderstanding with Marissa, he had come to accept that as fact.
Visibly crushed, she asked, “Are you breaking up with me? Is this your parting gift? Is this supposed to make up for not having you? Because if that’s the case, I don’t want it. I only want you. Just you. Always.”
“Shay,” he said with a tired laugh, “of course not. You and I are so tangled up in each other we can never be separated. The only way I’m walking away from you is if you walk out the door first and leave me behind.”
“That’s impossible,” she said simply. “I don’t ever want to let you go.”
“Good.” His heart thudded powerfully in his chest. “Because I love you, Shay.”
She burst into tears. Taken aback, he wasn’t sure if they were tears of joy or sadness. Crossing the distance between them, he embraced her with his uninjured arm and kissed her cheek. “Shay, talk to me.”
She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. Rising on tiptoes, she deepened their kiss to one of such passion that it left him throbbing and lightheaded. “I love you, Alexei,” she whispered as she gazed adoringly up at him. “I love you so much.”
“Then there’s only one thing for us to do,” he said firmly.
“And what’s that?”
“Tomorrow, we both fly to Vegas to celebrate my birthday. We’ll bring Stas and Kylee with us.”
“And then?” she asked breathlessly, her eyes alight with hope and excitement.
“And then we get married,” he said matter-of-factly. “We make it official. You and me.” He kissed her until she started laughing. Pulling back, he smiled at her and brushed his fingers down her cheek. “What?”
“Is this really a proposal?”
“Do you want me to kneel? I will.” He started to slide down to one knee but she stopped him.
“Don’t be silly!”
With a mischievous grin, he reminded her, “You enjoyed yourself the last time I was kneeling in front of you.”
“Alexei!” A blush darkened her cheeks and ears.
Laughing, he kissed her again. More serious, he traced her lower lip and asked properly, “Will you marry me, Shay?”
Her lip trembled beneath his thumb. “Yes, Alexei. I’ll marry you.”
This time their kiss seemed never-ending. Neither wanted it to end as they celebrated their decision to spend their lives together and to build a family.
“Are we really going to do this?” she asked as he combed his fingers though her beautiful hair. “Just run away to Vegas and get married?”
“It’s the most obvious thing, isn’t it? You love me. I love you. It’s what people do when they love each other the way we do. I didn’t know it was possible to love like this until you, Shay.” He took her hand and put it over his heart. “I didn’t know it was possible to feel like this.”
“Neither did I,” she admitted. Lightening the mood, she pointed out, “We won’t have much of a honeymoon. You’re probably going to end up with stitches tonight, and I have a gauze paw complicating things.”
“Shay, you underestimate me.” He let his hand ride the curve of her back right down to her plump bottom. “I can think of twenty different ways to have you that won’t hurt either of us.”
She arched her brow. “Only twenty?”
“Careful,” he warned. “Twenty-one includes leather cuffs and silk rope.”
“And twenty-two?” she asked with a playful smile.
Alexei laughed and kissed her again. He loved her so much. After everything they had survived in the last week, there was nothing they couldn’t face now. Hand in hand, side by side, they would create a new life together, one filled with love and passion and happiness
And nothing in this whole wide world would stop.
The End.
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Also by Roxie Rivera
Her Russian Protector
Ivan
Dimitri
Yuri
Nikolai
Sergei
Sergei 2
Nikolai 2
Alexei
Kostya – Coming 2016
Ivan 2 – 2016
Danila – 2016
Fighting Connollys
In Kelly’s Corner
In Jack’s Arms
In Finn’s Heart
Debt Collection
Collateral
Collateral 2 – Coming 2016
Past Due – Coming 2016
Paid in Full – 2017
Down Payment – 2017
Final Installment – 2017
About the Author
A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, I like to write super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica. I live in Texas on five acres with my red-bearded Viking husband, our sweet, mischievous little girl and two crazy Great Danes.
You can find me online at http://www.roxierivera.com.
Roxie Rivera, Alexei
(Series: Her Russian Protector # 8)
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