I anxiously pace back and forth downstairs. I don't know why I am acting as nervous as a teen boy going on his first date. The small box in my hand feels like a lead ball. It is making my palms sweat. No, it isn't the box. It is what I am about to do. I feel a combination of anxiousness, dread and excitement.

“You're a sweetheart, Ricky,” I hear Alexa say from above.

My heart picks up it's normally steady rhythm to the point I feel as if I have been on the treadmill running at full speed. I look up, waiting for the moment I will lay eyes on her. I already know she is going to look beautiful but the vision that appears before me is beyond my expectations.

Ricky has a hold of her elbow, helping her down the stairs. My mouth is hanging open. I know it is. I want to be cool and debonair but my jaw seems to be broken. It won't close. I can only stare at her.

Once she hits the bottom step, Ricky socks me in the arm, “Close your mouth big boy. Here is your lovely lady. I think she is one of my best works yet.”

Alexa nervously laughs. I know she is expecting me to say something, but I am at a loss of words.

“Gorgeous,” I grunt, trying to catch my breath so I can form coherent sentences.

“There you go. Use your words,” Ricky says.

I shoot him a glare. He laughs and quickly excuses himself. I glance around the apartment. We are alone. Thank God. Making a complete jackass out of myself in front of her is one thing, but an audience is a whole other level of embarrassment.

“I am, you are,” I stutter before taking a deep breath and pulling my shit together. “Alexa, you are truly the most stunning woman I have ever seen. You make my heart race. I am blown away by how beautiful you are, inside and out. I cannot wait to have you by my side as my wife.”

I pull the box out of my pocket, drop to my knee and hold out the ring for her to inspect.

She gasps, “Dylan!”

I wait, waiting for her to say the words, then realize I never technically asked the question, “Alexa, will you marry me?”

She laughs, nods and I can see a tear slide out from the corner of her eye. Ricky won't like that.

“Of course. I already said yes! Get up here before you get your tux dirty,” she says, pulling me up.

I slide the ring on her finger. It looks good.

“This is amazing, Dylan. How did you get a ring--” she stops. “Never mind. The same way you managed to pull off this off I suppose.”

“There's one more thing,” I say, walking to the small side table, grabbing the rectangular box and taking it to her. “You need this, Ricky says so.”

She looks at the box and shakes her head, “I can't. Dylan, you don't have to buy me all this stuff. This is too much.”

I shrug, “You are going to be the wife of a very wealthy man. If you show up to a black tie event without jewelry, people are going to think I'm a pauper. That would have a very negative impact on my business.”

Alexa rolls her eyes, “Sure it will. Fine, let me see what we have in here.” She grabs the box, opens it and again, I can see a little tear snaking down her cheek. Ricky is going to kill me.

I take the diamond necklace out of the box and motion for her to turn around. My fingers brush the back of her bare neck as I gently fasten the clasp.

“I don't know what to say,” she whispers. “I truly feel like Cinderella. You are spoiling me. I love it and you,” she says, unshed tears sparkling in her eyes.

I lean in and kiss her, “I am proud to call you my fiance. Are you ready?”

She nods. I know I should have said the three little words, but I couldn't. I don't love her. How can I love someone I have only known for a short time. I don't even really know what love is. I know she is disappointed, but I'll make up for it in other ways.

We step into the foyer where Ricky is waiting. He looks over Alexa, tsks as he dabs some weird looking stick over the area on her face where the tears had fallen and declares her ready.

I mentally prepare myself for an evening of questions and a lot of gossip. The six carat ring on her finger will get the message across without me having to say much at all. It was a calculated move that ensures the talk of the town will be about me turning over a new leaf as a married man. Now, to get Alexa to the altar as quickly as possible.

Blake has assured me the Larsens' software deal is still a possibility if we move fast. Apparently, the youngest Garwood brother has been a naughty boy. An anonymous tip led the media to the little black book of a local madam. Turns out, Garwood is the one with a dungeon in his basement.