Chapter Thirty-Eight
Andrew
I absently traced patterns on Lexi's skin as we lay in bed together. I still hated taking calls like this when I would much rather be tracing my tongue over every inch of her body, but sometimes they were necessary.
Fortunately, this call was quickly wrapping up. “Thanks for the information,” I finally said. Then, I hung up the phone.
“Who was that?” Lexi asked, sounding sleepy.
I snuggled down under the blankets, pulling her back into my arms and folding my body around hers. “That was the district attorney,” I told her.
“Uh oh,” Lexi said, turning so that she could face me. “You don't sound happy.”
“Somehow, Renée and her lawyers have managed to secure a pretty decent plea bargain,” I said. “Despite the fact that Renée has multiple felony charges against her.” I rolled my eyes.
Lexi swallowed audibly. “So, she's going to walk?” she asked.
“Oh no,” I said, shaking my head emphatically. “Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that. She'll serve at least five years in prison still, with ten years of probation after that. She's not going to be able to come after either of us anytime soon. And I imagine that by the time she's out of prison, she'll have moved on to something else.”
Lexi didn't look fully convinced about that last bit, but she didn't seem too upset. “I'm just happy that it's finally over,” she admitted.
“I know that the trial was difficult for you,” I said, twisting my fingers together with hers and squeezing lightly. “But you handled it all so well. I'm proud of you.”
“Thanks,” she said shyly, ducking her head with a smile. “I do still think that the security measures you installed were a little excessive.”
“I take care of my family,” I reminded her. “I talked to security experts about what we needed.”
“Those guys just wanted to sell you something,” Lexi maintained.
“Not just something,” I said, grinning at her. “A whole host of somethings. A gate, multiple cameras, and multiple security guards. No one is ever going to be able to get in here again without my permission.” We both laughed, but I sobered quickly, the memory of that fateful phone call still too fresh in my memory. “I am never going to let you or Emma get hurt again.”
“Or Janice,” Lexi teased. I had rapidly realized that joking was her way of getting through the emotional trauma, and I appreciated it.
I smiled at her. “Or Janice,” I agreed. “Or that new puppy that we were thinking of getting Emma for her birthday.” Lexi giggled.
“You know,” I told her. “When Renée had you at gunpoint, that’s the worst I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I don't think I could ever live without you. I know that we still have our fights and that we're maybe not the most perfect family, but I need you in my life. You and Emma are my life. You're what makes it worth getting out of bed in the morning.”
I expected Lexi to make some quip about me and my admittedly still over-the-top work habits, but instead, she looked serious, too. “I was terrified when I was there in that warehouse,” she said. “But I just kept thinking that if I could stall her for long enough, that you would be there, and you would make sure that everything was all right. I knew that you were going to protect me.”
“Of course, I was going to protect you,” I told her, leaning in to kiss her gently.
“You've really changed,” she commented. “Ever since Emma and I came here. At first, you were so distant. I didn't think you were ever going to warm up to me. I watched you interact with Emma, and I could tell that you were growing fonder of her, but I didn't think you were ever going to even be friends with me, let alone something more than friends.”
“I would have still saved you in the warehouse,” I joked.
She laughed, but I could tell she was still trying to get together the words for whatever she was trying to say. “At this point, I can't picture my life without you, either,” she said finally. “You've really become the guy who I always hoped that I would meet. I can tell how much you care about Emma and how much you care about me.”
I took a deep breath, thinking of the box that I had stored in the top drawer of the bedside table. I had wanted to save it for one of our date-nights, to propose to her someplace romantic. Maybe after a good meal and a good bottle of wine. But something about this felt right. Just being there in bed with her, curled up together. Like we belonged together.
I rolled away from her, my mind made up.
“Hey,” I said to her, rolling back over and putting the box in between us. “Lexi, believe it when I say, I can't picture my life without you and Emma in it. And I know that I've made a lot of mistakes and that it's sometimes hard to believe that I really want you here. I also know that you really want to get your life together before we move this any further along. But I want you to know that I'm committed to this, one hundred percent. You may want to hold off on accepting this ring, but Lexi, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Lexi stared at me for a long moment, her hand over her mouth. “You're the one who's always been afraid of commitment,” she finally joked, but her voice sounded garbled, as though she was having a difficult time getting the words out.
“That's true,” I agreed. “But this time, it seems easy. I've never wanted anything like I want this.” I paused. “I'm not asking you to marry me tomorrow. I know that we're still settling in together, and I know that we haven't really known each other all that long. However, I really think that you and I could be something special, and I don't want to spend another day without you.”
“I would be so glad to be your wife,” she finally said, reaching out to hold my hand. “Andrew, I would be so glad. You make me just as happy. I never thought that I could have this in a relationship, especially not once I had Emma. I thought I had too much baggage. But I love every moment that I spend with you, and I can't imagine giving that up. And it's not just about me. I know that you'll make a great daddy for Emma. You already do. We are the luckiest girls in the world.”
I smiled at her, pleased to hear her accept my proposal. “There is just one thing,” I told her. “One condition to the proposal.”
“Oh, really?” Lexi asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
I nodded sternly. “You're going to have to earn it. I think I've had my fill of gold diggers in this lifetime.”
Lexi burst out laughing. “Deal!” she said. “I'll start by announcing that I'll be going to work on Monday at Katherine's office, working as an administrative assistant.”
“What?” I asked, surprised to hear that. “You didn't tell me that you had actually decided to interview there.”
“Katherine coerced me last weekend into just dropping by and checking out the work that they do,” she told me. “I don't know. I felt moved by it. I really wanted to take part. Plus, they need an accountant. You should see their books. They're abysmal. I think I can help them get everything organized and turned around, though.”
I kissed her gently, jostling the ring box as I did so. I tapped on the top of the box. “So, that was a yes, then?” I asked her, just to hear her say it again.
“Yes,” Lexi said firmly. “I would be honored to become your wife.”
“Good,” I said. I reached out and opened the box, revealing the big, vintage-style ring that I'd selected with Katherine's help.
“Oh, Andrew, it's gorgeous,” Lexi said, looking almost as though she might cry.
“If you don't like it, I bought the full buyer's insurance, and we can exchange it,” I told her nervously. “Katherine helped me pick it out. Emma, too, but I think Emma would have been just as happy if I'd gotten you a cheap plastic ring from a dispenser instead of this.”
She laughed, but the sound was strangled by emotion. I took that as a good sign.
Slowly, I removed the ring from the box and caught her hand, sliding the ring easily onto her third finger. It fit perfectly, just like it was meant to be.
Not that I believed in that sort of thing.
Lexi stared breathlessly down at the ring for a moment, watching the way it reflected the light. Then, she gave an almost animalistic growl and pounced at me, rolling me onto my back and straddling my hips. She bent down to kiss me heatedly; no holds barred. Her tongue snaked into my mouth, and her hands slid down my sides. She rocked down against me, her mons burning with desire where it contacted with my member. I could feel myself rapidly hardening, and when she pulled away, Lexi was smirking.
“I guess I'd better start earning it now, shouldn't I?”