Billionaire Untamed ~ Tate (Billionaire’s Obsession #7)(40)
Author: J.S. Scott

She climbed off him so he could breathe, and then snuggled up beside him. He grasped her hand and entwined their fingers together as they caught their breath.

“Why do you have a cabin out here in the middle of nowhere?” She stroked her hand over his powerful chest, unable to stop herself from touching him.

“I don’t,” Tate confessed. “It’s Gabe’s. He uses it during fishing season. I asked him if he could set it up for me and if I could borrow it for a while.”

“It’s pretty nice for a fishing cabin.” Lara looked at the beautiful rugs on the polished wood floor, the nice furniture, and she was already lying on the comfortable bed. “How far are we really from the main highway?”

He rolled on top of her and pinned her hands over her head. “Why? You planning on making an escape?” He sounded as if he was only half joking.

“No. I was just wondering if we have enough food to get us through the storm.”

Tate laughed, a happy sound that filled Lara’s heart with joy.

“I should have known you’d be worried about food.” He grinned down at her. “I got us covered. Gabe had the caretakers make sure we were completely stocked.”

“I suppose I’m cooking.” She released a joking, beleaguered sigh.

“You’ll teach me.” Tate still smiled at her.

That dimple gets me every time.

She reached up and ran a loving finger over the indentation in his cheek. “Only if you want to learn. I really don’t mind. I like to cook.”

“I do want to learn. What if you’re sick and can’t cook? What if I need to take care of you?” His expression was anxious.

She smiled up at him. “You’re not exactly short of funds. You can hire someone.”

“Nobody will ever take care of you except me,” he told her adamantly. “I’ll learn.”

Lara didn’t tell Tate that she didn’t need anybody to take care of her. His declaration had been too sweet, too tender, and it made her heart flip-flop.

She watched curiously as Tate slid off her and swaggered completely naked toward the door. It was very difficult for her not to focus in on his perfect, tight ass as he moved. He reached into the pocket of his jacket that hung on a peg, took something out and came back to the bed.

He looked almost sheepish as he knelt beside the bed. “I got this soon after the terrorist scare at the airport. I guess it will tell you just how long I’ve been crazy about you.”

Lara’s breath seized in her lungs as he handed her a tiny velvet box. She exhaled and popped the lid with trembling fingers. “Oh my God. Tate.”

“Marry me, Lara. Stay with me forever.”

In the bed of velvet was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. It was an enormous center stone diamond in an antique-inspired setting, which she was fairly certain was platinum. Smaller diamonds surrounded the center stone in a lovely circular setting. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes,” he answered immediately in a voice that was both demanding and hopeful.

“Yes.” She looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears. He’d loved her almost from the beginning, just as she’d loved him.

Tate accepted her, actually adored her exactly as she was, and she felt the same way about him. They’d fight because they were both bullheaded, but they would also love.

He took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger.

“It fits. How did you know what size to buy?”

“I told the salesman that you had beautiful, long slender fingers that almost make me come every time you touch me.” Tate’s expression was deadpan.

She slapped his shoulder playfully. “You did not.”

He shrugged. “I guessed. I remember buying a pearl ring for Chloe when she graduated from college. I tried to judge from her size. We can take it to be sized if you need something different or you don’t like it.”

Lara sighed. “I love it.” The diamonds sparkled and reflected the light as she turned her hand.

Tate grimaced as he climbed onto the bed and examined her hand. “Maybe I should have gotten bigger diamonds.”

“You’d better be kidding,” Lara said, amused. “Any bigger and I’d need a crane to hold up my hand.” She rolled into his open arms and snuggled up against him.

“I want everyone to know you belong to me,” he said obstinately.

“Don’t worry. They’ll know. I’ll be your wife. And nobody could possibly miss my beautiful ring. Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Tate replied.

“What for?”

“For loving me,” he answered huskily as he wrapped his arms around her tighter.

Lara wrapped her arms around him. “Chloe is getting married soon, and I don’t want to take away from her happiness. She’s been planning for a long time. Do you think we could just elope?” she asked Tate hopefully.

Honestly, she was secretly hoping that Chloe’s wedding would never take place, but it sounded like a good excuse to elope.

“You deserve your day, baby.”

“I don’t really like weddings. I don’t like the crowds, the noise, all the focus on the bride and groom. Honestly, my dream wedding would be over in under ten minutes,” she admitted.

Tate pulled back to look at her face. “Seriously? You aren’t just saying that because Chloe is getting married?”

Lara nodded. “Honestly. I don’t want a fancy wedding. I know you’re a billionaire and the Colters are a prominent family. If it’s expected, I’ll do it—”

“I never do anything because it’s expected.” He grinned at her. “And I hate weddings, too. Jesus, you really are my kind of woman.”

“Vegas?” she suggested.

“As soon as the weather clears,” Tate agreed cheerfully.

“I guess we’ll have to find something to entertain ourselves until then.”

“The storm is coming in. No outdoor entertainment, but I’ll do my best to keep you well occupied.” He winked at her and shot her a naughty glance.

“I think I’m starting to get bored indoors already,” she told him mischievously.

“I’ll get on that problem right away.” Tate sounded amused as he lowered his mouth to hers tenderly.

He cured her boredom immediately, and so thoroughly that she didn’t have another moment of indifference the entire night.

It wasn’t until the following afternoon that Tate found out that Travis had been right…again. The flight that Lara was scheduled to be on to return to Washington had crashed as it was taking off due to equipment failure. There were no survivors.