Galen came beside her and kissed her cheek. This was his family. There had to be a way to keep the peace, if she intended to have a relationship with Galen. But it was nice that he stood by her side. His hand was all she truly needed.
Galen closed the door as his family left and Natalie stood beside him. The moment they were alone, she let her shoulders drop and sighed. Galen met her gaze and she said, “That was awkward.”
“You handled it beautifully.” He kissed her cheek.
The roughness of his five o’clock shadow only enhanced how amazing his kiss felt. Her heart was seriously on the line. They walked next to each other back into the living area as she said, “Only because you took my side. If you hadn’t-”
Galen interrupted, “Natalie, I want to marry you. This means I am yours, always.”
Wow. Right now, she felt so close to Galen. He was respectful, sweet, kind, wonderful. Her soul felt like she belonged with him already. She nodded and decided to take a chance. “Okay, tomorrow, let’s meet my parents. I don’t want to say yes without them at least meeting the man I’m falling in love with.”
He stopped, took both of her hands and asked, “So if they approve, you’ll say yes?”
Approve? That wasn’t her parents’ style. She’d learned about his family today, so it was time to show him hers too. She squeezed his hand as they walked into the bright light of the huge living room that overlooked Biscayne Bay. “If they didn’t approve we’d win them over with time, but my parents have always been my best friends and I trust them. They trust me.”
He pointed toward an inviting couch as he said, “I’ll do my best.” Then his lips brushed against hers, and warmth washed up her spine in anticipation. “Now, where were we before we were interrupted?”
Despite how her body reacted to his touch, she shook her head. “Not here.”
He held still though she could feel how hard he was under his clothes. “Why not?”
While she wasn’t a prude, they were on the first floor and all the windows were open. She heard her own heart beating faster but avoided his gaze. “Too many windows. Anyone could walk past.”
“Fair enough.” He guided her toward the stairs. “Let’s head back to our room.”
She lowered her hands and walked beside him. “Our?”
As they climbed the stairs, he offered his hand and she accepted. “If you’re to be my wife, we’re going to share everything.”
Perfect. Galen was all hers and it felt freeing to have said yes. But as they reached the top step, she asked quietly, “Tell me about your life when you were married before.”
He stopped, ran his hand down her body and gently tugged her closer. “Let’s not ruin the mood, Natalie. I was young and stupid once.”
But that was all she knew. Something in her mind wanted to know more, but she relented. His hard body pressed against hers made her ache with desire. She kissed the back of his hand that traced the side of her face. “So this time we’re not young?”
His dimple showed as he stared down at her. “We’ve known each other for over a year and I learned I could trust you, long before I knew just how sexy you are.”
A laugh escaped her. In that year, he never once blinked at her disguise. “With my wig on.”
“Did you pack it?” He linked his arm through hers as they neared his bedroom.
“No.” She answered fast, though a memory emerged of that day she’d tried to hide under her extra layer of clothes because her blonde hair started to fall out of the wig. Luckily Galen had been so into his conversation with his brother Damien that they passed her office without seeing her. If they had, she’d have for sure been caught.
He opened his bedroom door for her and waited for her to enter. “We’ll pick it up tomorrow when we check on your old place.”
She slipped inside and as he closed the door, she asked, “So we’re making room for me here?”
They both knew his closet was half-empty.
He winked and took her hands. “I suppose. We could always move if the place is too small.”
Another laugh escaped her as she pulled him toward her for a kiss. “Before or after we have an army of children of our own?”
His lips brushed against hers and she felt a release growing inside her already. He ended the kiss, and reached for her zipper. “Would you want a lot of kids?”
She turned and kept the dress on to answer. “Everyone keeps assuming I’m pregnant. It’s getting to me.”
He reached for her shoulders. “Let’s get you out of that dress.”
