Infraction (23 page)

There was a ruckus, and I knew Caroline was about to take a BS down when Jack’s voice
boomed out for order.

Nathan turned to me and took my other hand, his gaze finding mine.

“I know you won’t always be safe with me, but I need you. Over the last ten months,
you have come to know me more than anyone. You are my best friend, my lover, my soul
mate, the love of my life, savior, my naughty girl, and my sweet Honeybear. I want
to show everyone that you’re mine and I’m yours,” he said, then dropped down to one
knee. In one hand he held a small box and opened it up revealing a stunning ring inside.
“Delilah Anne Palmer, will you marry me?”

My breath caught in my throat. Gasps filled the room. His words were foreign to my
ears. Did he just say what I thought he said, or was I imagining it all? Was he holding
a diamond ring in his hand? Oh, dear.

My body started to shake, and Nathan’s expression turned to one of panic and fear.
He stood and wrapped his arms around me.

“Shh, calm down, baby.” His hand made soothing strokes in my hair and down my back.

I clutched onto his suit jacket. “Did you just…
propose
?”

“I did,” he replied, pulling back a bit. “I want you to be my wife. I want to make
you Lila Thorne. It has such a nice ring to it.”

I returned to staring at him before standing on the tips of my toes and wrapping my
arms around his neck, kissing him as hard as I could. He pulled me closer, lifting
me from the ground.

“Yes!” I cried after releasing him. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll marry you.”

He placed a kiss on my neck and drew back to take my lips. The roar of applause filled
our ears. After planting my feet back on the ground, he placed the most beautiful
diamond solitaire and platinum ring on my left hand.

My right hand covered my mouth as I stared down, holding back sobs of happiness. “It’s
beautiful.”

He beamed down at me. “I’m happy you like it.”

We shook a few congratulatory hands before the room returned to a gentle hum.

“If you’ll all excuse us, I have a desk to clean out and a fiancée to celebrate with,”
Nathan said with a smile, wrapping his arm around my waist, pushing his way through
the gathered crowd.

“What now?” I questioned as we walked, receiving pats on the back and congratulations
as we went.

“Well, I need a new job, and you have a wedding to plan.” He could not stop grinning,
not that I blamed him. His smile was so large I was afraid it might break his face.
I’d never seen him so happy.

I leaned my head against his shoulder as we walked. “So, I guess this means I have
a date to the Christmas party?”

“Seeing as we aren’t violating office policy any longer, I suppose you do.”

Everyone was still milling in the hallways and conference room, gossiping about Nathan’s
unexpected and shocking proposal. Their heads were still spinning. There would be
no one to interrupt us.

He pushed my back against the wall as soon as we made it through the door of our office—his
mouth tantalizingly close to my ear. “Now, I think we have some celebrating to do,”
he whispered as his teeth scraped along my neck. “Where better than the first place
I took you?”

His hands were on either side of my thighs, dragging my skirt up and over my ass.
I ripped his shirt open, sending buttons pinging around the room.

No more masks to hide behind, no more pretending.

No more breach.

Whatever life hurled our way, we would face it together.

I couldn’t wait.

RECIPROCITY

Things are finally looking up for Nathan and Lila. Though separated at work, their
life together is just beginning.

They’re working together to lock up Lila’s past, when Nathan’s comes knocking at the
door with a gift. A warning that happiness can, and will, be taken away.

The battle for survival has begun.