A Knotty Bond by Leann Ryans

Author:Leann Ryans [Ryans, Leann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Cadence

I gaped at Leo, head spinning. It was one shock too many, and my mind had gone blank, mouth working without sound. I had no idea how to respond.

"Leo?"

It was the only thing I could manage, eyes flitting from his kneeling form to the tiny box he held in his free hand. I never would have expected him to propose, and I was scrambling to come up with a reason why it would be a terrible idea to give voice to what my mind was screaming.

YES!

This was Leo. The father of the child just confirmed to be growing inside me. The man who'd been relentless in his pursuit of me. The one who held me every night and made the rest of the world disappear.

"Leo, I..."

My vision wavered as I took in the delicate ring inside the velvet box. I would have expected Leo to go for something extravagant and flashy and totally outside my taste, but the princess cut diamond with a wrap that looked like a flower blossom was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.

"I know I'm not the one you imagined yourself settling down with, but I promise to give you everything you need. You'll never want for anything that's within my power to provide."

"Leo," I had to stop to gulp in a breath. "The only thing I want is you. I've wanted you from that night on the stage. But—"

"No buts! I want you, and you want me. We're having a baby. I know your family and mine complicate things, but we’ll find a way to work it out. Together."

My heart stuttered as I took in the serious expression on his face. His smile had melted away, and my chest ached at the hint of fear I saw in the back of his eyes. There was nothing but truth in his words, but was it worth the risk?

Could I live my life as a Galleon?

Could I risk losing him?

I swiped my free hand across my eyes, trying to clear the tears that kept threatening to fall. Leo still clung to my other hand, holding up the ring that would signify my acceptance that I was his.

I always had been.

Months ago I’d decided to quit denying myself the right to live and do the things I wanted, so I sucked in a deep breath and gave in.

"Yes. Yes, Leo, I’m yours."

The grin that spread across his face lifted a weight from my chest. I pushed aside the part of my brain screaming that this was stupid and irresponsible. I'd known I was Leo's for too long to deny I was willing to be stupid for him. The child growing inside me was proof enough of that.

He rose to his feet, releasing my hand to pluck the ring from the box before grabbing my fingers again. I trembled as he slipped it onto my ring finger, the rose-gold blossom even more beautiful against the pale background of my skin.

He grabbed my face and pulled

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