him so she felt his erection low against her belly. After a few minutes, he pulled away.
Julie licked her lips, loving the taste of him, the feel of his strength as he took her hands in his. She would’ve been happy to keep kissing him, but as long as he stopped, her curiosity won out. “Is this your place?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Yes and no.” His dark eyes twinkled with another secret and Julie lifted an eyebrow, waiting. “I bought it, but it’s not mine.”
Julie puckered her lips. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Yeah, it does.” Troy pulled a box out of his blazer pocket and got down on one knee. Julie felt her eyes go wide. “No way,” she breathed. All the blood rushed out of her head.
After opening the box, Troy took her hand. A spectacular square cut diamond ring twinkled up at her from a platinum setting.
“Julie, you are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.” He looked up at her, his eyes glowing with emotion. “You make me laugh and you make me want to be a better man. You taught me how to open up and let people in.” He clenched his jaw, and watching him fight emotion brought tears to Julie’s eyes. She’d never loved him more than she did right this second. “I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me?” A hint of uncertainty lingered in the question.
It was so perfectly Troy: heartfelt and to the point.
Julie’s chest tightened up. “Yes, please,” she whispered.
The growing smile on his face made her laugh through her tears as Troy slid the ring on her finger. She laughed because he probably had one of her other rings sized to make sure this one fit. She laughed again because her heart was so full of love she thought it might pop. Troy stood up and Julie wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I love you,” she whispered. “I love you more than anything else in this world. Even chocolate.”
Troy leaned back and laughed as he brushed some hair off her cheek. “That’s big.” He nodded. “But I’m pretty sure I win in the love department.” His cocky tone reeked of another surprise.
“Is that so?” She smiled up at him, exactly where she wanted to be. With him.
He nodded. “I bought you this place as a wedding present so I think that means I win.”
Her jaw hit the floor as she pulled away from him and looked inside the gorgeous house. “You did what?” She took a few steps into the living room and glanced around, then at Troy. “When?”
“A couple of weeks ago. I bought it as is, furniture included. You can do whatever you want with it. I thought it might be a good escape on nights like tonight when the paparazzi and the crowds get to be too much.”
The gesture shredded her. “I love it.” She moved back into the safety and comfort of his arms. “You didn’t have to do this, you know. I love you because you’re you. Besides, I thought you weren’t going to keep things from me. You don’t have to buy me things.”
“I know. But I want to buy you things. And you have to give me some breathing room when it comes to surprises.”
“An ocean-front beach house?” She didn’t want to come right out and say you probably couldn’t afford this.
“Too much?” he asked, but his smile was killer.
She scrunched up her face. “Possibly.”
His gaze narrowed. “You think I got in over my head with this purchase?”
She should’ve known better to think he wouldn’t see through her. She scrunched her face again. “Possibly,” she repeated.
He nodded, suddenly solemn. “So, if I told you that I’ve invested my money over the years and own a couple of apartment buildings that turn a very hefty profit, you’d feel better? And if I told you that I’m a long way from poor, would that also make you feel better?”
Julie’s jaw dropped again. “How could we spend a full week together and I didn’t know this about you?”
Out came his smile. “I guess you didn’t ask the right questions.” He laughed at the outrage on her face. “It’s not something that defines me,” he said. “I’ve worked hard for a lot of years and most of my expenses are paid by clients. It would’ve been stupid not to invest in something, but I like my job. At least I used to.” He squeezed her waist. “I’m thinking