Tangled Games (Dating Games #5) - T.K. Leigh Page 0,3
want to hurry up, yet also slow down.
When the SUV pulls up in front of a tall apartment building in a quiet neighborhood, he turns toward me, a single brow raised. “You sure you don’t want to change your mind? Go back to the bookstore? Pick out a different book? Perhaps one with less…complications?”
I shake my head, brushing my lips against his. “Not a chance in hell.”
He presses a chaste, yet invigorating kiss to my mouth. Once he slides out of the SUV, he helps me to the ground. Hand on the small of my back, he leads me toward the lobby of a building at which I could never fathom being able to afford to live.
The doorman offers us a warm greeting as he opens the glass doors, then runs ahead to call for an elevator. One arrives immediately. We step inside, the steel doors sliding closed, shutting out the rest of the world.
I attempt to step away, but he tightens his grip.
“Don’t think you’re getting away from me that easily,” he croons into my ear.
I glance up at him. “Is that right?”
“Now that I’ve brought you back to my lair, you’re mine.” He grins, a devilish glint in his eye.
“How very primitive of you.” I adjust his tie, smoothing it down his body, able to make out the defined chest and abdominal muscles underneath.
“Just you wait…” He nuzzles my neck, the scraping of his unshaven jaw against my flesh igniting a flame inside me. “You’re about to find out exactly how primitive I can be.”
The elevator dings and stops, announcing our arrival. He nips my skin before linking his fingers with mine. He leads me down the hall, approaching the only door on this floor.
“So this is home?” I ask flirtatiously as he inputs a code into a keypad above the doorknob.
He’s about to press the final number when he pauses, a breathtaking smile crossing his lips. It’s no longer mischievous or salacious. It’s peaceful, serene.
It brings me peace, too.
“No, love.” He grabs my left hand, bringing it up to his mouth, feathering a kiss on my fourth finger where a diamond ring typically sits. “You are my home, Nora.”
I sigh, draping my arms over his shoulders. “You’re my home, too, Anderson.”
Chapter Two
Nora
“Surprise!”
I come to an abrupt stop the second I step into the apartment I’ve shared with Anderson the past few months. After I’d agreed to make the move to his home country of Belmont, he bought it so I’d still have somewhere to call home here in the States.
I dart my eyes toward the open living space off the entry where my three best friends, Chloe, Evie, and Izzy, stand beneath giant balloons that spell out Engaged A.F.
It reminds me of the Ding Dong Divorced party they threw me around this time last year. Back then, falling in love again was the last thing I wanted.
That was before my path crossed Anderson’s, something that never would have happened if my three best girls hadn’t encouraged me to take the trip on Route 66 I’d put off for years.
I marvel at all the pieces that had to snap into place for us to meet and fall in love. It wasn’t an easy journey, and I’m sure we’ll have more than our fair share of struggles ahead, but Anderson’s worth it.
“What’s going on?” I glance at him.
In the few days since he surprised me with a proposal, I’ve tried to remain cognizant of Anderson’s desire that we keep our engagement to ourselves until he has a chance to talk to his father. After all, he’s crown prince. As heir apparent, the king’s approval is required for all marriages. He’d already bought the ring so he’d have it when the time was right. Apparently, that was the other day, despite the lack of formality. Then again, that’s typical Anderson. From the moment we met, he’s always been spontaneous.
“Your engagement party, of course,” he says with a wink.
“But—”
He swallows my protest with a kiss. Then he reaches into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, retrieving a familiar, velvet box. With minimal fanfare, he pops it open and slides the stunning ring with a vintage flair onto my finger.
Taking my hands in his, he runs his thumb along my knuckles. It’s only been a matter of days, but every time I leave the apartment and have to take off my ring, I feel like a piece of myself is missing.