The Tycoon's Unexpected Baby (The Abbot Sisters #3) - Elizabeth Lennox Page 0,34

again. Dimitri was an amazing lover, with the stamina to make love to her several times a night. She’d heard that men could go once, maybe twice a night. Not Dimitri. He was a machine!

And she loved him! Goodness, she loved him so much!

“What’s that?” she asked, staring at his hands. He was holding a small box as he turned and walked back to the bed and Pepper felt her heart pound against her ribs.

He didn’t reply, but instead, sat down next to her and…

…opened a small, black box. Inside was the largest, most beautiful diamond ring she’d ever seen. There was a big diamond surrounded by several smaller diamonds, all set in what she suspected was a platinum band.

“Dimitri?” she squeaked, tearing her eyes from the diamond to look at him. “What’s this?”

“Marry me, Pepper,” he said. Again, it wasn’t a request. But this time, Pepper didn’t correct him and demand that he ask more politely. This time, she was too stunned to say anything.

He lifted her hand, taking the diamond ring out of the box and tossing the box aside. With a deft movement, he slid the ring down her finger, then curled her fingers into a fist and lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing it gently. “It looks perfect on you. But if you’d like something different…?”

“No!” she gasped, staring at the ring. It was huge, but she loved it at once. She’d had the same reaction to the man and the ring. The rush of happiness was like a tidal wave, and Pepper launched herself into his arms, kissing his lips and cheeks, his neck, everywhere she could reach.

“Is that a yes?” he teased.

Pepper laughed joyously as she looked down at her hand. “Yes!” she yelled, happier than she could remember ever being. “Are you sure? We don’t have to marry just because of the baby, Dimitri.”

He looked at her with hard determination. “Pepper, this child will not be born without my name.” And he kissed her hard, not allowing any argument.

When he pulled back, he lifted her into his arms, carrying her into the bathroom. “You need food. You’re eating for two now.”

Pepper laughed, throwing her arms around his neck once again, all the love she felt for him shining from her eyes. “I love it. And yes, I’m hungry, but I have to eat healthier foods now.”

“Broccoli,” he teased.

Pepper grimaced. “Yes, I’ll even eat broccoli if it will help this little lady to be healthy.”

Dimitri grunted as he set her down by the shower door. “It will be a boy,” he announced, turning on the faucet. “And you need to move into my place, Pepper.”

That surprised her and she pulled back. “Move in with you?”

He tested the water, and grunted when it was warm enough, lifting her into his arms as he stepped into the warm water. “Yes. My place is bigger.”

She grabbed the soap and started lathering his chest. “Yes, but your place is uglier.”

He grabbed her hands, startled by her words. “You don’t like my penthouse?”

She shrugged, her fingers tightening around the soap. “Sorry. I could have been a bit more diplomatic than that.”

“Explain.” With that command, he took the soap and started lathering her body, his hands gentle, but very thorough.

“Um…”

“My penthouse doesn’t suit you,” he prompted.

She nodded. “Right. It’s boring.”

“It was designed by a very talented decorator.”

Pepper shrugged, then laughed when he swatted her bottom playfully. “Right. Well, your designer was boring. What’s wrong with my place? Why don’t you move in here?”

“Because you only have one bedroom.” He put the soap back in the holder, then his arm snapped out, pulling her against his water slick body. “And we need at least two bedrooms. Plus a space for your home office and mine. And more.”

She tilted her head, thinking about that. “Okay, you have a point. But I want a smaller place. Your penthouse is too massive. It doesn’t feel like a home.”

He kissed her upturned face. “I’ll hire a realtor and we’ll find something together. But we must be married quickly.”

She smiled, warmed because he was willing to compromise. “Thank you. One other condition.”

“What’s that?” he asked, turning off the water and grabbing a fluffy towel, wrapping it carefully around her before grabbing one for himself.

“We have to get something that I can afford to pay half of.”

He stopped drying off and turned to look at her. Whatever he saw on her face caused him to throw back his head, laughing. He pulled her into his arms