Quick sale: A Pinch of Commitment 0.99

He was staring at something in his hands and her gaze followed his. He was holding a square ring box and her heart thudded harder.
“If I get down on one knee I might cause a scene.”
She couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. She’d imagined this. The way she’d jump into his arms, kiss him, make love after.
It was here—that day was here! It was coming—shut up, Lily. Just. Shut. Up.
This was a business deal. No emotions or dreams or any of that complicated stuff. She was getting a restaurant, not being swept off to bed.
Platonic.
Ethan handed her the box. “Please, Lily Harper, say you will take these dang businesses off my hands.”
She laughed at his earnestness and the lack of romance in his request. She took the ring box. “Sure. Let’s do this thing.”
His shoulders sagged in relief and she believed he’d never looked sexier.
“I have some ideas for the prenuptial agreements you mentioned,” he said. His voice was deep, slightly shy, and it commanded her awareness in a way that shouldn’t be legal. She wished she had the right to step up to him, touch him, make him smile with just her presence, but most of all, wished she had the power to make him hers.
That? That would be…heaven.
“Are Mandy and Frankie home?” he asked. Just then laughter burst through the house. Ethan quickly added, “How about we go to my place?”
“Yeah, good idea.” Lily grabbed her suit jacket off the coat rack by the door and followed him down the front steps. She was still in her business nonsense outfit with the tight skirt from earlier, and she felt slightly silly for being so dressed up.
Ethan walked slowly and she fell in with his easy pace, reminding herself she was in Blueberry Springs now, not the city. Everything was slower here. Relaxed. At ease.
A few blocks away, Ethan ushered her up the walk to a house slightly bigger than Mandy and Frankie’s, but not by much. He’d left the lights on, giving it a homey feel as the sun set behind the mountains surrounding them.
She was going to live there. A romantic vision of them happily married, living their dream careers, flashed before her and she smiled.
Mary Alice, the world’s biggest gossip, went by, walking her small dog. Ethan gently placed a hand on the small of Lily’s back, guiding her up the steps. She waved at Mary Alice, who was walking faster, trying to catch them to chat before they entered the house. Ethan hit a button on a remote, unlocking the front door before they reached it.
“Slick,” Lily whispered. Was there anything sexier than a gadget head? He probably could dim the lights and lower the music from his phone, too. She almost purred, thinking about it.
“Hurry,” he urged quietly, nodding at Mary Alice before following Lily into the house and quickly shutting the door. He let out a gusty breath that blew his nicely trimmed hair off his forehead. “Close call.” He kicked off his loafers and tossed his keys inside one.
She giggled, loving how he seemed less grumpy and more like the old Ethan she knew from high school. Deadly cute.
“So we’re getting married?” she asked, testing the idea out loud.
“If you’re still game.”
“How soon?”
“How about yesterday? I need to work on a project that’ll take me away from Benny’s and catering. I need you to take over ASAP.”
Oh. His intentions for an immediate workload shift were slightly disappointing. But no, that was what she was looking for—to dive right in.
“That’s music to my ears, honey bun.”
He lifted an eyebrow in disgust.
“No? How about baby cakes?” she teased. He needed to loosen up, smile more. She laughed at his expression. “We have to play the part, my sweetie pie.”
“Whatever you say, Lilypad.”
That nickname never failed to make her feel like she was ten years old again.
Unsexy. That’s what that feeling was.
“I’ll start calling you Either.”
He shrugged at the despised nickname his brother had given him years ago, but she noticed the corners of his lips almost lifted in a reluctant smile. Almost.
Give her time; she’d get him there.