Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

I couldn’t form words as he went on.

“I remembered a night, the first night I brought you here. I remembered the promise of frozen meatballs and the presence of burnt sandwiches. I recalled your gorgeous eyes…” He reached up and wiped a tear from my cheek. “…the ones that are now clear, even with tears. I remember the way they clouded as you opened up to me, telling me about your family. And I remembered wanting to take those clouds away forever.

“Oh, Nox…” He touched my lips.

“Charli, you are my forever. You’ve brought love back into my life. Not just between us, but with our baby and even our parents. In the short time we’ve been together, you’ve given me back a reason to live, to wake, and to move.” He leaned forward and kissed my stomach again. “Together we’ve created a new family.”

Navy swirled in his light-blue orbs as he looked up. “I’m not the most romantic person. Truthfully, I’d be better at this if you were the one on your knees.”

I giggled.

“The most important thing is for you to know that whether we’re in an exclusive resort eating caviar or at home with cheese sandwiches, I’m so fucking in love that I can’t stand another day without your saying you’ll marry me, that you’ll agree to let me be your forever.”

I pried my gaze from his eyes, from his protruding brow and chiseled jaw. I looked at the ring he held between his finger and thumb. The band was platinum, dusted in small diamonds like my necklace. There was one center stone. It was round and sparkled, standing high on prongs.

It was simple and elegant.

It was classy and understated.

It was perfect.

“Yes.” It was the only word I could say as my soul flooded with emotion and I sunk to my knees before him.

He cupped my cheeks as his warm, possessive lips met mine. And then with our faces close, he said, “I asked your mom.”

“You did?”

“I did.” He slid the ring over my finger. “I know it’s old-fashioned. I drove to Rye this morning and asked for her daughter’s hand.” He shrugged. “She said yes. I’m glad you did too.”

Splaying my fingers, I stared down at my hand. “Nox, I love you. That was the best proposal I’ve ever heard.”

Standing, he reached for my hand and pulled me to my feet and into his embrace. “Well, the bar was set kind of high. I mean, I heard the one proposal: You’ll marry me. It was a tough one to beat.”

My smile grew so big my cheeks ached. “It was close, but for the record, yours is the only one I accepted.”

“Good to know. Let’s eat these delicious sandwiches and explore that kneeling thing a little more.”

“Oh, Mr. Demetri. Whoever said you weren’t romantic?”





FOR THE MIDDLE of March, it was unseasonably warm in Southern California. We’d enjoyed days in the mid-seventies. Today was no different as the sun was about to set over the Pacific Ocean.

“Damn, little cousin, you’re stunning.”

I smiled at Patrick through my lashes. “You know, I think you said the same thing right before my interview with Karen.”

“Well, what can I say? I need to work on expanding my vocabulary. I should get one of those word-of-the-day calendars.”

“You’re very handsome yourself. Wait until Cy sees you in that suit.”

Patrick reached the lapels and puffed his chest. “I know. I know. It’s a curse.”

We stood together before the full-length mirror in the master bedroom of the presidential suite in Del Mar. Yes, the same suite, the same resort. I wasn’t sure how Nox was able to schedule it. Spring recess was a busy time at all the beachfront resorts around the country. It was also the first time since the semester break that I’d had the time to go away. Thankfully my grades were improving.

Patrick pressed the palm of his hand against the white satin, below the empire waist of my wedding dress. “Hey, teeny-tiny cousin, this is your favorite cousin, Pat. Just checking in. How you doing in there?”

I shook my head.

“That bump is getting bigger than teeny-tiny.”

“Thanks, Pat,” I said. “Just what every girl wants to hear before she walks down the aisle.”

He stood behind me, his chin at my shoulder. “You should see what I see.”

I shrugged.

“Oh, no.” He pointed to the bottom of the mirror. “Listen to me. Start at the floor. Look down there.”

Taking a deep breath, I did as he said.

“What do you see?” Pat asked.

“Shoes.”

Pat shook his head. “I’m getting you that calendar. Look again and let me tell you what I see: I see Louboutin white crystal-encrusted pumps peeking out from under a ballgown satin skirt that’s covered in shimmering white organza. As I look higher, the empire waist keeps my tiny cousin hidden, while the scoop neckline accentuates those glorious growing ta-tas.

“My God, Lennox won’t be able to get higher than that neckline. And above it, above them…” He wiggled his brows. “… is the beautiful pearl necklace that never seems to leave your graceful neck.”