Free taboo3 takingthejob by Cheyenne McCray Page A

ski down one of the more treacherous slopes. That’s what he got for being a he-man.
    Elsie sobered a little. She’d been so scared for him when she saw him tumble down the slope. It was like a piece of her had crashed against that mountainside.
    They’d had to stay an extra day so that he could get his leg set in a cast that went up to his thigh. They’d changed their plans and had driven back—since he couldn’t fly with a newly broken leg—and had arrived in Tucson just an hour or so ago.
    John stroked her hair, which she’d left down just for him despite the fact that it was curly and unruly as hell.
    “It’s Valentine’s Day,” he murmured, his warm breath feathering against her ear and causing her to shiver.
    “Oh yeah.” In all the “excitement” she’d forgotten. “Sorry. I didn’t get you anything.”
    He turned his face so that they were close enough for him to brush his lips over hers. “There’s one thing you could give me.”
    Mischief was in his eyes and he brought her hand down to rub his erection.
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    “I’ll just bet.”
    “It’s in my jeans pocket,” he said, a definite spark to his gaze.
    “Uh-huh.” To tease him a little more she slipped her finger into the pocket closest to her and ran her fingers along his cock through the thin material of the inside of the pocket.
    “The other side,” he said, sounding like he was clenching his jaw from the torture she was inflicting on him.
    To humor him, and to have a little more fun, she reached across him—and immediately felt a bulge that had nothing to do with his erection.
    A warm flush stole over her skin and she paused.
    “Go on,” he said.
    She met his eyes as she dug it out then held the jewelers box that matched the one he’d given her before that had contained the gold choker. Only this one was the size of a ring box.
    Her heart pounded. It wasn’t what she thought it was. It couldn’t be. No. Probably a pair of earrings to match the choker was inside the box. “When did you have time to get me anything?”
    “I picked it out before we left,” he said quietly. “Open it.”
    Elsie swallowed and lifted the lid of the box—to see a beautiful square diamond flanked by emeralds.
    Her gaze shot to his, her lips parted, but she had no idea what to say. Her mind spun as if she was in a dream world.
    “Your Valentine’s Day gift to me would be to say yes.” John took the box from her hand and drew the diamond from it. He slipped it on her ring finger. “Say you’ll marry me, Elsie.”
    “I—wow.” She held her hand to her forehead as she looked at him. “It’s only been six weeks, John.”
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    “Long enough for me to know you’re the only woman I want in my life.” He held both of her hands in his. “Say yes.”
    Warmth spread through her body and even unfroze her mind and her words. Six weeks had seemed like a lifetime with John. A lifetime she wanted to continue to share with him.
    “Don’t leave me hanging, sweetheart.” He stroked the side of her face. “We can have as long an engagement as you want, but I’m not letting you go.”
    A smile spread across her face and she threw herself against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck.
    At the same time she almost knocked his broken leg off the chair and he laughed. “I guess that would be a yes?”
    She moved her mouth to his and kissed him thoroughly, letting her mouth, her tongue, her lips, tell him everything she wanted him to know.
    When she pulled back, she smiled and said it anyway. “Yes.” She laughed and hugged him again. “Most definitely yes!” Then she drew away, paused and gave him a mock-serious look. “Under one condition.”
    John cocked an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”
    Elsie couldn’t help a teasing grin. “From now on you have to let someone else do all of your interviews. The only interviewing you’re going to be doing is with me .”
    “Ditto.” He rubbed the ring on her finger.