Free Condoned (Beauty And The Billionaire Geek Book 3) by E.E. Griffin

leisurely pace allowing us to take in the sights of the city from the Seine.
    I could see the Eifel Tower in the distance as we passed larger tourist boats. I took out my phone and clicked photographs of the sights, then scooted in next to Billy to get a selfie of us together. When I checked the picture, I saw that Billy was holding a little blew box in his hand. My heart leapt in my chest, and I gasped, snapping my gaze to Billy.
    He slowly flipped the little box open. It was as if we were underwater in slow motion. All along, I knew exactly what the box contained. I put my hand on my heart to keep it from running away. When the contents emerged, I moved my hand to my mouth. The perfect, massive solitaire crested a platinum band with smaller diamonds running down the sides.
    “You said I could buy you anything.”
    I laughed still looking at the ring and then up at Billy. “I didn’t think engagement ring was part of that bargain.”
    “You said anything.” Subtle emotions ran over his face, and I knew I could crush him in an instant. It made me want to kiss him and slap him at the same time. I felt trapped.
    “This seems a lot like a game, Billy.”
    “It’s not. I’m just lousy at being romantic.” He didn’t suck at being romantic. That was something he was always good at. It was all the other socially appropriate interactions that he sucked at. In that moment, it flashed through my mind that I loved him too much to hate him for not being what I expected him to be. If I loved him, I had to let him be himself, for better or worse.
    “Will you marry me?”
    Wind whipped my hair around my face and I brushed it back again. I hesitated for a moment, remembering. Suddenly, I was able to throw it all off. He was mine. He was my awkward, socially inept geek. I loved him, just the way he was. Billionaire or not. Rippling muscles or not. It was Billy I loved, and Billy made mistakes. Billy had obsessions. But I knew Billy loved me more than I ever expected to be loved.
    “Yes,” I finally said. “Yes, I will.”
    He slipped the ring on my finger, gathered me in his arms, and planted a kiss on my lips. As he let me go, he was breathless and laughing all at once. He looked so much like the young man I’d met at Marcus’s doorstep all those years ago. I had to laugh too.
    We held each other as the boat motored under a bridge, and the sound of classical Spanish guitar lilted on the breeze.