Law #2: Don't Play with a Player: A Sweet Office Romance Story (Laws of Love) by Agnes Canestri (web ebook reader .txt) 📕

But my heart is set on an Audi, and I still need to earn more before I can buy one.

“You know I promised Richard I’d buy his wagon.” I grin, reminding him of the young salesman from the car show. “I can’t really back out on my word, right?”

“But I want you to be safe. I’m not sure you are when you travel with the light rail, especially when you ride it home to Laveen Village.”

“That’s where Chelsea and I live. I can’t be going anywhere else,” I huff, but I smile when I see his concern. “If you want, I can sign up for a self-defense class or something. Would that make you feel better?”

“Maybe.” He gives me a mysterious glance. “But you might not need to do that.”

“What do you mean?”

Devon shakes his head. “Later. First, I want to hear the big news you mentioned on the phone.”

“My book is going to get published,” I blurt out.

Devon has been my biggest supporter and my true inspiration for the complex, flawed, and lovable hero I wanted to write.

“That’s fantastic, love. I’m so proud of you!” He lifts me from the floor and twirls me around twice before lowering me back down.

I might’ve wanted to create more suspense before revealing my secret, but it doesn’t matter. Devon’s reaction couldn’t be any better if I’d made him guess what I wanted to share with him.

“Did Nora tell you this morning?” he asks, bending his forehead to mine so that our skin touches.

“Yes. They had the board meeting yesterday. And I’m one of the chosen authors.”

“We’ll celebrate this weekend. A special, romantic evening for the love of my life who’s about to become a bestselling novelist.”

“Ah, I love the sound of that,” I giggle.

“And I love you,” he whispers, and his mouth dives for mine.

We share a long kiss that makes me feel like I’ve sprouted wings. His lips are hot, demanding, and gentle all at the same time. The perfect combination to blow my mind and make me forget where I am or what’s happening around me.

He pulls back and squints. “Now, do you want to hear my secret?”

“Sure.”

His lips curl up, and an eager light invades his irises. “Fine, then wait here but close your eyes.”

I shut my eyes and stand there.

There’s a shuffling noise as if Devon is moving papers on his desk. I hear a drawer open and close, and then a metallic sound like a key being dropped somewhere.

What is he doing? And why all this secrecy?

After a second, his warm fingers close on my hand and turn it upward. He smooths out my palm and places something flat and not too heavy in it.

“You can open your eyes now.”

When I do, I find a lilac-colored box with a ribbon. My heart jumps to my throat.

Oh, dearest heaven. Is this happening? Is Devon…?

“Open it,” he urges.

Devon has been hinting at some serious plan lately, but I didn’t expect him to actually propose. Of course, I already know what my answer will be.

I loosen the ribbon and plop the box open.

But just as I want to gasp and yell an exuberant, “I do,” I see a bunch of keys in the box, tied to a red key chain.

My brows drift into a confused line. “What’s this?”

“What do you think it is?” Devon eyes me with a coy smirk.

I lift the keychain, and its slimy, rubbery texture almost slips from my hands. The keys start to shimmy, bouncing up and down on the string.

“Is it Ellie’s self-defense toy?” I ask. This is what Devon meant. He wants me to be safe on the subway, therefore he purchased this weird device for me.

Devon throws his head back and laughs. He draws in a few calming breaths before he speaks again. “I’m sorry, Laia. But you should’ve seen your face. You looked like Cat when I accidentally switched her fish pâté to a chicken one.” He points at the keychain. “It’s not what you expected?”

“Oh no, I didn’t expect anything. This is a very…thoughtful gift. You even put some dummy keys on the chain so I can see how it works,” I add, forcing my voice to not sound disappointed.

Just because I believed for a second that Devon might be asking me to tie our lives together, I shouldn’t belittle his considerate gesture.

Devon runs a thumb on my jawline. “Those aren’t dummy keys, my love. They’re the keys to my apartment. The chain is just a bonus Ellie wanted to donate once she heard what I was planning.”

My jaw drops. “Why do I need keys to your apartment? You’re always there when I come over.”

“You’ll need them in case…”

“In case what?”

“In case you decide to accept this.” Devon reaches into his back pocket and produces a small Tiffany-blue box.

Devon lowers himself to his knees. “Laia, you taught me everything worth knowing about love. I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone else but you. Will you marry me, please?”

As he opens it, the answer I knew I’d give him if he ever popped the question freezes in my throat from the sheer beauty of the ring.

Devon peers up at me, his mouth moving into a startled line. “Still not what you expected?”

His words manage to prompt my brain, and I make a little jump while squeaking, “I do, I do. Yes, I do.”

His face illuminates, and he straightens. He takes the ring from the box and grabs my hand.

As he slips it on my finger, he says, “This understated and simplistic elegance reminded me of you the moment I saw it.”

“It’s beautiful,” I sigh as I admire the gorgeous platinum eternity band, completed with tiny, baguette-cut diamonds.

“Nowhere as enchanting as you, though,” he murmurs and leans into my neck. He plants countless feathery kisses leading up to my earlobe. When his hot breath reaches my ear, he says, “You’re my soulmate, Laia, there is no doubt about it. Thank you for making me