‘Oh, look, here’s another one.’ Falling back onto the pillows, Tino dragged her down with him. Now there were two velvet boxes. ‘Which one? You choose.’

‘You shouldn’t be buying me presents.’

‘Buying gifts for you is one impulse I will

never allow you to control,’ he informed her. ‘Now, which one do you choose?’

‘They say all the best things come in small packages.’

‘Not always.’

‘But maybe you are right this time,’ Tino conceded. ‘Why don’t you open the small box and find out?’

Taking it from him, Lisa pressed the small gilt catch and gasped as the lid flew open. The emerald ring was a perfect match to the fabulous earrings. ‘What’s this? A down payment on my first month’s wages?’

‘You wish.’

‘So, what am I to think?’ she demanded wryly.

Taking her left hand, he tested the ring for size on her marriage finger. ‘Thank goodness, it fits perfectly. Oh, and there’s one more thing.’

‘Yes?’ Lisa could hardly tear her gaze away from the incredible jewel on her finger.

‘When we’re in bed,’ Tino continued sternly, ‘there’ll be no more talk of wages and business. In our private life there will be just you, me, and our love under discussion.’

‘Our love…’

‘We can hardly be married without it.’

‘Married?’

‘Is this going to be another one of your business contracts?’ he teased.

‘Not just another contract,’ Lisa argued firmly. ‘The most important contract of all.’

‘So, will you shake on the deal?’ He started to smile.

‘I’ll certainly show some reaction,’ she promised huskily when he drew her close to kiss her again.

EPILOGUE

‘NO, NO, no…’ Sprawled on the floor with her legs stuck out in front of her, Lisa waggled her finger.

‘That won’t work… You have to do it like this,’ Tino informed her, sweeping their son onto his shoulders.

Now, instead of screaming with frustration, the determined two-year-old was screaming with laughter as Tino galloped with him around the room.

‘Come on, let’s gather up the pieces of your jigsaw,’ Lisa suggested to the fairy princess at her side. Elena took her puzzles seriously, and hadn’t welcomed her brother’s interference, but the fact that she had insisted on wearing a tinsel headband and a pair of wings while she worked made Lisa think that Elena would grow up to have just the right mix of intellect and playfulness.

And who would have imagined that Tino would turn into such a wonderful family man? Lisa mused, pausing to watch him for a moment…or that she would have a wardrobe full of musty suits, and paint-spattered jeans?

And wasn’t this better? Wasn’t this wonderful? And wasn’t the sight of their newest taverna going up to provide training for a whole new group of youngsters the most thrilling deal either of them had ever pulled off?

‘You’re looking very thoughtful,’ Tino observed, hunkering down beside her. It took some skill to keep Lucas balanced on his shoulders when the toddler was intent on hanging upside down.

‘I’m just blessing the fact that our paths crossed at all,’ Lisa admitted wryly. ‘That was some quirk of fate.’

‘Quirk of fate?’ Tino stared at her. ‘Our meeting was no accident, Lisa…’

Tags: Susan Stephens Billionaire Romance
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