His to Keep: A Billionaire Romance (His to Have Book 3) (11 page)

“I really have you all to myself?” I ask. “No mysteries, no obligations?”
 

“I’m yours and yours alone,” he says. “Besides I can’t leave the property,” he adds, “so it’s not like it will be hard to tell what I’m up to.”
 

“Is that much of a distinction?” I ask. “The only way you’re leaving is if you step out into thin air. Either way, you’re all mine. You’re my kept man.”
 

“I’m yours to keep,” he tells me. I like the way that sounds.
 

“I guess I can agree to being yours, too,” I tell him. I feign annoyance. “I mean I guess if I have to.”
 

Blake gives me that look, like I really am the only other person in the world.
 
“You should start packing your stuff,” Blake tells me. “We should probably hit the road soon.”

“What do you mean? You’re under house arrest for the next eighteen months. It’s not like we’re going anywhere. Unless you found a way to get put on house arrest on vacation somewhere.”
 

Blake flashes a wicked grin. His eyes light up, and I know he has something he can’t wait to tell me. Or maybe it’s my reaction that he can’t wait to see.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I say. I give him a little push into the couch.
 

Blake throws his arms into the air. “It’s not my fault you never asked.”
 

“Tell me now, or I swear I will find a way to extend your sentence.”
 

Blake wraps his arms around me and pulls me back with him, kissing me as we fall against the cushions. His lips are smooth and soft, and the stubble on his chin rakes against my skin as he kisses me. A shiver of excitement runs up my spine as his tongue slides against my lips. Eighteen months of this sounds pretty good to me. “I am under house arrest. As part of my deal, I was able to stipulate which house.”
 

“If you got yourself eighteen months on a tropical island…”

“Well, not tropical, that’s for sure,” he says. “Do you remember how I sold your father a partial stake in the company? He didn’t have the cash for the deal, so I made him a trade. He sold me a few properties, including one on the water in Maine.”
 

“No,” I tell him. “You didn’t.”
 

Blake reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small jewelry box. “I want you to have this,” he says.
 

I open the box and pull out a key. The worn brass of the teeth and the shape of the end, I’d recognize it anywhere. “You bought my summer house? I swear if you give me another small box… one of these days I’m going to think it’s a ring.”

“It’s going to be our house, and I thought that you and I could try our hand at some renovations. I’ve always enjoyed getting my hands dirty, and this way, we could build a home together. ”

“It wouldn’t hurt that it’s an enormous secluded mansion with acreage and incredible views, would it?”

“I’d like to think I negotiated a good deal. As long as I stay on the property, we’re good.” He taps his ankle again. “This thing’s waterproof, so we can even go swimming once it’s warm enough.”

“You’re kidding,” I tell him.

“About swimming with you?” he says. “Never.” He gives me a wink. “Aside from the tracker, clothing’s optional. There is one other thing I was hoping you’d wear.”

“What’s that?” I ask. I can only imagine what kind of outfit Blake has in mind. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring, a platinum ring with detailed engraving and the most beautiful diamond I’ve ever seen.
 
“This,” he says. “Catherine Carlisle, will you marry me?”
 

“It depends,” I tell him. “Am I marrying Blake Bennett or Blake Warren?”

Blake laughs. “I thought we could give my real name a shot for a while. But as long as you say yes, you can call me whatever you want.”

“Yes,” I tell him. “My answer is yes.”

Thank you for reading
His to Keep
, Part 3 of the His to Have series.

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-Piper