FORTY TWO

Justine

The gentle murmur of the TV greets me as I stagger out of my bedroom the next morning. I push my hair out of my face and give Courtney a nod. It's is all I can manage before I've had tea.

"Hey, Just. Just, you've gotta see this."

"Mhmm." I drag my feet into the kitchen and put on the kettle. It's Monday and I've got to face work on top of giving Ronan an answer to his proposal. An answer I don't want to give.

"Just, are you listening? Look at this."

I pour the water into my mug, remembering after the fact that I haven't put in a teabag yet. "I'm swearing off TV forever," I tell Courtney over my shoulder. "If I have to watch another clip of me running out of the Morning Show in tears, it'll probably break me."

"Well then, you'll miss Tabitha tearing shreds off Ronan." Courtney smirks.

"Excuse me, what? He's still in hospital, for goodness sake. Can't people leave him alone?" I might not be able to marry the guy, but I don't like the idea of people kicking him when he's down.

"Oh no, he's not. He's right there on the couch with Tabitha and the interview is about to start."

Forgetting my tea, I hurry over to Courtney on the sofa. She pulls her fluffy-socked feet up out of the way to let me sit down.

I stare. Ronan looks only a little bit worn around the edges, smart blue suit neatly pressed, polished public smile in place. It's only because I've gotten to know him so well I can tell it looks a little strained.

"What the heck?" I sit forward, perching on the edge of the cushion.

There's a glint in Tabitha's yellow-green eyes as she smiles at Ronan. "So I have to ask what on earth possessed you to come back on the show. I'm afraid you're not the Morning Show's favorite bachelor right now."

This is emphasized by a loud boo from the audience.

Ronan shifts in his seat. "Ah, yes. I realize that. Quite fair, really. In fact, I had something of an epiphany yesterday, and I wanted to return and clear the air."

"Do go on." Tabitha leans back in her seat, folding her arms across her chest.

Ronan tugs at the collar on his shirt. "Well, you see, I have a confession to make. Several actually. Starting with my relationship to Justine Delany."

I reach out blindly and clutch Courtney's hand. What's he doing?

"You see, Justine wasn't just my reality TV wife, she's also my assistant. Or she was, until I had to fire her."

There's an outcry from the audience and Tabitha lets it go on and on, but she eventually waves her hands at them. "Shall we ask him why he had his assistant fake marry him or why he fired her first?"

Ronan coughs. "Well the two things are related unfortunately. It's my fault. When the wife they cast for the show pulled out at the last minute, I bullied Justine into being my fake wife."

More booing.

"Is that true?" Courtney whispers.

"I mean, bullied sounds so harsh."

Tabitha shakes her head. "So, Justine only went on the show under duress?"

Ronan sighs. "That's right. I do believe she was happy enough to be on the show. After all, the stuff about her being a fan was all true. That's not an excuse, I know, and I don't want to put words in her mouth."

"Wise," Tabitha says.

"Anyway, as soon as the show started filming, I realized I was in hot water. I hadn't anticipated how I'd feel about Justine."

There's more jeering, but this time Tabitha hushes them. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I started to fall for her even then, I was just too stubborn to see it."

No one speaks.

Beside me, Courtney draws in an audible breath.

"The truth is, she is so charming and endearing she's hard not to like—to love. It crept up on me, bit by bit, until I was totally overwhelmed. And that scared me."

My throat aches. My lower lip wobbles, but I can't take my eyes off the screen. Not for a second.

"And then I went and ruined it," he continues.

There's an ooh from the audience.

"I crossed a line. Several lines. And she let me. In fact I'm pretty sure I stomped all over them. But when it became apparent she wanted to continue the relationship, I pulled away."

"Cowardly," Tabitha remarks.

Ronan nods. "It was. I was running scared. I didn't know what I wanted. I wanted her, but without committing to her like she deserves. I'm afraid I fired her from her job, found her a different position, and made sure nobody found out about our prior relationship going into the show, then I went into hiding. I should have left well enough alone then, but I couldn't."

"Because you're a jerk!" someone in the audience calls out.

"Bosshole I think is the term." Tabitha smirks.

"Yeah. I am. I'm both those things. And more." Then Ronan looks right into the camera. Right into me. "I still didn't see it. She gave me every chance. She waited for me to realize, to be what she needed, and I couldn't do it. It took the scare of her giving up on me and a trip to the hospital yesterday to make me see it."

Again, there's silence.

"Yesterday, I realized what an idiot I'd been and I proposed to Justine."

Courtney gasps and nudges me. "You didn't tell me that!"

I mumble, "Um... yeah. Sorry. I was going to tell him no."

"Girl—"

I hush her as Ronan continues.

"Justine, if you see this, I'm more sorry than I can express. I've been an ass. I don't deserve you, but I'm still selfish enough that I'm going to beg you for one more chance. This is the apology you deserve, and you deserve it in person, too. If you can see it in your heart to forgive me—even if it's just enough to let me say goodbye—please let me see you today. And if you want to keep me waiting for an answer to my proposal for months—years!—then you have every right. I'll still be here when you're ready to answer."

I can't concentrate on the rest of the interview. I can barely hear Courtney's excited noises beside me. Nothing seems to penetrate past the rushing of my heartbeat.

"Oh my god," I whisper.

"What are you going to do?"

I turn, searching her face for the right answer, though I know that's not where I need to look to find it. "I don't know. I was so sure last night. But I think he means it. I think he really gets it."

Courtney nods. She's forcibly holding in whatever she wants to say, bouncing on her seat with excitement.

"Am I an idiot if I say yes?"

"No!" The word bursts from her before she pulls me into a fierce hug. "I'm right back on team stern minotaur daddy. Or is it bosshole minotaur daddy?"

We both laugh.

"OK, I'm doing it." I hold up my phone. "I'm calling him. Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Courtney grins. "Pretty sure that part doesn't come until the wedding, and I'm officially inviting myself."

We share one more excited squeal. "Of course you'll be there. You have to be my maid of honor!"

"Damn right! Now call him, girl, and relish that grovel for a little longer. And make sure he buys you the biggest ring you've ever seen."

I'm nervous, waiting outside his door. I have the key, but I can't decide if I should use it or knock. It's a strange conundrum, which I'm sure it has more to do with my last minute nerves and the way I'm second guessing myself.

It didn't help I had to scramble through a press of reporters and photographers at the door to his apartment complex to get here. Seems like the appearances on the Morning Show have put us right back in the headlines. I hope the board aren't too angry with him for the fallout. I'm sure they did not approve this morning's apology.

The door opens just as I lift my hand to knock.

Ronan's frown is only the customary one, so I know he's not really mad. "Did you lose your key? What are you waiting out here for?" He reaches for me and seems to stop himself at the last moment. "You saw the whole interview?"

I nod.

"And you're still talking to me. That's good. That's as much as I dared to hope for really. Will you come in?"

I follow him into the familiar space, trailing him into the kitchen. Then I stand awkwardly, not sure if I should sit.

He asks, "Should I apologize again?"

I hate the line of worry between his brows. I shake my head.

"Should I beg?"

He looks as if he's going to get on his knees. I stop him. "Ronan, you don't need to do any of that. Only, would you tell me the part where you say you love me again?"

A profound look of relief sweeps across his face and he steps much closer and pulls me into his arms. "Justine, I was a fool not to see it sooner. You're the sweetest, most loyal person I know and I'm hopelessly, appallingly, in love with you and I'm afraid it's unlikely to ever change."

My smile stretches so wide it makes my cheeks feel odd. "Really?"

He nods seriously. "Really. Will you marry me? Please?"

I can't even take Courtney's advice about making him grovel more. Instead, my answer tumbles out, the words tripping over themselves. "Yes. I do. I mean, I will. Again!"

He looks down at me fondly. "For real this time and with no cameras. Only friends and family."

I nod.

"As fancy as you like. The whole production. Big white dress and huge cake and enormous reception. Whatever you want."

"Honeymoon in Paris?"

His arms pull me a little tighter and his cock twitches against my belly. "Mmm, Paris. Yes. Perfect. I have good memories of Paris."

"So do I." I'm leaning up on my toes, wishing he'd kiss me already, when his expression turns serious again.

"There is one more confession I should make before you find out from someone else."

I swallow. "There is?"

"I didn't want it to change your answer, because I think once you know, you'll feel like you ought to say yes, and I wanted it to be what you wanted."

I'm all giddy at the realization he's being thoughtful, and I'm finally getting what I've wanted all along. "What is it?"

"I probably should have told you that technically minotaurs can have mates."

"Mates?" I frown.

"Yeah. You see, not many do. Since we're not very good at finding them. Seems like most of us are too stubborn to realize what's actually going on and, uh... I'm no exception."

"Oh, but does that mean you have a mate? Is that like werewolves? Fated mates and all that?"

He cups my face with a tender hand. "It is. And I do. It's you, Justine. Can't you see how desperately I need you? All this time I thought I was sick. That there was a problem with my heart. I couldn't work out what the hell this feeling was."

I stare at him. Is he saying—?

"It's because I found my fated mate. I was just too thick headed to see it."

I can't help it. A laugh wriggles from me.

Ronan doesn't even scowl. Instead, he smiles serenely. "I'm just lucky I didn't ruin everything and lose you forever. Now, please say I can kiss you. I've been thinking about it it ever since I saw you."

My hands grip his shirt as I lift onto my toes, "I was beginning to think I'd have to ask."

He lowers his head until our mouths are almost touching. "You can ask, gorgeous. You can ask me for anything. It's my duty to give it to you."

"Ronan?"

"Mmm?"

"Kiss me, please."

And he does.