Chapter 69: Chapter 69

There was a strange glint in his eyes. "I'm expected in Italy soon."

It took Paige a moment to realize what that meant.

"You are leaving?" Paige murmured, unaware of the sadness that had crept into her voice.

It must have called to him because his face scrunched up. And his adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Don't say it like am casting you away after one night of sex."

"Then how is it?"

"You know that's not what it is."

Paige squeezed their linked hands, covering it with one of her own and stealing Leo's attention with the trembling of her lips. "We just entered into a relationship and you are already leaving?" What will happen to our relationship when you are gone. You will be in Italy, busy with work while I will be here, what will happen to us. And don't tell me we could go into a long-distance relationship. We've hardly been together for that to work."

For a long while, he said nothing, but it was evident he was tormented by what she said. His dark eyes looked haunted. "What will you have me do then?"

"Oh, my Goodness." Paige cried and unlaced their fingers, turning away from him.

She hadn't taken more than five steps when he hugged her from the back. His hands circled her stomach. His chin nestled on her right shoulder. "Don't go, please."

"I understand you have to move to Italy," her voice broke. "You have these big responsibilities awaiting you, but do you understand how sad and unhappy this makes me feel."

Turning to him. "Being in love with you for all those months and not being able to date you or be with you was unbearable. And now when I thought we could be together I find out you are leaving. This time with a whole country between us. I guess it's up to me to protect my heart and stop myself from feeling too much, so it doesn't ache when you finally leave. I think that's what I will do."

"Paige, that isn't such a good idea."

"Leave you before you leave me. That's the only way I think I can cope."

Immediately after saying that, Paige turned in the direction where her purse was, she had barely taken a step when he caught her arm again.

"What if you came with me?"

"What? As your P.A."

"But my granny, she lives here I can't—"

"Not as my PA but as my wife." Leo rolled off.

That shut Paige up, and she looked up at Leo, expecting him to tell her he was joking. However, his face looked so serious, Paige could tell with every fiber of her being Leo wasn't joking. He was damn serious.

Although it didn't stop her from saying, "Are you proposing to me, Leonardo D'Angelo?"

"If i was, will you say yes?"

Paige thought about it. When she had been whining and complaining about the atrocities of being apart. Never did she imagine it would go in this direction.

Would she say yes? Here she was, crying her eyes out at the thought of not being with Leo. If that didn't say anything. Then nothing else will. Paige knew Leo loved and respected her. He was caring towards her and listens to her. What's more, she was in love with him, and they were having a baby together. What more could she ask for?

Leo was still waiting for an answer. She didn't know where this was heading to. Paige turned her gaze towards him. "That depends, are you asking?"

An ominous silence developed.

"Yes, I mean I would but I haven't got any ring on me I'm afraid," he looked kind of embarrassed. "Though I think I have my grandmother's ring somewhere in the house. Will you please follow me?"

When they were in his home office, he scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "I didn't think my proposal would go like this."

"Were you serious in there?"

"Yea, who wouldn't want to marry you? You are the sweetest person I know and you have a good heart. And can stand your ground when need be."

The compliment brought a reluctant smile to her face that she did almost forgot she had been crying before.

"Ah, here it is." Leo raised the diamond ring to eye level. It caught the light and reflected. Then he knelt on one knee.

"Paige, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Just a moment ago it felt so surreal when Leo had mentioned proposing to her, but now he was kneeling in front of her with his heart on his sleeves.

"I may not be the best man, but there are many advantages to marrying me. One—You will get free food?"

At Paige's amused look he said, "You might not have known it, but am a very good cook. I can serve up a decent meal on the table. I should cook for you one of these days."

Paige laughed. He didn't.

"Back to the points. Two—You will have the father of your child at your beck and call," And, he ran his fingers across his torso a sexy partner."

Paige couldn't resist smiling. "And who said you are sexy?"

"Your eyes tell me *Il Mio Tesoro."*

"Touché."

"And the most important of all." He took a deep breath. All traces of jest gone from his face. "I love you. And if I were the earth, you are the sun that brights up my day."

Paige laughed hard. "Where did you get that cheesy line from?

"I don't know," He spread his hands. It came to me. Seeing the twinkle by the side of her eyes and the smile on her face. He sighed. "I guess am not as romantic as I had imagined."

"Not at all." Paige shook her head. "I guess this is the tale I will have to tell our children when they ask how their father proposed."

"Our children?" he said with a frown. His head snapped up at once. "Wait, does that mean you are agreeing to my proposal?"

"If you call a proposal, but yes am agreeing to it."

"Whoa hoo." He shot up from the ground and pumped his fist in the air, and before Paige could do so much as blink, he crushed her to his body planting a big kiss on her forehead. "You don't know how happy you gave made me. I have been dying of worry. And oh— wait, I forgot to put the ring on your finger." He tried it then and, as luck would have it. It was a perfect fit.

Paige stared at the diamond ring on her finger in wonder. It was beautiful. While Leo watched her, watch it.

When at last she met his interested dark gaze. He rasped out, "I can't believe you said yes. And I have not gotten to the other point yet."

"Which is?" Paige said, staring at her engagement ring. And then at the man who had given it to her with love-filled eyes.

"How our most immediate problem will be solved. If we married. We won't have to be apart again."

She didn't know why, but she threw her head back and laughed. When at last she looked at him, Leo was quiet and looking serious with a self resentment directed at himself.

Long was the cheerful persona he had assumed. And in came the Leo she was used to, the nervous one. Her boss.

"I know this is not how you expected your proposal to go, hell this is not how I wanted it to go either. I had imagined something eye-catching. Worthy of remembrance. After all my blabbering, I guess I failed you. I couldn't even prepare your ring beforehand. I just—"

"Shhh." Paige's hand on his lips pressed further until he shut his mouth. With a little smile, she said, "Everything is perfect, Leo. You love me and that's all that matters. Not the way you proposed to me."

It was later, after they did find themselves something to eat and were lying on the bed in the shelter of the night, that Paige turned her head and asked him.

"What if I have said no?"

For a long while, he kept quiet. "I was ready to kidnap you to Italy with me then get you pregnant just so I can tie you down to me. But oh, you are already pregnant with our child." He kissed her belly and grinned. "Though there are still other ways."

Paige giggled. "I have never heard of a man tying a woman down with pregnancy. It's more like a woman tying down a man with a baby."

He quirked a brow, "Really? What a shame because I was about to show you how it's done. I was about to give you reasons why you should marry me."

Paige giggled again. "Oh, you are insufferable." Resting her head on his chest, which he caressed immediately.

"But you love me."

"Very much."

"Then you have made me the happiest man on earth."