Page 41 of Taking His Heart

“You’re naked under those sheets. I at least have a shirt on.” I point to my chest.

“Can you grab me some sweats from the closet?” CJ asks. “Unless you’re going to let me get up and get them myself.”

“I’ll get them. Don’t move.” I turn and walk into his closet. Every single thing inside is perfectly aligned, ordered by color and style. Just as you would expect for a damn psychopath. “Your closet is such a mess. I doubt I’m going to be able to find any sweats in here!” I call out.

I find the neatly folded pile of sweatpants and take two off the top. I’m not putting my clothes from yesterday back on. Also, marital property and all. What’s his is technically mine. Just as I turn, I stop.

“What the bloody hell are you doing out of bed?” I frown at CJ, who is standing on the threshold of the closet.

“I needed to get something,” he says, walking past me.

“You could have asked.” I watch as he pushes his suit jackets to the side, revealing a small metal door. A safe. What the hell does he need out of a safe?

When he enters the code, zero-eight-zero-eight, I freeze. The eighth of August. That’s the date I left Vegas, the date I left him. I don’t mention it, because right now, I don’t want to bring up the past.

CJ takes out a small box and shuts the safe door. Then, grabbing my hand, he tugs me back into the bedroom. He pulls the sweats from my grip and throws them on the bed before he kneels in front of me while holding open that box and revealing the hugest, shiniest rock I’ve ever seen.

“I should have done this right. But, Daniella De Bellis—no, that’s not right. Daniella Bianchi, the day you chose to marry me will forever be the best day of my life.” He takes the ring out and slides it onto my finger.

“CJ, you’re naked. You’re giving me an engagement ring, naked.” It’s literally the only thing I can think to say right now. It’s all I can do not to laugh at the scene.

“We’re doing things our way, Dani, and we do things best when we’re naked.” He winks and then winces as he stands.

“Okay, as romantic and swoony as this is, you really need to be in bed. Put these on.” I reach for one of the pairs of sweats. “Also, I bloody love this ring. Thank you.”

“Thank you,” he says, pulling the sweatpants up his legs.

“Why are you thanking me?” I ask him.

“For finally choosing us.”

“I’ve always chosen you, CJ. The only reason I left was because I didn’t want to be the person to hold you back in life. I didn’t want to be the person who made you miss out on something I know you want. And here I am, being that person.”

“No, you are what I want, Dani. I don’t give a fuck about anything else. You are all I’ve ever needed.” He cups my face in his hands. “Remember that, whenever doubt starts to spread its evil little wings in your mind. You are what I want. Just you.” His lips press against mine. They’re hot. And not in the oh my god, I want more of this man kind of way. No, his touch is hot as in he’s running a damn fever.

“I love you,” I tell him. “Now get back into bed.” I rush into the bathroom and wet a washcloth, quickly returning and placing it over his forehead. “Where the hell is this doctor? I should call your mum.” I pick up my phone. “No, maybe your dad. He hates me less.”

“My mum doesn’t hate you, Dani.” CJ sighs.

I give him a look that says, “Really?”

“Okay, she dislikes that you broke my heart, but she doesn’t hate you.”

“I deserve it.” I shrug as if it doesn’t affect me. It does. I hate that I broke his heart too, but I also broke my own heart in the process. And now, I’m questioning what all that pain was for… Because look where we’ve ended up. “Do you really think we can move past the past?” I ask CJ.

“Yes,” he says without a second thought.

“How can you forgive me so easily? I was cruel, a bitch.”

“You were doing what you thought was the best thing, Dani. That doesn’t make you cruel.”

I find his dad’s contact in my phone and hit the dial button. “Daniella, I’m on my way to CJ’s. Everything okay?” Mr. Bianchi asks.

“Mr. Bianchi, how far away is the doctor? He’s running a fever,” I reply.

“I think we can drop the Mr. Bianchi thing now, Daniella. I hear you’re my new daughter,” CJ’s dad says. My eyes widen. Shit. I can’t tell if he’s happy about this news or not. When I don’t respond, he adds, “The doctor is about ten minutes away.”

“Okay, thank you.”