Page 66 of Tristan’s Temptation

Her gaze was like a frigid wind.

He ignored the shiver skewering him and offered the company a tight, impersonal smile. “Morning.”

Adam lifted a brow. “Good of you to join us.”

Tristan ignored him. “Everyone, I have an important announcement to make. Shannon?” She stiffened, glared at her steno pad. “Could you get me a cup of coffee?”

A flutter of confusion crossed her face, but that was okay. It was critical to his plan to throw her off balance. She straightened her spine and cleared her throat and said in that British tone, as cold as the moors, “Yes, of course, Mr. Trillo.”

He soaked in the sight of her as she made his coffee. When she returned to the front of the room, he knelt before her. Not a wise move, he realized, since she had a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

What was it the Brits said? In for a penny, in for a pound.

He took a deep breath and just said it.

“Shannon Weiss. I love you more than this company. I love you more than my reputation. I love you more than my friends. I love you more than anything. I humbly ask you to be my wife. Live with me and share my life.” He thrust the ring forward. “Will you?”

The gasps from around the table shook the room.

Kat, bless her heart, took the mug from Shannon’s hands.

But that just freed Shannon up to cross her arms over her chest when she was about to say no, so Tristan leapt to his feet and yanked her against him and kissed her.

She allowed it. But only for a moment.

It was awful when she pulled away.

She put her hand over his, the one holding the ring, and pressed it back toward him. “No.”

“No!” Sara squawked. “Are you crazy?”

“No. I won’t marry a man who is only proposing because of the baby.”

Jack spewed a mouthful of coffee across the conference table. “Baby?” He gaped at Sara. “There’s a baby?”

“Shh,” she hissed.

“Shannon, I told you. I’m not proposing because of the baby. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time.”

Sara leaned her cheek on her folded hands. “This is so romantic.”

Adam glared at his staff. “Could you give us some privacy, please?”

Tristan frowned at his brother. “Us?”

Adam ignored him and shooed everyone out into the hall. They grumbled about it but they left the conference room, leaving only Adam, Kat, Shannon and Tristan.

Shannon humphed. “It’s not going to make a bit of difference, you know, whether they’re here or not. My answer is still no.”

Adam nodded. “Since Tristan’s only proposing because of the baby.”

“I am not!”

Shannon glared at him. “Precisely.”

Adam cleared his throat. “It may interest you to know that Tristan showed me the ring on Sunday.”

“And?”