Page 19 of Loving Her Enemy

“You’re welcome.” Sloane sat back in his chair and studied her.

He loved how each day she was looking more like herself. There was no longer sadness in her eyes or a shadow over her features. Her beauty was shining through, and he suddenly felt like he’d be the one coming out ahead if she said yes to his proposal. He would be lucky to call her his wife and the mother of his children.

He just had to get her to say yes.

“There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.” He leaned forward and placed his forearms on the table as he searched her eyes. “The other night, you talked a little about what you’ve been going through these last few months. I hate you’re going through hard times, but I’m glad you haven’t given up. You even mentioned your goal of one day having your own business. So… I have a proposition for you.”

Once again, she narrowed her eyes, and he chuckled. She probably didn’t realize how damn cute she was whenever she did that.

Weariness marred her features before she said, “What type of proposition?”

“One that I hope you’ll say yes to.” Sloane stood, dug into his front pants pocket, then lowered to one knee beside her chair. “Halayna Tanaka, will you marry me?”

Chapter Ten

Sloan watched several emotions flit across Halayna’s gorgeous face—shock, confusion, mistrust—but in the end, she settled on suspicious.

Her narrowed eyes searched his, and she opened her mouth several times as if to speak, but nothing came out. Having a proposal sprung on you would make anyone speechless, but Sloane was determined to prove why getting married was a good idea.

Halayna’s attention dropped to the five-carat diamond ring, which he still held in front of her. Sloane had wasted no time reaching out to his jeweler, Ken, requesting to see several engagement rings. After he described Halayna to the man, and what he thought her style to be, Ken had brought over a few excellent choices.

Halayna was classy yet understated. Feisty, but also sweet. She wasn’t showy, but he’d always known her to like nice things. Though he could afford anything she’d want, he knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t want anything huge, gawky, or ridiculously expensive.

So, Sloane decided on the setting with a brilliant round diamond that sparkled under the room’s light. The flawless gem was flanked by two rows of smaller diamonds around it, as well as more down each side of the band.

“Umm…” Halayna swallowed hard as she rubbed her palms up and down her toned thighs.

The move forced Sloane to zone in on the brace on her hand, which bothered him more than it probably should. Every time he saw the damn thing, it reminded him how she’d been hit by a car and could’ve been killed.

“Why on earth would you want to marry me?” Halayna finally said, looking at him as if he had lost his mind. “We haven’t been in contact in a couple of years, and we don’t even like each other.”

“You know that’s not true,” Sloane said. “I like you, and though you might think you don’t like me, I don’t believe it for one moment.” When she opened her mouth to speak, he interrupted. “Yes, I know I get on your nerves,” he said on a chuckle, “But that doesn’t necessarily equate to you disliking me. Now, hold this for a second.”

He lifted her good hand and placed the ring in the center of her palm, not missing her sharp intake of breath. Her hand shook as she stared at the sparkling gem as if afraid it would leap out and bite her.

Sloane smiled and stood, then moved to the desk to grab the contract. He hadn’t been sure how he’d pop the question. He only knew it would be today. Once he decided he wanted something, he went after it with full force, and this situation was no different. He wanted Halayna to be his wife by way of a nice, simple business transaction.

Except the more time he spent with her, his feelings for her were growing stronger. There was never any question about his attraction to her, and he genuinely cared about her well-being, but today something else was at play here. Something he wasn’t expecting. Desire, longing, and a need to be close to her.

That was a problem.

Sure, he wanted to help her through this tough time and make her happy, but he couldn’t allow himself to forget this would be a business deal. Emotions weren’t allowed. He shouldn’t be desiring her. Not like he’d been doing this past hour.

He grabbed the manila envelope from the top of his desk and returned to the table.

“Here.” Halayna shoved the ring into his hand without another word.

She wasn’t saying much, but she also hadn’t run away. Which was good. That meant she was at least curious.

Sloane held up the envelope before he pulled the contract from it. “I know this seems a bit unorthodox right now, but everything will make sense in a minute. I’ve been thinking about your financial situation. I also recall you saying you needed a change. Not only a new job and a place to live, but a fresh start. I have a solution.”

Halayna crossed her arms over her chest, and his gaze lowered to the swell of her breasts that could be seen just above the V-neck of her blouse. Pink lace peeked out from the opening and suddenly focusing on what he was saying just got harder.

Sloane had been around his share of beautiful women, but none affected him to the point of losing his train of thought. Halayna was screwing with his mind and testing his self-control. What made the situation ironic, she seemed oblivious of the effect she was having on him.

He moved his gaze to the documents in his hand until he was ready to proceed. Once he was sure his mind and body were under control, he met her eyes again. “I’m proposing a marriage of convenience.”

Seconds ticked by as Halayna stared at him with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open before saying, “Sloane, okay, say if I didn’t actually hate you, why would you want me to marry you? You’re a handsome, wealthy, good-looking man who can have any woman he wants. Why me? This—this doesn’t make sense.”