Her Billionaire Father Spoils Her Rotten novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Wrong Place

"Marry me," Jonas said.

He said it in the rotunda of the Lucas County Courthouse, on one knee.

A deputy, a bailiff and my aunt were all within shouting distance.

"I had a whole speech," he said hoarsely. "It had a part about the stairs."

"Jonas, this is the worst place you could have picked."

"I know. I saw her sit down and I thought, I can't wait another hour."

"Jonas."

"Say yes. Or say a long thing first. I'll wait. But say yes."

I laughed so hard it hurt.

"Yes," I said.

"Yes?"

"Yes, you idiot. Get up."

He leapt to his feet so fast his elbow caught the bronze statue behind him.

It was a founder of the county in a frock coat, set on a marble plinth.

It had stood there for a hundred and forty years.

It tipped.

It hung there for one long second.

The head came off and bounced twice across the marble, and rolled to a stop at the feet of the bailiff.

The rotunda went completely silent.

"Oh no," said Jonas.

"I'll pay for the repair," said Dominic, at my shoulder, in a perfectly level voice.

He was still wiping his eyes.

"Sir, it is a historic statue."

"I'll pay for the repair. And a new wing, if there's a wing you need. I'll send my people. Please let me." He turned to me. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm so happy I could lie down."

He took my hand and slid on a thin gold ring with a small gray stone the color of my eyes.

It fit.

That evening Dominic had a surprise, and he told me it was a surprise, and I told him I did not want one.

"You can say no," he said, "after you've seen it."

"That is not how it works."

He led me out through the back of the townhouse, across the stone courtyard to the garage.

The outside stairs were gone.

In their place stood a glass door, painted yellow, with a brass number on it.

"Dad."

"Look first."

"I know I didn't ask. I'm trying to be better, and I'm failing at it, and I'd like to fail in front of you." He held out a key. "If you hate it, I'll put it back. All of it. I'll hand you a hammer."

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