ROMANCE: His Reluctant Heart (Historical Western Victorian Romance) (Historical Mail Order Bride Romance Fantasy Short Stories) (165 page)

Chapter 8     A Shocking Proposal

              It’s a week before I finally go home. Only I don’t go home alone, Zaiden accompanies me because he wants to meet my family. I think we’re just on the same wavelengths and I’m truly looking forward to working with these two guys. The stuff they write is really ingenious and I will now be a small part of that.

              After a week of tying every up at my home, I finally set off back with Zaiden, to go and join his amazing world. They want me to live on the complex, but I want a place of my own. Well, it’s not like I can't afford it now. Initially I stay at a local hotel, waiting for the perfect apartment to come up.  The boys don't approve, they want me close to them, all the time, but I need my space. Then, they threaten to move in with me.

              “No way,” I say. “This is mine. I work hard for my pay, and this is all mine and I’m staying here. What’s more, I refuse to move in with you two. I see enough of you as it is. Remember your own rule of not mixing business and pleasure, well, I’m business now.”

              “Are you dumping us?” Imran cries out, as he stands pouring the wine for the dinner I’ve cooked.

              “No, I love you both too much, and each day, I fall more and more in love with you. However, I have to draw a line and tell you I need my own space.

              We sit and eat together and I can see my billionaires are sulking.

              “Well,” Zaiden says eventually, I can tell he has something to get off his chest. “Then one of us will have to marry you, that way you’ll have to share your space with your husband.”

              I look up from dinner, stunned, my fork half way to my mouth. Even Imran has a look of shock on his face.

              “What?” Zaiden says, shrugging. “What did I say?”

              “You’re crazy,” I tell him, but deep down inside I’m pleased. I have no intention of marrying either of them, but the proposal is a wonderful compliment and makes me believe that they feel the same about me as I do about them.

              “Well,” Imran joins in the fun, “What’s the answer, Ursula, which one of us will you marry?”

              “You know I love you both, and maybe one day, who knows, but for now we have a good thing going on and I don't want to do anything to put that in jeopardy.” I pause, watching them both closely and not wanting to hurt their feelings. “So, dear sirs, I must decline your proposals and say that we are very special friends, and long may it last.”

              Imran and Zaiden smile and pick up their drinks

              “Here’s to Ursula, the cleverest and sexiest woman we know,” we all take a drink from our glasses before Imran adds, “and here’s to special friends, may the special bit last forever.”

              I nod in agreement and take a long drink from my glass, I am one very lucky woman.

THE END