The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 224

The late afternoon sun shone warmly through Ethan's kitchen as Rayna stood by the counter, chopping fresh parsley for the pasta sauce she was preparing.

The sound of the knife against the cutting board filled the room, accompanied by the soft bubbling of the tomato sauce simmering on the stove.

She hummed a happy tune to herself, swaying slightly to the tune as she worked, wholly absorbed in her task.

She had always known that she loved to cook, but cooking for Ethan gave her a sense of satisfaction that she had never known

existed.

She hoped she would be done with dinner before he returned from work at his family's company. He had quit his job, as he said, and resumed at his family's company two months ago.

Suddenly, a firm slap landed on her backside, making her yelp in surprise. She turned quickly, her cheeks flushed, only to see Ethan grinning mischievously.

"Ethan!" she scolded, though she couldn't help the laughter bubbling up from her chest. "Do you have to do that every chance you get?"

Ethan leaned casually against the counter, his arms crossed and his expression unapologetic. "Absolutely. You accused me of doing it when I didn't, so I've decided it's my life's mission to be a shameless pervert- for you, of course." Rayna rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You should let go of the past."

"Not when that past has you in it. I'm letting go of anything with you in it," he said with a wink as he kissed her.

Rayna giggled, shaking her head as she turned back to her parsley.

"Why didn't I hear you come in?" Rayna asked with her back to him.

"Because I didn't want you to," Ethan said, inhaling the rich aroma of garlic and basil that filled the air and made his mouth water in anticipation. "What can I do?" He asked, looking around for any chore he could do. "You should go freshen up and relax..."

are done," Ethan cut in, and

me clear the sink and keep me

walking over to the sink to do as she

of the stools by the island. He propped his chin on

it. "We had lunch and caught up. It was really

good time,"

smiled as she turned back to her sauce. A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, broken only by the occasional sound of stirring and the clink of

Ethan what had been on her mind all

hard could it be to say I'm ready now'? she thought, biting her lip. But this

to him. "You and Melvin managing to keep things civil at the

grinned, his eyes lighting

"It's going well, actually. Meland

handling things pretty smoothly. We just finished up the specs on this custom yacht

going to be

onto his face. "Wait. I'm rambling. Sorry, I don't

I

اخ

something. was worked you wouldn't enjoy it and was scared you might have regrets about

said. "Shipbuilding is in my blood. It's stressful,

glad you do," she said as she returned to

so you

keep trying my hand at everything until I find something else I love to do that wouldn't keep me away from you," he said as he went

heart warmed at his words, and she sighed with contentment as he kissed her nape. Moments like this

both went in to freshen up

that it was time to tell him what