The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

lan POV

"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

I waited, feeling a sense of apprehension as Dawn stared at me, the color draining from her face. I had deliberated over this question, thought about it nonstop, and now all I could do was hope that she would say yes. I was through living life on the sidelines or looking at it from afar while wishing I was that man with the family or with the wife. She bit her lip and I could see that she was thinking it over, as I kept my hands clamped on the armrests, my anxiety growing by the second. I had told her about my accident in order to be upfront so that she knew I wasn't keeping secrets from her. It might have been sheer stupidity trying to get to my feet, but I had been desperate, wanting to know what my body was capable of and reluctantly finding out it wasn't as strong as I had hoped. But that would change. I would make sure of that.

"lan" Dawn's voice is soft as she interrupts my thought process "I thought you just wanted to date and see where this led?" she asked in surprise.

"I did" my voice is hoarse and gruff in comparison "but why waste time when I already know how I feel about you? We can become engaged and continue to learn about each other, but Dawn, I want this" my voice was steady and even as I tried to maintain what little composure I had left "I want you and I want Faith, the whole package. Just like Knox has with Lorelai and his new baby Gabriel."

She looks at me sharply "This isn't some sort of jealousy thing is it?" she begins and I shake my head adamantly. "No, it's a life decision that I haven't made lightly" I assured her.

She frowns and I take hold of her hand "Dawn, please" I say, as her eyes soften upon me "What do you say? I'll respect your decision either way" I told her steadily.

A man could hope though. Especially when it came to having a wife as beautiful as she was. Dawn's lips curved into a small smile "I guess I might be crazy then, because I am saying the answer is yes" she whispered, her eyes glinting.

Yes? My heart skipped a beat. I was in a state of disbelief as I stared at her before my heart began to fill with joy. I coughed as she put her hand on top of mine, squeezing it lightly "Yes, I'll marry you" she laughed "But after a long engagement," she warned. I smirk "I can deal with that," I tell her huskily, as she puts her head next to mine and my hand reaches out to grip the back of her neck, bringing it even closer so that I can kiss those sweet lips of hers, her eyes closing as I deepened the kiss, my tongue delving slowly inside so that I could caress her own tongue, exploring the inside of her mouth and groaning in satisfaction. Damn this woman was never going to bore me, I thought, as she tentatively sat on top of me, her pert bottom pressing against my thighs as I wrapped one arm around her waist.

We broke apart. "What now?" Dawn whispers, licking her lips, a look of uncertainty on her face.

"Well we announce our engagement, but you need a ring," I say, grabbing her hand and examining her bare fingers "I kind of want to put my stamp on you."

Her eyes twinkle "I take it that means we have to go ring shopping?" she asks with a bit of a giggle.

I stroke the top of her head "Actually we can have them come to us" I said lightly "Instead of having to go to the store. Do you know what kind of ring you want?" my voice drips with interest.

Somehow I don't see Dawn as being a typical diamond girl. She giggles. "I do but I don't think you'd approve," she said teasingly.

I'm instantly intrigued.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Flair's voice is filled with amusement as I turn my head and regard her standing in the doorway of the lounge, her hands on her hips and a wide smile on her face.

Dawn blushes and makes to get off my lap, but I hold her firmly there, shaking my head when she attempts to get off. She might as well get used to public displays of affection because I intend to show her a lot of them.

"Flair," I say as she bends down and kisses me on the cheek "I've missed you."

She laughs "Really, because it looks like you're a little busy," she says gesturing to a blushing Dawn while I smirk at her.

"A little" I chuckle as Dawn sighs and remains seated "In fact, you can be the first one to hear our good news," I told her as she looked at us both smugly.

"Let me guess" Flair drawled, glancing between us both with a mysterious smile on her lips "You both got engaged."

There's a twinkle in her eyes.

Damn, she was good, I thought marveling at my sister. "How did you?" gasped Dawn, truly stunned at Flair's ability.

Flair's grin widened. "I've always been good at reading people," she said cockily as I frowned at her "Congratulations to the both of you. I couldn't be happier."

She hugged Dawn who climbed off of my lap and then me, her excitement contagious "I guess you will be making the announcement soon?" she asked knowingly.

"We have to get a ring first," I told her grumpily as Flair grinned "and then there's the engagement period not to mention..." "Oh puh-leeze, with the way she was on your lap, I'm shocked she's not knocked up already," Flair said bluntly, causing Dawn to stiffen and me to still. Flair certainly had a way with words. I had forgotten how blunt she could be sometimes.

"Flair" I warned and she blew me a kiss and flipped her hair over her shoulders, "you have to be more careful of what you say" I growled.

She laughed out loud. "I'm only teasing. Honestly, I'm happy for the two of you. I'll let you tell Father and Knox, so I won't ruin the surprise" she said putting a finger to her lips and widening her eyes.

"Thanks" I mumbled, glancing at her skeptically.

She winked "I need to go hug my nephew" she sang, walking away "Go back to doing whatever you were doing" she smirked.

Dawn sighed "We should go tell your family. I'm not sure they are going to take it as well as your sister did," she said doubtfully.

I was still amazed Dawn had said yes. I was over the moon but fighting to keep a solemn expression on my face. I nodded at her.

"Come on, we can leave. We'll make the announcement tomorrow when everybody is home. I'm not about to take Lorelai and Knox's day away from them" I said.

"Or," Dawn said with a slow smile, raking her gaze over me as I eyed her suspiciously "we could go on that date that you keep promising me? I don't have Faith today and it looks like your family is going to be occupied. What do you say?" she asked eagerly. I grinned. The thought of spending the day with Dawn, her upbeat smile, her delightful personality, her cheerful demeanor was more than enough to entice me into wanting to go on a date with her. Besides, we had an engagement to celebrate. I wondered what she was about to suggest.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked her directly.

She frowned. "How about a picnic at the park? We could take Faith?" she suggested, "go to the movies another time?"

I considered it. "Sure, but we go past the house so the cooks can make up a basket for the park and we take security with us. Or bodyguards" I amended quickly as she shot me a look filled with concern "I don't want to take any chances of anything happening." "Is that likely?" she asked tentatively as I began to wheel towards the front entrance "I mean, most people don't even seem to be aware of who I am."

"No, but they know who I am," I said tersely as I became aware of the curious looks on people's faces as I wheeled past them, some looking sympathetic, others looking at me with pity which just incensed me further.

I don't want your pity, I wanted to yell at them, but instead, I bit the inside of my cheek and said nothing.

"If it's dangerous then we could just..."

"Relax, Dawn, you'll have to get used to taking bodyguards with you if you're going to marry into the Grant family," I said impatiently as she nodded tightly "It's merely a precaution. Nothing more."

I had failed to tell her about Karen though. How she was still a danger, but only because at that moment Karen hadn't come to mind. I was focused on the present and the here and now. I could see the apprehension on Dawn's face but I suspected it had more to do with the new life she was about to find herself in.

"We should pick a park with lots of swings" I muttered as Dawn easily strode beside me, my thoughts in a whirl "I'm sure she loves the playground equipment."

Dawn snorted "Try getting her off it. You think my little girl is an angel" She raised a brow and shook her head as we made it back to the limousine, a resigned expression on her face "She turns into a little hellion when she gets told it's time to go.

I laughed. I couldn't picture the angelic Faith being anything but sweet-natured, sure that Dawn was exaggerating. Dawn shuddered though. "Don't say I didn't warn you" she said as I swung myself into the limousine with twinkling eyes.

"All children don't like being told to get off the swings," I told her smugly "It's not just Faith. Besides, she's so cute, I think you're exaggerating" I teased.

She got into the limousine and folded her arms across her chest. "Huh" she snorted "Let's see how good you are at talking a little girl out of a temper tantrum then lan Grant" she muttered "if you think it's so easy. I bet you anything she doesn't stop, not even for you."

She smirks at me, an arrogant expression on her face.

I grinned cockily at her "I like those chances. Bring it on" I told her smugly and was rewarded with the sound of her husky laughter. The limousine made its way slowly back to the house to prepare for our outing before we went along and grabbed Faith who had never looked more excited than she did today as we told her we were going to a park together. I was prepared for everything, Or at least I thought I was. It never occurred to me that we were being followed, or that our outing would be interrupted by some of the media who were more than prepared to go on the offensive, in order to get their story. I should have known better. But sometimes even I was not infallible.