Page 56 of Cocky Bastard

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

Kane

“What are you doing?”I asked with a laugh as Austin pulled me along one-handed, my eyes tightly closed under the blindfold he’d insisted I wear. My sandalled feet crunched across the stone path that led towards the small strip of private beach beside the beautiful Corsican house we’d spent the past month in. It had been the perfect summer escape and while I was looking forward to going home, I also didn’t want to leave.

As much as I loved our houses in London and York, neither of them had a swimming pool and the glittering azure sea within a hundred meters of my bedroom.

But it seemed like Austin had one more surprise planned. And I was trying not to think too hard about what it might be in case I ruined it. Austin was a romantic at heart and I already knew that whatever he was doing, it was going to be special.

“I’m making sure you don’t fall over and break something,” Austin said, chuckling as he tugged at my hand, steering me along the path. Although I probably could have done it frommemory the number of times we’d come down to the beach over the last four weeks.

“I could just take the blindfold off.”

“Yeah, but that would ruin my surprise. I haven’t spent all afternoon sneaking around for you to see it before I’m ready.”

I snorted because Austin was the least sneaky person I’d ever met, but at least he hadn’t attempted to hide that he was up to something. He’d just refused to tell me what it was and sent me away when I’d tried to casually follow him around. “Can I try and guess?”

“No, because knowing you, you’ll guess right straight away and then I’ll be sad.”

“You know, I could have just eavesdropped when you were in the kitchen talking to Genevieve.”

Genevieve was the very lovely housekeeper who came in a couple of times a week to make sure we had everything we needed and tidy round. Since she also lived locally and had all her life, she’d given us the best recommendations for restaurants, bars, and places to go across the island. Austin and I had already decided we’d be coming back because not only was Corsica beautiful, but the pace of life was perfect and the privacy the house had offered us was unmatched.

“You know Genevieve would have known you were there and shooed you away,” Austin said, slowing as we reached the corner at the end of the path which led to six concrete steps down onto the beach. “I’m her favourite.”

“I doubt that,” I said with a grin. “We’re at the steps. Can I take the blindfold off now?”

“Not yet. Trust me. I’ll tell you where to step.”

He guided me to hold on to the metal railing beside the steps with one hand and kept hold of the other, gently helping me down to the beach. As soon as we reached the bottom, I kicked off my sandals, my feet sinking into the warm sand. I couldhear the waves lapping on the shore a few feet away, the sound soothing my racing heart.

Now that we were down here, I couldn’t stop thinking about what was going to happen. And while there were a number of possibilities for what could happen next, there was one shining like a beacon in my mind and sending my blood pressure soaring. I was desperately trying not to get my hopes up because that would only lead to heartbreak, but all I could think about was what I’d say.

“Okay,” Austin said softly as his finger gently began to lift the blindfold up. “Now you can look.”

I opened my eyes and gasped in shock. I’d known it would be spectacular because this was Austin and he never did things by halves, but this was perfection.

Not far from where we stood was a fold-out wooden table resting on the sand with two chairs tucked in around it. In the middle of the table was a large bell jar with several large lit candles resting inside it, and around them was the most incredible spread of food set out on wooden boards—charcuterie, breads, pate—and a large casserole dish that I knew contained civet de sanglier, the wild boar casserole we’d fallen in love with. Genevieve must have brought it down when Austin had come to fetch me.

And in front of the table, spelled out in stones across the beach, were the wordsWill You Marry Me?

“I… I…” I stammered, trying to process everything as Austin lowered himself to one knee in front of me, pulling a dark leather box out of the pocket of his shorts.

“Kanan,” he said as he opened the box, revealing the most beautiful pair of gold rings that glittered in the light of the setting sun. The rings almost looked like they’d been woven. Maybe they had been—I wouldn’t put it past my love to have had them made by hand. “I know it took us ten fucking years to getour act together but I want you to know that loving you is the easiest fucking thing in the world, and I want to keep on doing it forever. Will you marry me, Kanan? And we can keep on doing things our way for the rest of our lives.”

“Yes! Yes, yes, just yes. Yes a million times.” My eyes stung as I fought back tears and I tried to wipe them away as Austin gently slid one ring onto my finger. The metal was warm as it slipped into place. It fit perfectly and Austin smiled.

“Thank fuck for that,” he said. “Want to do mine?”

“Yes.” I nodded as Austin held up the box so I could take his ring. “Did you get them together?”

“Yeah,” he said as he climbed to his feet, sand clinging to his knees. “I found a guy on Instagram who hand makes jewellery in this tiny workshop in his garden, so I made an appointment while you were in New York in May. Drove all the way down to near Oxford.”

“That’s… it’s perfect, you’re perfect.” It didn’t surprise me that Austin had gone to so much effort. He always did when I was involved.

I plucked the ring out of the box and took Austin’s hand, gently pushing it onto his finger. My face ached from smiling but I didn’t want to ever stop because it was all far too wonderful. “There,” I said, holding out my hand and placing my finger just above his so we could see both rings together.

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