Page 61 of Brazen
We went farther behind the wall enclave, where they couldn’t see us. I curled into him as he said, “They can wait a few more minutes. Money doesn’t matter as a reason not to be together. What matters is your feelings.”
A giggle rushed through me. “My feelings?”
He met my gaze. “Yeah. You’ve not said. I love you enough to wait if you need time.”
Once again, I wasn’t easy. I opened my lips, cupping his face. “I don’t need time. I think I fell knee-deep in love with you in Paris.”
He kissed my thumb. “Yeah?”
My breasts were pressed against him. “Then when you asked me to be your date, I said yes, not because of the deal you offered but because I loved you then too.”
His eyes widened. “Loved?”
My heart thundered with all my truths. “And the reason I was leaving was because I loved you and thought I’d ruined your wonderful life and family.”
His grip on my hip tightened. “And now?”
I tilted my face up and closed my eyes. “And now I want to marry you, for real, because I love you and only you.”
Then his kiss made me forget everything else. We were together, and there was nothing fake about us.
As the kiss ended, he asked, “You’re not going to take it back?”
I held up a hand like I would swear in court. “No. Final answer. I love you, Charlie.”
“I love you too, Hope.” Then he kissed me again.
I wished we would never stop, because this whole real-relationship thing was pretty awesome.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hope
* * *
The engagement party lasted until evening. The moon was bright when we’d returned. In a few hours, we’d be guests for a wedding weekend, so the spotlight went to someone else.
However, I held Charlie’s hand as the elevator stuffed with friends and family rose. We were congratulated multiple times.
As we got off, Britney said, “We’re so happy for you. Avril talked to Kir about how you two were the real thing last night, so that might have smoothed him over too.”
The rest of my single friends were planning a night to sit and people watch. I had Charlie, and I was no longer avoiding him. I hugged her. “Good night.”
Charlie’s warmness sent little thrills through me. We made it to our door, and the second we slipped inside, he said, “Finally.”
I laughed then slipped off my shoes and dress. As I tossed the dress onto a chair, I followed him and placed my hand on my hip. “Why are you still wearing clothes?”
His lips curved higher. “We don’t need to rush.”
My eyes widened. He’d been all over me pretty much every night. I continued forward. “Are you getting tired now, Charlie?”
He opened the bedroom door in our suite. “It has been a long day.”
I sucked on my bottom lip and headed in. Adrenaline rushed in my veins. “What’s going on?”
Then I saw the bedroom had been decorated. He blushed. “Well, I wasn’t sure…”
“Rose petals, Charlie.” I nodded, picking up a chocolate strawberry.
