Page 143 of Beauty
The book I brought to the Bahamas. Hannah’s debut novel. The one I was reading on the plane the day I first laid eyes on Sienna.
At that time, I couldn’t have fathomed what she’d come to mean to me. I never would have believed she’d be the love of my life.
Yet here we are. And I’d bet everything I have that the object in her hand isthebook.
I grasp it, and for a moment, we hold it like that, the both of us.
“I never thought I’d find this,” she whispers.
A hope stronger than any I’ve ever known bursts to life inside me. “But you did.”
With a nod, she releases it.
I take a steadying breath, eyeing it, then her. When her lips tick up just a little, I ease the cover open.
There, in black ink, are my name and number, along with the first message I left her inside one of these paperbacks.
The first of many.
Because I cheated. I signed far more than one.
But only this one was also signed by Hannah.
This is it.
The chances that she’d find any of them are slim. But this one? It was a proverbial needle in a haystack.
Sienna’s soft voice breaks through my spiraling. “I think we can both admit that we mean a lot to one another. And maybe it’s time to acknowledge that the universe wants us to be together.”
I smile. “Yeah, it would appear so.”
She gnaws on her lip. “So please talk to me. About everything. Your concerns. Your fears. About life and Ollie and—” She shakes her head. “I know I’m not his mom, and I know he’s got a great one, but I want to be there for you. I want to helpin any way you’ll let me. I really care about him. And you.” She swipes a tear from her cheek, her lips trembling with emotion.
“Oh yeah?” Grinning, I brush away another falling tear.
Throat bobbing, she holds my gaze. “Yeah. And I want to be with you.” She shrugs, suddenly radiating nervousness. “If that’s whatyouwant, that is.”
I chuckle. “Oh, Sienna Langfield, I want to more thanbewith you.”
She straightens. “Like you want to be my boyfriend?” Her eyes flash with a mix of excitement and nerves. Like she thinks a universe exists in which I don’t want her with my whole damn heart. Fuck, if that’s the case, then I’ve done a shit job of showing her how I feel.
I smooth my thumb across her damp cheek and shake my head. “No, but we could start there.”
Her confidence falters, her shoulders falling. “Start?”
Angling in, ensuring her eyes are on mine, I lay it out for her. My voice doesn’t shake, and my focus doesn’t waver. A peace settles deep inside me, anchored with the certainty I feel when it comes to this woman. I’m confident. Settled and sure that Sienna is my future. “You’re asking me if I want to be your boyfriend. I’m telling you, if it was my choice, I’d be your husband.”
I wait for her to rear back. To brush off the statement. To backtrack like she has so many times since I found her again. Instead, her green eyes widen and glitter with hope. Then a wide, surprised smile splits her face.
Warmth flashes through my veins, lighting me up all over. The emotion radiating from her is one I want to hold on to forever. I want to grow old with this woman. I want her to be the last thing I see before I leave this earth.
“Okay,” she rasps.
My heart stutters as the word bounces around in my brain. “Okay?”
Her smile lights up the room as it grows, and her giggle is like a perfect fucking song. She leans in, fisting my shirt, and crawls into my lap. “Okay.” She drapes her arms around my neck. “We’ll do it your way. But the boyfriend thing first.” She shrugs like she didn’t just tell me that one day she’ll agree to be my wife. Like she didn’t just make me the happiest fucking guy alive.
I hold her tight and close my eyes and just breathe her in. There’s nothing left to be said because Sienna Fucking Langfield is officially my girlfriend.
