Page 26 of Cupcak
The man is so in tune with me that he knew I was pregnant even before I did. Now, two years after that day at the cupcake stand, I wonder how I could have ever doubted him. We truly do belong together.
“Your gran, she’d have given anything to be here today, Emmy girl,” Pop tells me, patting my cheeks with his eyes all watery. “But since she can’t be here, I think this would have to do.” He pulls out a tiny silver and pearl brooch then fixes it to the strap of my dress with shaking hands.
“Oh, Pop,” I whisper, my voice clogging. “That’s beautiful.” And so special having something from my grandmother with me.
“Stop making her cry!” Alice all but screeches, bustling over with a tissue.
I shoot her a grateful look. “Alice, I can’t thank you enough for this,” I say, placing an impulsive peck on her cheek.
Flushing with pleasure, Alice waves me off. She’s in a long, pale yellow dress that matches my flowers perfectly. “You’d have managed.”
“Everything looks so beautiful. I couldn’t have doneanyof it without you. You’re the best wedding planner ever.”
“Well, yes, I am. Missed my calling, working for Mr. Grant, didn’t I?” She grins.
Alice and I had hit it off from the start. Give us a free hour and we’d talk for two. She felt like the big sister I’d never got to experience. More than once, a grumpy Drake would stomp out of his office and drag me inside when I’d gotten carried away chatting with her when I was supposed to be having lunch with him at work.No onegets in between Drake Grant’s alone time with his girl. No one. And I love that he’s so into me.
Alice grabs my bouquet off the dresser and hands it to me then pins a yellow rose on Pop’s lapel.
“Right, then. Count to fifteen,” she says. “Not Mississippis. Just a regular fifteen, and then follow me. Pop, here’s a tissue for you, your eyes are leaking again.”
She stuffs a tissue into his hand as she bustles out the room and a second later, I hear music filtering in.
It’s showtime.
Nervous and excited, I turn to Pop, whose eyes are indeed ’leaking’ again. “Come on, tough guy. Time to walk your granddaughter down the aisle.”
Epilogue 2
Drake
Ten years later
“Momma, you look beautiful,” our eight-year-old daughter, Penny’s, happy voice calls and I turn around just in time to see my Emmy walk in wearing a dark green dress very much like the one she wore all those years ago on our first date, indeed looking beautiful.
“Am I late?” she asks, looking a little flustered as she bends down to place a noisy kiss on Penny’s cheek. “I wanted to bring Josh, but he was getting a little fussy, so I dropped him off at the sitter. Then Pop called to ask how many cookies he can eat, and I got delayed.”
“No, you’re right on time.” I chuckle. “And you look perfect, Emmy. That dress...” I break off, throwing her a wolfish grin.
She smiles at me. “You don’t look too shabby yourself, Mr. Grant.” She leans in to whisper, “I can’t wait to show you what I’ve got on under the dress. I think you’ll like that a little more.”
“Drake,” I growl, reminding her for the millionth time not to call me anything but my name. But she seems to love teasing me, so she persists. And I guess it works for her because I press a hard kiss on her lips every time, reminding her just who she is to me, and who I am to her.
“Eww!” Penny scrunches up her nose, and I ruffle her hair before gesturing for her to join Alice, who’s standing to the side with her husband, busily telling Emmy how fabulous she looks.
And she really does. In the last ten years, she’s grown into an epic beauty. Personally, I’d rather skip this ribbon-cutting ceremony and just go home and screw her.
“I can’t believe you asked me to cut the ribbon, Drake.” Emmy sighs, looking giddy with excitement as Alice and her husband take Penny outside to partake in some of the fun activities our opening day provides, leaving Emmy and me alone. “The whole place looks amazing. Everything is so glossy.”
“Of course I asked you. You’re the only one I’d ever want to inaugurate this place,” I say, sweeping a hand around the newest branch of my business. This one in New York, that, after months of planning and outfitting, is finally ready to open up to the public.
This is the biggest one yet, in fact. Emmy and I both slogged over the place for months, going over every detail meticulously. She’s been my right hand, taking to the business faster than I ever did.
“Well, I’m honored to be the cutter. And so proud of you, Drake.”
“You should be proud of us. We did this together.”
She looks around and fills her lungs as she allows a prideful smile to take hold. “Yeah. But you made all my dreams come true, Drake. When you plucked me from that cupcake stand, you changed my life for the better. I’ve been grateful ever since.”
Sliding my arm around her waist, I pull her closer to me. “In that case, you can show me your appreciation later tonight.”
“You know, you say that a lot, but it’s always me who gets the multiple”—she looks around to make sure no one can hear her—“you-know-what’s-its every time.”
“That’s because it’s my pleasure to bring you pleasure, cupcake,” I say, dropping a kiss on her nose. “In fact…” I grab her hand and, checking my watch, I figure we’ve got just enough time before the ceremony is supposed to start.
“Where are we going?” She giggles, hurrying after me as I pull her into the main office and lock the door.
“Somewhere private so I can take care of you. Now, my gorgeous wife, get your sweet ass on that desk and remove your underwear. I’d like to start this day by eating my cupcake.”
Emmy giggles and does exactly that, and I can’t help but look at her and realize how blessed I am. Ten years ago when I walked into that mall, I had no idea of how massively my life was about to change. But a decade, two kids, and a whole lot of love and learning to trust later, and I couldn’t be happier. Emmy is my soulmate. And no age gap or messed up upbringings can change that. Together, the world just seems right. Apart…well…we don’t even attempt that to find out. She knows I’m here for her always, just like I know she’s mine. We’re in this together until the end. After all, she said I could keep her. So, I guess that makes her mine. And I am never letting go.
