Page 41 of Picture Perfect Love

I felt Valerie come up to me, whispering in my ear, “Girl, you know damn well which one you want.”

As soon as she said it, I knew she was right.

“Christopher,” I said, stepping past Joshua. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding between us. I’d say we should go have dinner, but I think I can save us both the time and tell you now what I would have said that night if you showed up.” His face lit up with a confident smile, as if he already knew what I was about to say. “You seem like a really great guy, but I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

“What?” he shrieked in shock.

I raced back over to Joshua, but stopped just in front of him. I gave him a cold, stern look. “You were a real jerk, you know that? You scared the guy I was seeing off. You practically stalked and harrassed all of my friends. You got wasted and gave Cassie over there all the ammunition she needed to make me think you two hooked up. You may very well be the craziest man I have ever met in my life.”

“I know,” he said grimly, bracing himself for rejection.

“But I love you,” I confessed, my voice cracking. “I love you too.”

His face relaxed into a smile, and I even thought I saw the glimmer of a tear forming in one eye. But before I could fully make it out, he swept me up into his arms for a big kiss. I lost myself there for a moment, relishing in the feeling of his big strong arms wrapped tightly around me. The feeling of those familiar lips pressed to mine. I sucked in his scent like it was the air I needed to breathe and all I could think was… Finally. I missed you.

I barely noticed Cassie appear behind us in the cluster with Christopher and Valerie, who couldn’t stop themselves from gawking at us—both for very different reasons.

“I give them two months,” Cassie noted resentfully before looking up to Christopher. “But hey… you’re single. I’m single. Want my number? I’ll go out with you.”

Christopher looked her up and down and seemed like he might consider it, but then he turned his attention to Valerie, a completely different air about him.

“Hey, I’m Christopher,” he said, reaching out his hand to shake hers.

“Hi,” she blushed. “I’m Valerie. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Well… I heard that you’re a doctor,” she chuckled.

The two of them continued chatting and flirting, sending Cassie off into the kitchen in a renewed rage.

“Poor girl,” I sighed, watching her walk away. “You sure you wouldn’t rather go after her instead?” I asked Joshua, not letting go of him. “I hear she’s more than willing to quit her job and move in with a guy she just met.”

“Well, what’s the fun in that?” he quipped. “No challenge? No thank you.”

“Uh-huh, I see,” I narrowed my eyes at him. “And when I finally give in and stop challenging you?”

“We live happily ever after,” he winked, kissing me again. “Hey, do you want to get out of here?”

“I’m working,” I reminded him.

“Name your price, and I’ll double it.”

“Stubborn as always,” I laughed, shaking my head. “What now? You pull your ‘life is short’ line on me.”

“Well, it is,” he defended. “Too short to spend a night without the woman you love while she walks around with trays of hors d’oeuvres for boring rich snobs. What do you say? Partner in crime?”

I was just about to answer when I heard the barking yell of my boss from across the room. He had really lost it this time, barreling straight for us—not caring how many of the guests he offended or alarmed.

“You!” he pointed right at me with veins bulging from the side of his head. “That’s it! I’ve officially had it! You know how nice and quiet and peaceful it was around here these past few days while you were gone!? You made it really easy to tell who the problem child is around here. Well, no more Mr. Nice Guy, missy. I want you out of here! For good! Don’t come back! You’re fiiiiired!”

Joshua bucked up as if he might try and defend me, but I stepped in front of him, reaching for the tie on the back of my apron.

“You know what? You can’t fire me. Because I quit!” I shouted, taking the apron off and tossing it on the ground between us.

His face dropped, while both Joshua and Valerie stared me down with an expression of Are you sure about this?

“That’s right. I quit,” I confirmed confidently. “Because I just took a new position. A paralegal position at Heartstring.” I paused for a moment and turned to Joshua, mouthing quietly, “That’s still a thing, right?” He nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, so… Have fun with your catering gigs and stupid lunches at the country club. I have better ways to earn my money! No offense, Val.”

“Oh, none taken,” she said before flashing another smile at Christopher, who she seemed to be hitting it off with.

My resignation didn’t stop my former boss from ranting and raving, and I could only assume he intended to do so right up until the second we walked out the door—and maybe for a while after.

But I didn’t care. I was in the arms of the man I loved, and I was done running from him. Whatever happened tomorrow would happen. Until then, I was going to soak up every ounce of him I could.

He swept me up in my arms and carried me right out of the ballroom, stopping every few steps to kiss me and murmur again that he loved me.

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