Page 62 of Crushes and Confections

“Show me what you made for Claire too!” she called as I stepped away.

I passed her the plate with the truffle on it and I watched as she took a bite, before gasping.

“She’s going to love it,” she said. “Now how much do I owe you?”

“Absolutely nothing, Blaire. Don’t even think about it.”

“Okay, okay,” she said, accepting the box of truffles. “I’ll spread the word and pay it back. It’s almost closing time, why don’t you get out of here and find that pack of yours. Keep them close, Adrien.”

Taking her advice, I closed up shop as quickly as I could and headed home.

The entire situation with my parents had left me with a determination to be unapologetically myself. There was nothing wrong with who I was or who I loved. If a whole small town could accept that, then surely adults who were supposed to protect and support me should have.

Never was I happier that I’d left France with Vance and embarked on our life together. He’d been there through everything for me and for too long I’d let us hide that love. No more.

When I arrived home he was the only one there. Curled on the couch with his laptop resting on the arm, he looked up when I entered, his head tilting to the side.

“Ady?”

“Come with me,” I said, holding out a hand to him.

He rose without another word, threading his fingers through mine as I led him up the stairs and to our bedroom. Without another word I went to the safe in our closet putting in the code and grabbing the satin box that had sat in the corner for way too long. Never again.

I tugged him out of the closet and pushed him until he sat down on the bed, dropping to my knees before him.

Opening the box to reveal the twin platinum bands. I grabbed the larger one, taking his hand in mine and looking up into his blue eyes I loved so much.

There were so many things I wanted to say to him at that moment, so many things I wanted to profess. They sat on the tip of my tongue, none of them worthy to convey the love and adoration I felt for my husband.

Yet Vance, as he always did, seemed to be able to see all of me without me saying a word.

“Yes, Ady,” he whispered, cupping my face with his other hand as he bent his head to rest on mine. “Always yes. Now and forever.”

I slipped the ring back on his finger where it had always belonged and promised myself it would never come off again. Not for anyone or anything.

He took the box from my hands, grabbing my ring out and sliding it down until it rested where it belonged. He bent to place a kiss over top of it.

We held each other then, and I felt the rest of the weight on my shoulders slip off of me.

“I’m so glad you walked into that patisserie all those years ago,” I said after a while.

“Best decision of my life,” Vance agreed, his grip tightening. “What’s on your mind?” Concern filled me for a moment, and I knew he could feel it down the bond. There were so many things I wanted to say to him.

“I realized that I was still carrying some things I should have left firmly behind in France. I shouldn’t have let them change us, or change how we lived our lives.”

“I had my fair share of things to work through when we first got together too. No regrets, Ady,” Vance said seriously, a hint of bark in his voice. “I wouldn’t trade a second of time that we’ve shared together.”

“At the shop today—”

“Honeys! We’re home!” Riley called out from downstairs. Claire’s laugh soon followed.

“Let’s join them, we can talk together,” I said, rising from the floor.

Coming down the stairs I saw Riley and Claire huddled together by the kitchen island, smiles on their faces as they uncorked a bottle of wine.

“Now isn’t that a sight,” Vance said, grabbing a handful of my ass and shooting me a wink over his shoulder as he went to join them.

Damn, he really was the perfect husband. Caring and attentive one moment, then stern and playful the next.

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