Page 52 of Seductive Hearts

“For your father?” I asked. The night was full of surprises.

“For the family company,” he amended, and I understood without being told it was easier for him to think about it that way. The animosity between him and his father wouldn’t dissolve overnight. But the fact that he had accepted a position meant they were on their way.

“And is that what you want?” I asked with hope flickering in my heart. “Will it make you happy?”

“No.”

That word was a pin in an inflated balloon. “Oh. I’m sorry,” I whispered, crestfallen.

“You don’t get it.” With his other hand, he pulled me in by my waist. “It doesn’t matter if the job makes me happy. The only thing that could ever make my life full and complete is you.”

Was it really happening?

Was I hearing this?

“You’ve made me a better man,” he told me, his voice tender. “What am I supposed to do without you keeping me in line, calling me on my bullshit, and making life interesting?”

His lips brushed my forehead. I closed my eyes, lost in the magic of the moment—our connection. There was no denying it. It was meant to be.

“You’re sure you have it in you to be a one-woman man?” I tipped my head back, searching for the truth in his eyes.

He didn’t hesitate. “So long as you’re the woman, yes. I have not touched another woman since we started together, and that’s the truth. You’re all I want. You’re all I’ll ever need. Please, tell me I’m not alone in this. Otherwise, I think you ruined me.”

I touched my fingers to his lips. He didn’t need to say another word. My heart knew him well enough already. “I believe you.”

“You love me, Rose?” He took my face in his hands, his touch unbelievably gentle. “Do you? Because I love you from the bottom of my heart.”

He went blurry, thanks to the tears that filled my eyes. Happy tears, the happiest I’d ever shed. “Yes. I love you so much. I always have.”

Joy radiated from his smile before he pulled me in, lowering his head and kissing me hard. My heart was ready to explode by the time I wrapped my arms around his waist, molding my body to his, clinging to him to stay on my feet once my head started spinning and the world tilted on its axis. He was mine. Finally, after waiting so long and telling myself I was wrong for wanting him, I was in his arms, and he was kissing me for all he was worth, and nothing had ever been more right.

The only thing that could break the moment was the sound of applause coming from inside the penthouse. I knew before we broke the kiss and looked through the glass doors that we had an audience. Our families and friends had watched every moment and now cheered us on. Mom and Lourde cried happy tears, holding onto each other and probably imagining their grandchildren. Even Noah managed to look halfway happy, raising his glass to us with a thin smile.

“Looks like we have their approval,” I told Colton, grinning up at him. “That’s a pretty good start, right?”

“Are you kidding? Approval from my father? It’s a goddamn miracle.” He was chuckling as he pulled me close, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. “But then again, so are you. I guess I’d better get used to miracles from now on.”

21

ROSE

Me: Coming out tomorrow night?

Sienna: Who else will be there?

Me: Everybody. Girls and guys. Dinner and drinks.

Sienna: I’m not sure. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

Setting my phone aside, I sighed. Sienna swore she was fine with Colton and me, although she hated that I kept it from her and turned away when we showed any kind of PDA. Still, over the past several weeks, she’d used every excuse in the book to avoid getting together if it meant being in a group. The idea of losing my best friend because I found the love of my life was painful. I could only give her space and hope she’d eventually open up and share with me.

The store had been closed for almost an hour. The staff was long gone, having cleaned up after a busy day. There was a profound sense of quiet and peace in the air. I didn’t want to move and ruin it.

A sense of pride swelled my heart as I sat in my chair, looking around my cheerful but sophisticated office. It was mine, and I had worked damn hard for it. There was something special about having this space for myself. It wasn’t an office in the family’s flagship store, something handed down to me. I had seen this through from beginning to end, and a month later, the thrill was still potent.

Still, I couldn’t hang around all night. Colton and I had plans for dinner. His work nearby meant continuing to stay in the Hamptons house, giving us all the opportunities in the world to spend every free moment together.

Two months ago, I would never have imagined life turning out this way. Everything had changed so fast and completely that I barely recognized the version of me who believed she had everything figured out and there was no room for surprises. It had taken me a while, but I’d figured out that the unexpected parts of life could be the most rewarding.

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