Page 37 of Flames of Desire

He nodded, his gaze turning more serious. "I wanted to talk to you about your store. I've seen a lot of bookstores, but this one has a unique atmosphere. It’s clear how much love and dedication you've put into it."

"Well, it’s my dream," I admitted, feeling a bit self-conscious under his scrutinizing gaze.

"And it shows," Richard said. "I was wondering if you’d be interested in a more permanent collaboration. Maybe we could set up a monthly event where I and a couple of other authors come and do readings, signings, things like that."

My heart leaped at the idea. "That would be amazing! I’d love to."

"Good," he said, smiling warmly. "I’ll have my assistant work out the details with you. But I wanted to let you know personally how much I appreciate what you’re doing here."

"Thank you, Richard," I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. "That means a lot."

As we discussed some ideas, I glanced over at the counter. Alex was handling the line of customers with ease, a natural smile on his face as he chatted with them. Colton stood beside him, helping out where he could, the two of them working together.

Seeing them like that, I felt a rush of gratitude. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was moments like these that made everything worth it. I had my dream job, a supportive brother, and a boyfriend who loved me unconditionally.

As the event wrapped up, I returned to the counter. Alex looked up and grinned at me. "How’d it go?"

"Amazing," I said, beaming. "Richard wants to set up a regular event here."

"That’s fantastic, Lily," he said, his eyes shining with pride.

Colton nodded in agreement. "You’ve built something really special here, sis."

I smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I couldn’t have done it without you guys."

"Team effort," Alex said, slipping an arm around my waist. "And speaking of teamwork, how about we celebrate tonight? My treat."

"Sounds perfect," I said, leaning into him. "But first, let's finish up here."

The three of us worked together, wrapping up the event and closing the store for the night. As we locked up, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. This was my life—my beautiful, chaotic, love-filled life—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

****

Later that night, Alex and I walked hand-in-hand under the city lights. The air was warm, and the stars peeked through the haze of city glow, adding a touch of magic to the night.

“I still can’t believe how amazing today was,” I said, glancing up at Alex. “Thank you for being there, for helping me.”

“Always,” he replied, squeezing my hand. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

We strolled in comfortable silence for a while, our footsteps echoing off the pavement. The city had a way of feeling alive, even at this hour, with people milling about, the distant sound of music and laughter weaving through the night air.

We reached a quiet park, and Alex led me to a bench near the fountain, the water sparkling under the streetlights. He looked at me, his eyes serious yet filled with a tender warmth that made my heart flutter.

“Lily, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say,” he began, his voice steady but laced with emotion.

I tilted my head, curiosity and a hint of nervousness bubbling up inside me. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, his grip on my hand tightening. “I know this might feel impromptu and rushed, but there’s no one else I’d rather have by my side. I don’t want to spend another minute apart from you.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a surge of anticipation. “Alex…”

“Do you remember the nights we spent in the cabin during the snowstorm?” he asked, his voice softening as he brought up the memory.

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. “How could I forget? It was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.”

“We were trapped there, just the two of us, with nothing but the fire in the fireplace to keep us warm,” he continued, his eyes locking onto mine. “We talked for hours, sharing our dreams, our fears, everything. It was in that moment I knew, knew without a doubt—that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I remembered the intimacy of that night, the way we had opened up to each other like never before. It felt like the world had stopped, and it was just the two of us, wrapped in each other’s warmth.

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