Page 11 of Cupid Loves Curves

“Tell me about how your new promotion is going? Lance tried to explain it, but he said he surely didn’t have the details right. He’s very proud of you, you know.”

A warm glow of pride fills me. Lance has been such a champion for me, in everything. He always asks about my day and he’s never once been intimidated by me having a good job.

“It’s going really well,” I smile, remembering my meeting today with my VP. “The new campaign I designed is a hit with our client and their sales are skyrocketing. They’ve requested two more campaigns, which means a windfall for my agency. My VP is talking about promoting me, again! It’s still hard to believe how much everything has changed since this time last year,” I say, remembering how I was stuck in a soulless cubicle, instead of the corner office I have now.

“To hear Lance say it,” she pauses and we both look toward the ceiling as we hear Lance’s heavy footsteps on the second floor. “To hear him say it, it was just a matter of time. You have agood mind and a strong creative streak, so they sky’s the limit for you.”

“Thank you,” I say, smiling at her compliment. “What is he up to up there?”

“He’ll be down soon, I daresay.”

“Is there any coffee left?”Lance asks, taking the seat next to me on the couch.

“There is.” I pour him a cup, not adding anything to it. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“I sure did.” Lance takes a sip, then puts his cup down. His dark eyes are serious. “I found everything I needed, and then some, when you knocked on the door in February.”

“Oh, sweetie. Thank you.” I lean over and give him a quick kiss, running my hand along his strong jaw. “I did, too.”

“You’re the only woman for me, Bernadette,” he says, dropping to his knee.

I gasp as I look at him before me, my heart thumping wildly. I’ve known this was coming, but it still hasn’t prepared me for the explosion of emotions and love that are surging through me right now.

“I ask you, tonight, with my grandmother as witness, to be my wife. I will love you and honor you, and support you however I can, for the rest of our lives. You are my life and I need you as my wife.”

Lance reaches into his shirt pocket and extracts an antique, Deco ring box. Opening it, I see the ring I’ve seen on Mrs. Paine’s hand so many times. She said it was at the jeweler’s, being cleaned.

“Oh!” I reach out, almost scared to touch it. “Yes! I love you, too, Lance. So much I love you! I also knew, that day we met, that you were all I needed, that you’d be the only man I’d ever love. Yes, yes, yes!”

Lance exhales heavily and grins, removing the ring from the box and sliding it on my ring finger. It fits perfectly.

I stand up when he does, wrapping my arms around him tightly. He kisses me hard, his body pressed against mine and showing me that’s not the only thing hard right now. Our kiss is over far too soon, when we hear Mrs. Paine cough discreetly.

“Let me be the first to congratulate you two,” she says, grabbing her cane and standing up. I walk over to give her my arm, but she pulls me into a tight embrace. “Love him well, dear Bernadette,” she whispers in my ear, “he’s all I have left.”

“You have me, too,” I say, returning her embrace.

Lance comes over and gives her a kiss, pretending not to be emotional when a tear runs down her cheek.

“Bernadette,” she says, after we’ve all sat down again. “That ring is mine, courtesy of my own grandmother. I know you will wear it well and bring honor to it. Lance, I wish your grandfather was here tonight. He would have been so proud and happy for you. He always worried you’d lose yourself in the Army, and never know the enduring love of a good woman. He didn’t want you to be married to the military or war, like some soldiers are.”

Lance nods solemnly, before placing his hand on mind.

“Yes, grandma. I know what you mean. I was scared of that, too. Meeting Bernadette saved my life.”

“You’re going to make me cry, too,” I say, only half-joking. Adrenaline is surging through my body and I need to move. What’s more, I need to be alone with Lance, so I can show him just how happy he’s just made me. After feeling – so long – that I wouldn’t find anyone, I found Lance. I found my future.

“Now, now, let’s not have that,” Mrs. Paine laughs.

“Thank you so much for sharing your ring with me, Mrs. Paine. I will wear it proudly, then pass it to my daughter one day.”

“I know you will, dear. Thank you. Now please, call me Eunice. Or call me grandmother if you prefer. You’re family now.”

“You make me so happy.”I hug Lance once we’ve said goodbye to Eunice and are headed back to my house. He kisses me forcefully and my knees buckle from how much I give myself over to him, but with his arms wrapped around me, he stops me from falling.

“I wish I met you earlier,” Lance says, his voice husky as we pull apart. His eyes are dilated and I know what that means when we get home – hot sex, which is exactly what I need right now. “I knew I was missing something, without a woman in my life, but you have shown me so much more than I ever imagined. What my grandpa told me now makes sense.”

“I know what you mean. I knew there was more, but I didn’t realize howgoodit feels to have someone you know will stand with you forever. I’m sad Eunice didn’t get those letters all thoseyears ago, but they brought us together. I wish I could thank the mailman who made that mistake!”

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