Page 59 of Forbidden Desires

In a louder voice she couldn’t misinterpret, I repeated those words. “I said, marry me. I love you, Jasmine Greene. Nothing will ever change that. I want you—no, Ineedyou—in my life, every single day. And the only way I know how to keep you there for the rest of our lives is to marry you and make you mine.”

Her eyes were wide with shock, her lips parted but she seemed unable to speak.

I grinned. “Do you love me?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

My heart soared with her answer. “Do you trust me?”

She nodded quickly and whispered, “Yes.”

“Then the next answer should come very easily.”

I withdrew the black velvet box from my suit pocket and got down on one knee, giving her the traditional proposal because she deserved that, and so much more. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand as I flipped open the lid, presenting her with the sparkling diamond engagement ring I’d picked out just for her.

“Will you marry me, Jasmine Greene?”

A delighted squeak escaped her, and pure excitement shone in her eyes—a look I was determined to see there every single day. “Yes!” she finally exclaimed. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”

Everything in my world aligned in that moment, as if I’d been waiting my whole life to find this woman who made me want to be a better man for her, and I slipped the ring on her finger, a perfect fit. As soon as I was standing again, she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me enthusiastically. I cupped the back of her head in my hand, holding her close as I slipped my tongue into her mouth, as the moment turned hot and heated and my free hand roamed over the curve of her ass, hauling her closer…

A throat cleared behind us, and Jasmine jumped back, ending the kiss abruptly, much to my disappointment.

“Congratulations, you two,” Dominique said, quite happily. “But I’m going to have to interrupt before you create a scandal. Jasmine, you have guests who are interested in purchasing your artwork and have questions for you. Shall I tell them you’re otherwise occupied?”

She laughed, the sound joyous as she looked up at me with eyes filled with so much happiness. “No. This celebration can wait a little longer.”

Reluctantly, I let her go, because thiswasher night, after all. I kissed the back of her hand, and she slowly, just as reluctantly stepped back, then drifted away into the other room, practically floating as she walked.

I watched her go, grinning like a fool and not caring who witnessed just how smitten I was with my fiancée.

“I saw that rock on her finger,” Dominique said as we headed back into the gallery at a more leisurely pace. “Well done, you.”

“Yes, I would absolutely agree,” I said, feeling smug.

Jasmine was mine. The other half of my heart and soul and I planned to cherish her every single day.

EPILOGUE

Jasmine

Four months later…Our wedding day

I insisted we get married in a way that Eric’s parents could attend the wedding. Which meant planning a small, intimate ceremony that would take place in the beautiful little garden area at the Wellington Later Life Care Facility.

There were only about a dozen people in attendance, and everyone other than Dominque was from the facility—a few of the residents/friends Eric’s parents insisted they wanted there, and two aides to watch over the patients to make sure no one lapsed into a disoriented or confused state.

Eric’s mother and father were under the impression that we were renewing our vows, and his mother, Emilie, was giddy with excitement as she walked down the aisle before I did and tossed rose petals, at the moment believing that she was the flower girl at a stranger’s wedding.

I didn’t care. This was exactly what I wanted. Emilie’s exuberance was sweet and infectious and Eric watched his mother not with sadness, but with a fond smile on his face as she giggled and finally emptied her basket of rose petals. He’d come to terms with these more difficult moments as they grew more frequent, so patient and loving despite their confusion. He only cared about their well-being, and knowing they had the best of care, which they did.

And right now, they were both very happy being out in the sunshine on a beautiful day, attending a wedding.

Once the wedding march sounded from a Bluetooth speaker, I started down the white runner toward Eric, only seeing him as I approached where he stood with a minister beneath an archway woven with flowers. His gorgeous blue eyes all but devoured me, taking in my simple but elegantly flared wedding dress, constructed of silk and Chantilly lace. The design was strapless, with a sweetheart neckline and small train.

He looked breathtakingly handsome and distinguished in his black tailored suit, and as I neared there was no mistaking the unconditional love that shone in his eyes. He was my everything. My security and stability and my future. The one person who truly knew every facet of my personality, my hopes and dreams, and spent every day making sure I knew how much he adored me.

I was truly the luckiest woman in the world.

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