Page 58 of It Had to be You

Alex kissed his way from her mouth across her cheek and then his lips traced the shell of her ear. "I've dreamed of this moment, Tatum. Dreamed of holding you all night long knowing that you won't have to run off to the airport for another competition or exhibition. Now, I can have you in my arms for days and weeks."

She shivered from the sensations that his voice unleashed along her skin. "You... You still have work."

His lips met the tender skin of her throat just under her ear. "I have work, but I also have a very capable team who work for me. A team who were all happy to receive raises to go along with their promotions."

Her hands moved up along his back as his words sank in.

"Promotions?"

He touched his hand under her chin and nudged it upward so he could meet her gaze with his own. "Promotions. I'm not leaving the company, but I've spent years building this publishing company. Hiring and training the best and brightest who all have a passion for books and the written word. The others, the people involved in printing, packing, and distribution, have all been given shares in the company. I've studied businesses all over the world searching for the best model to make my company not only competitive all over the globe but one that inspires everyone who works for it. I find when employees are also owners, they work harder because the success of the company is their success."

She sighed and stroked her hands over his back. "Just when I think I couldn't love you more, it happens. You find another door or window to open, and I feel like my heart gets that much bigger and there you are."

Alex felt like her words were his own.

"I want to be a better person every day, Tatum. I want to be the man you deserve and then make myself better than that because you deserve that too. My grandfather once told me that he was never as good a man as my grandmother deserved, but that he never stopped trying. And my grandmother told me that all she ever wanted him to be was her own. Somewhere between his dream and her own they loved each other for more than fifty years and created a family filled with love."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch made of red and gold brocade.

"Alex," Tatum looked down at the pendant she was wearing before she met his gaze again, "you've already given me so much."

He tugged at the cord that held the opening of the pouch closed. "There will never be too much when it comes to you, Tatum. Never."

Alex held the bottom of the pouch pinched between his fingers and gave it a little shake.

The gold band that settled against his palm glinted in the soft lighting of the room.

He heard the soft intake of breath and Tatum's eyes widened.

Smiling, he tucked the pouch back into his pocket and grasped the gold band between his thumb and index finger. "This was the ring my grandfather gave to my grandmother the day that he asked her to marry him."

Alex saw Tatum's eyes meet his for a moment before she looked back down at the ring he held between them.

"There are many stones that hold significance to my culture. In time I will shower you with all of them, but this ring carries a particular meaning. The top of this ring was created to represent two flowers, their golden stems curling around each other as if they were the physical representation of yin and yang. One flower has petals created by red rubies, chosen for the depth of their deep red color. They are the symbol of passion. A passion that I have for you will never end. The center of both flowers are made with pearls, symbolizing prosperity and wisdom." He turned the ring until the second flower caught the light. "The other flower has petals of emerald like the element of wood. The color and jewels symbolize harmony and growth so that our love will continue to grow as long as we're together."

He took her left hand with his left and lifted it between them, gazing into her eyes.

"Will you marry me, Tatum? Will you give me the rest of your life in exchange for the rest of mine?"

He saw her blink back tears and worried that he'd asked too soon.

"You don't have to answer now," he wanted to give her a chance to delay instead of pressing her into an answer. "This... this can wait."

"Yes."

Her voice didn't shake. Her gaze on his was steady.

And he swore he could hear her heartbeat thundering in his ears along with his own.

"Yes?"

"Yes!" Her eyes were sparkling with life and he felt her answer like tremors rolling through the earth. Earth shattering, maybe. Elemental?

Definitely.

Alex gently slid the ring onto her finger and when it reached the base, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her finger. He felt the cool metal of the ring warming to her skin and swept her off her feet.

"Alex?"

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