Page 18 of New Year's Negotiation

Nine

My brother’s wedding started on schedule, with my cousin stepping in as best man in Ben’s absence. Johnathan looked like a man in love. Delilah, my new sister-in-law, was a beautiful, blushing bride.

My mom plopped down in the chair beside me. “We had a bet on whether you’d show up.”

Shock and surprise hit me. “Jonathan told you?”

“Everything,” my mom said, lifting the champagne glass to her lips. “It wasn’t right what he did, Lizzy, but he did it because he thought he was protecting you.”

“Mother.” Anger rippled me through to the core. “How can you say that? Ben is a good man. He’s smart, and he has a beautiful, caring soul. You should be so lucky if I end up with someone as wonderful as him. Besides, it wasn’t all Johnathan’s fault. Ben and I should have worked it out.”

She grinned. “I knew you loved him. You just confirmed it.”

“You’re an evil woman.” I grinned, taking a sip of the champagne.

“Now tell me, daughter. When are you going to tell him?”

“I’m not. It would be too much like admitting defeat and giving him the edge,” I teased.

“He surprised you by the trip down memory lane. Maybe it’s time for you to do something unexpected to show that you were worth the trip.” My mom gestured with her glass. “Look who just walked in.”

Ben stood under the threshold of the banquet room doors. His gaze slid across the room until it landed on me. A smile split his lips as he headed in my direction. I rose from my seat to meet him hallway when another woman stopped in front of him. His gaze held mine as he said something in hushed tones and stepped around her.

“I was hoping to catch you.”

“We need to talk,” I said, taking his hand and leading him out onto the terrace under a star-filled sky.

We stepped into a darkened corner away from the sounds of celebration and lights spilling out the open doors.

“Listen, let me go first,” he started to say. “I was pushy and arrogant forcing you to spend the day with me. I rushed you, and I’m sorry.”

“I’m not,” I said, smiling up at him. “It was an emotional day.”

“You don’t understand…” he said.

“Yes,” I answered.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I want it all. The dating, the marriage proposal on the cliff, a long engagement, just to be sure we won’t kill each other, and I’ll even concede to an early morning or two.”

“Really?” His eyes looked so full of hope.

“Well, to everything but the early mornings.” I smiled and took his hand. “I love you, Ben. I never stopped.”

He pulled me into his embrace. “This isn’t a joke, right? Are you sure it’s not remnants of the magical fruitcake talking?”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“Now who is giving the orders?” His lips twisted into a smile as they lowered to mine.

“You’re looking at me that way again.”

He cupped my cheek. “Lizzy, I never stopped.”

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