Page 97 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Forty-Seven
THE DIMLY LIT restaurant smelled of warmed olive oil and spices. A roaring fire burned in the fireplace across from where Riley and her family sat. Classical music filtered through the air. Riley felt at peace for the first time in days. She sipped a glass of wine and listened intently as her parents filled her in on the lives of neighbors and friends.
The waiter appearedby her side and placed a single red rose wrapped in pink paper across Riley’s plate.
“Thank you.” She looked at him. “Is this something you do for all the women?”
“No, ma’am.” He walked away without an explanation.
Riley leaned forward with a laugh. “What was that all about?” she whispered.
Her parents shrugged.
She smelled the rose and unwrapped the paper. Inside was a handwritten note,and she recognized Josh’s handwriting.
Hi, beautiful. Turn around. J.
Riley’s breath caught in her throat as she spun around in her chair. Josh, dressed in a dark suit and holding a bouquet of white and red roses, stood before her.
“Josh?” she managed.
She pushed to her feet as Josh approached. She caught sight of each of Josh’s siblings, and his father, standing behind him, their hands claspedin front of them.
He kissed her lightly on the lips.
“What are you doing here? What’s going on?” She eyed his family, then shot a glance at her mother, whose eyes were suspiciously damp.
“Sorry it took me so long,” Josh said, and handed her the bouquet of roses. “Red and white. For unity.”
“Oh, Josh, they’re beautiful, but you didn’t have to.”You’re here. You’re actually here.Riley couldbarely think past the sound of her heart beating way too fast.
“I’m done doing what I have to do, Ri. I’m doing what I want to do.” He reached behind him, and Savannah picked up a bouquet of yellow roses from a nearby table and handed it to him.
Riley’s eyes burned with tears.
“Yellow roses, the promise of a new beginning. Babe, I want to share my life with you. We’ll get through all the garbage,and then we’ll put it behind us.” He handed her the flowers.
Riley’s arms wouldn’t move. A tear dripped down her cheek. Riley felt her knees weaken. She reached for the back of her chair. “I want that, too.”
Her mother appeared beside her and took the bouquet from Josh, then set it on the table behind Riley.
Josh dropped to one knee. The tears Riley had been fighting slipped down her cheeks.
“Josh?” Unable to hold her trembling body erect any longer, Riley sank into the chair.
“Riley June Banks, I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life.”
Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh.She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was really there, before her, sticking by her. He was catching her. He looked at her like she was the only one in the room, like he wanted to wrap her in his armsand keep her safe forever—and, oh yes—she wanted that too, so much that her booming heart ached, but…
“But what about work? The allegations?” The words tumbled out before she could stop them.
“I’m not asking you to work for me,” he explained.
You’re firing me? On one knee? I thought…
“I want you to be my wife, my partner in every aspect of my life, including my business. You won’t work forme. You’ll work with me. Partners. No hiding in any aspect of our lives.”
She couldn’t breathe. Riley feared she might pass out. Could this really be happening? She gripped the sides of the chair. The hope in his eyes mirrored the hope in her racing heart. “You don’t have to do this,” she said.
