Page 44 of Dear Mr. Author

They seem to take a second to hit her, and then she flinches, letting out a gasp.

“You…”

“I love you.” I smile and lean down, bringing my face to hers, staring into her eyes that reflect the sunlight, sparkle with it. “I loved you from the first moment I saw you. Hell, I loved you the first time I read your letter. I love you so much, Maddie.”

“I love you too,” she says, her voice quivering happily, as she sinks her hands into my shoulders and stares up at me. “I love you so freaking much. Oh, heck, I’m so glad you said it. I’m so glad you feel the same way.”

“Of course I do.” I take a step back, my hand trembling slightly as I reach for my inside jacket pocket. “And that’s why I need to ask you something, the most important question I’ve ever asked.”

She brings her hands to her mouth as I take out the ring box, and lower myself to one knee in the same fluid motion. She giggles and shakes her head, as though there’s a part of her that can’t believe this is happening.

“Maddison Smith,” I say, opening the box to reveal the diamond ring.

It’s a large and beautiful piece, set within an elegant band. It’s just like my woman, the perfect combination of curviness and elegance.

“Before I read your letter, I thought I’d always feel alone, always be alone. I never dreamed I could fall for a woman just by reading her words. I never dreamed I could fall in love with a sheet of paper. But you did the impossible, you beautiful funny perfect woman, my perfect Maddie. So please, please, make me the happiest man alive.

“Will you marry me?”

There’s a moment where I think she might say no when she stares long and hard at me and that familiar look of disbelief whispers across her expression.

Something jagged rises inside of me, tearing through me, as I wonder what will happen if I’ve read the situation wrong.

But then she lets out a croaking sob, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she sings, causing starry warmth to cascade through me, to touch every single part of me. “Oh my God, yes.”

“Yes?” I say, unwilling to believe it’s real right away, that this much beauty and perfection could be real.

“Yes,” she says firmly, stepping forward and reaching down as though she’s hungry for me to claim her with my ring.

I take it from the box and grab her finger, sliding it up to her knuckle, feeling our future became more and more secure with each inch gained.

Then I leap to my feet and wrap my arms around her, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around and around. She giggles and clasps onto me tightly, and somewhere in the mayhem of the embrace, our lips find each other.

She moans through the kiss. A whimpering noise that goes right to my base and my heart, both at the same time.

“I love you,” she gasps once the kiss breaks off, her legs wrapped around me tight, lust and love burning inside of her.

“I love you more,” I breathe passionately.

“Impossible,” she whispers, guiding her lips back to mine.

We kiss again, deeper this time, as the sun shines brightly down and our future glitters before us.

Epilogue

Three Weeks Later

Maddison

“He’s just been acting weird since yesterday,” I murmur, holding the phone to my ear as I ride the elevator up to Madden’s apartment.

No, our apartment.

No matter how many times he corrects me, it’s still difficult to think of it in those terms. It’s still difficult to accept that all this magical beauty is happening to me.

But, as perfect days collapse into perfect nights, I’m starting to find it easier to accept. I’m starting to be able to enjoy the closeness, enjoy the passion, enjoy all of it, without the usual whispering self-doubt.

Madden makes it so much easier to simply be.

Except, since yesterday morning, I’ve noticed a change in him.

“It’s in the way he looks at me,” I tell Kelly, my heart drumming heavily in my chest, sending tendrils of uncertainty clawing through my body. “I know that sounds crazy. I really get that. But I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s like there’s something he wants to say, but he won’t.”

“Hmm.” I imagine Kelly standing at the window to her new apartment, tapping her chin, looking out on the nice part of the city in which she now lives. “Are you sure? Maybe you’re reading too much into it.”

“No,” I say with confidence. “I can read him, Kelly. It’s the way he looked at me before he proposed like there was something he wanted to say but he couldn’t let himself go there yet.”

“Maybe he’s planning a trip or something?” Kelly offers.

I sigh, shaking my head like she can see me. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

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