Page 63 of Stuck with the Grump

“I bought a house at the lake. I’m not asking you to move in with me right now, but one day I would like to live up there.”

“Can I be the one to decorate it?” I asked, tracing the line of his jaw. “You don’t have to say yes, but I think you should.”

“The house was bought with your redecorating in mind.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You said you were going to let me go. People who are going to let other people go don’t buy houses with them in mind.”

Clarke grinned, his arms circling my waist. “Maybe my subconscious knew that I would never be able to let you go.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Me too.”

I unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, placing a kiss on the bare skin there. “What do you say we ask Camille to lock up so we can get out of here?”

Clarke grinned and helped me down from the desk, leading me to the door. “Your place or mine?”

There was so much we didn’t know about each other. I wanted to spend the rest of my life getting to know him.

“Yours. I want to see how you live.”

“Lucky for you,” he said with a smile as we walked back into the gallery. “There’s a lifetime for that.”

30

EPILOGUE - CLARKE

Ithadtakenexactlyten months to get Leigh walking down the aisle in a white dress. She had laughed and cried the entire day, wishing that we had met each other sooner. I had spent the entire time, not quite able to believe that this gorgeous being was finally my wife.

Instead of a honeymoon, we had spent time moving into the house I had bought. She had fallen in love with it the moment she saw it, but we hadn’t been ready to leave the city until now. She took her time, decorating it in her style and making everything perfect. I loved seeing her in her element. A few choice pieces of art from her gallery adorned the walls and she had selected leather couches and plush rugs that complemented everything perfectly.

It was wonderful finally being together, as a family.

With the house finally unpacked, Leigh had invited over our close friends for a little housewarming. The backyard was filled with falling leaves, laughter, and the smell of burgers on the grill.

“Doesn’t it remind you of last year?” Leigh asked, leaning back into my embrace as we stood near the edge of the water.

“Don’t suppose you want to go skinny dipping?”

Leigh spun in my arms and grinned up at me. “Ask me again later. Right now, I think we need to go save Drew from Camille.”

I looked over my shoulder to where the newest partner of Crestwood Capital was arguing with Camille. It looked like she was winning and her beer was about to be dumped over his head soon if he didn’t back off.

“I guess you’re right,” I said, holding her closer instead of letting her go. “Oh wait, looks like Tyson has it.”

Tyson marched across the yard with two pitchers of ice water. Without a word, he dumped them over Camille and Drew’s heads, scowling the entire time. The pair rounded on him, shouting and threatening him.

“Brilliant move on his part,” Leigh said with a roll of her eyes before she sighed. “Tyson leaves next week, and he said he’ll be gone until the New Year. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”

“You will be fine, you have me,” I said and planted a kiss in her hair. “He needs to scope out these new businesses in person, and some time away from the city will be good for him anyway. And maybe he’ll finally track down Haley.”

“I hope so,” she said and snuggled in closer to me.

“I know so,” I said, spinning her around and kissing her deeply. “You know, you make me forget about everything else when I’m with you.”

She looked up at me and smiled the most beautiful, dazzling smile.

“And you drive me crazy, but I want you anyways. All of you, forever.”

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