Relief rushed through her body. “Then whatever it is, you don’t need me.” She just wanted him to go away. Seeing him—being so close to him and yet they’d never been so far apart—was killing her on the inside.
“But you don’t understand, you’re the key to everything. Please come with me.”
“I... I can’t.” She glanced around to find her coworkers staring at them. “I have to close up.”
Sally stepped forward. “It’s okay. We can manage. Why don’t you go find out what he wants?”
Alina turned to her friend and glared. She was supposed to be helping Alina out of this extremely awkward position with her ex—wait, was Graham her ex? They’d never really talked through the specifics of their relationship.
“Please, Alina. I think you’re going to like this.” Graham’s eyes pleaded with her.
“I don’t know.”
Just then her coworkers started with a low chant of “Go. Go. Go.” It grew in volume. Alina’s mouth gaped. These people were pushing her to do something her mind said was a mistake even as her heart longed to find out what he wanted. What was so urgent?
Sally handed over her coat and purse. Alina’s mouth opened to protest but Sally gave her a gentle push toward the door.
“Have fun,” Sally said. “And merry Christmas.”
Alina begrudgingly walked to the door. When she paused and glanced back, everyone was still staring at them. The chanting had stopped and instead they all wore pleased grins. They were traitors. Each and every one of them.
She shrugged on her coat and then walked through the door Graham held open for her. Once they were on the sidewalk, she noticed a black sedan with the driver opening the door for them.
“Where...” Her voice wavered. She swallowed hard, willing her nerves to calm. “Where are we going?”
“Back to the past.”
“The past?” She was confused. He was talking in riddles.
“And the future.”
He was absolutely no help. What was he trying to tell her? And why was he being so cryptic about it all?
“Please, Alina. I promise it’ll be worth it.”
She got in the car. They slowly made their way through the congested streets. She felt as though she should make conversation to break the awkward silence. But then, just as quickly, she realized that none of this was her idea. If he didn’t like the quiet he could do something about it. But for the moment, he seemed inclined to ride along in silence.
Frustrated, she turned away from him to stare out the window. With each passing block, the scenery became more familiar. If they made a right up here, she was certain where they were going.
And then they turned right. They were headed home—back to the Stirling. Did this mean he’d changed his mind about tearing it down? As excitement lifted her heart, reality brought her back down to earth. If he’d changed his mind, he would have told her by now.
So if this meeting wasn’t about the apartment building, was it about them getting back together? The thought tempted and teased her.
But to give in to her desires—to even consider getting back together—she needed more than he’d been willing to give her before. She needed a commitment that she—that their relationship—would come before business. She had to know he loved her. Anything less wasn’t enough. Anything less wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
And Graham had already told her he couldn’t make the commitment a marriage needed to survive. So this was all just a painful waste of time.
She turned to Graham. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
He stared deep into her eyes. “Do you trust me?”
This was such an important question. Without trust they didn’t have any chance of a future. She didn’t have to debate the answer to this question because it was something she knew instinctively.
She nodded.
He smiled and reached out to take her hand in his. And that’s how they were sitting when the car pulled to a stop in front of the Stirling.
“Come on.” Graham opened the door before the driver could do it. He stepped out and then turned back to offer her his hand.
She stepped outside the car as a light snow started to fall. “Graham, I don’t understand. What can you say to me here that you couldn’t say back at the restaurant?”
“It’s not what I can say, it’s what I can show you.” His eyes pleaded with her not to fight him. “Just give me five minutes. If you don’t like what you see, I’ll go away and you’ll never have to see me again.”
Five minutes. In some instances, that was no time at all. But with her heart hanging on his every word, it was agonizingly long. And yet, she was dying to know what had him going out of his way. After all, if this was about the sale, he had everything he wanted. Every resident had agreed to move early.
“Okay.” Her heart raced. She didn’t know what he had planned but she hoped it was something good.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
WHAT WAS HE up to?
As they quietly made their way to her apartment. Alina’s stomach shivered with nerves. Graham was acting so strange and she had no idea what to make of it.
Once she stepped inside, she was surprised to find the Christmas tree lit up. Prince was stretched out beneath the tree, quietly observing them. Alina knew she hadn’t turned the lights on. The tree had been dark since the night of the ball. She stepped toward the tree to turn them off and saw two large Christmas presents sitting on the coffee table with a smaller package sitting in the middle.
She turned to Graham. “Did you do this?”
He nodded. His serious expression didn’t give anything away. It wasn’t like they’d parted friends, so why would he buy her Christmas presents?
Once their coats were off and they were seated in the living room, she turned to him. “You shouldn’t be buying me gifts.”
He stared at her with regret in his eyes. “I’m sorry it took me so long to figure things out.”
What was he saying? Was he saying he wanted them to get back together? She tried to subdue her excitement when she reminded herself that it was going to take more than a present to fix things. Still, she wondered what he’d picked out for her.
He handed her the smallest of the packages. She stared down at the red-foil-wrapped box with a satin bow. It was very light, as though there was nothing in it. What was it?
The paper was so pretty that she wanted to unwrap it carefully to save it but her fingers were clumsy with nerves and her need to see what was inside had her ripping it off to find a plain white rectangular box. Her questioning gaze lifted to meet Graham’s.
“Go ahead. I promise it won’t bite.”
It was all the encouragement she needed. She lifted the lid and then pulled back the red tissue paper, finding a large gold key ornament. She lifted it by its thin red satin ribbon.
She held it in front of her. It was pretty enough. She turned her attention back to Graham. “I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
He moved to the other side of the coffee table. He knelt down. “That key goes with one of these.” He reached out to the first package and lifted the box.
What was beneath the fancy wrapping was a model of a building. She could only surmise that it was a replica of Toliver Tower. She wanted to hate it, she really did. But it was a pretty building. It had modern lines but historical characteristics. It wasn’t the cold, nondescript building that she’d imagined. Someone had taken their time in designing it.
Then without a word, Graham lifted the lid on the other package to reveal a model of the Stirling—the place she’d called home all of her life. She marveled at the exactness of the miniature, right down to the bushes next to the front door.
Her gaze lifted. “They are amazing.”
He nodded and then came to sit beside her. “The m
an who makes them is a real artist. But I didn’t bring them here for you to merely admire. Back when you made me that deal, I was so sure I knew what I wanted in life. I knew I didn’t want to repeat my parents’ mistakes. And truth be told, I didn’t repeat theirs. I made all of my own mistakes. I thought for so long that I could have only one thing or the other, but I never thought I could have both.”
Her heart started to beat faster. She told herself not to get too excited because she didn’t want to get her heart broken. But she knew it was too late for that. She was totally invested in this—in them. But she needed him to spell it out to her in detail.
“Graham, I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me. Have both what?”
“The business, it’s all I’ve thought of since I was a kid. I needed to prove myself to my father, but most of all, I needed to prove to myself that I was good enough to be CEO. And I did, but I found out that being a success in the business world wasn’t as fulfilling as I’d thought it would be. I need someone to share it with.”
“But you did it. You pushed through the sale of the Stirling in record time, and your building—” she glanced at the coffee table where the replicas sat “—will be completed ahead of schedule. It’s everything you wanted. Your name will be on the building and your board has to be duly impressed.”
“But they aren’t who I want to impress. That’s what I’m trying to tell you in my fumbled way. It means nothing without you. I love you, Alina.”
Had she really heard him correctly? “You...you do?”
He nodded. “I fell for you that first day in the café.”
“You did?”
He smiled at her as he took her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking her skin. “Why else would I take you up on that arrangement to take over the handyman duties when I didn’t have a clue what I was doing?”
“You didn’t seem terribly lost.”
“That’s because I had YouTube videos to guide me and real handymen on speed dial when I got myself in a jam.”
“But you never complained.”
“And take a chance of you firing me? No way. I was having too much fun getting to know you. The better I got to know you and the residents of the Stirling, the more everything started to change.”
“You mean you finally figured out what’s so special about this place?”
He nodded. “I did. Now I have a question for you. In which of these two—” he gestured to the buildings “—would you like to spend your future?”
She looked at him. Then she turned to the building models. And then she gazed back to him. “I thought you’d already made up your mind. The Stirling needs too many repairs.”
“And if you want to remain here, I’ll see that the repairs are done. It may not be pretty for a while and I can assure you it will be noisy, but I will make it happen.”
Her gaze searched his. She had to be imagining all of this. He couldn’t be serious. “But all of your plans...”
“Plans are made to be changed.”
With each word he spoke, she was falling further in love with him. “But this is your chance to make your mark on the company.”
“And you’ve taught me there’s more to life than business. Something my mother tried to tell me years ago, but I was too stubborn to hear.”
Hope bloomed in her chest. “Does this mean you spoke to your mother?”
“I did. We had a long conversation and we’re getting together for the holidays. She’s eager to meet you.”
“I’m so happy for both of you.”
He stood and then held out his hand to help her to her feet. When they were both standing close, he stared into her eyes. “Alina, you’ve shown me what’s important in life. And it’s not business or making a name for myself, it’s so much more than all of that. It’s having people in your life that want to spend time with you—people that are there for you through the good and bad. And most of all, it’s people like you that give me time to figure out that I’m wrong.”
“What were you wrong about?”
“Love. I thought that having a successful career meant having to choose it over love. But you showed me that it’s not an either/or proposition.”
She smiled. “I did all of that?”
“You did. I love you, Alina. And I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
“I love you, too.”
He pulled her close and claimed her lips with his own. Her heart soared. This was the best Christmas ever. Her feet felt as though they were floating.
He pulled back, ending the kiss much too soon. “I have one more present for you.”
He moved to his jacket and withdrew a wrapped box from the pocket. The breath caught in Alina’s lungs. Could it be?
She told herself that she was getting too carried away. But she couldn’t stop herself from hoping they would be together forever. Even then, it wouldn’t be long enough.
He turned back to her and held out the gift with the tiniest gold bow. “This is for you.”
It wasn’t until she accepted the box that she noticed the tremor in her hands. Her mind raced for all of the things that could fit in the little box. Each time she thought of a diamond ring, she pushed aside the thought. It had to be something else. Maybe a bracelet to match her snowball necklace.
With her hands not quite cooperating, she obliterated the wrapping paper. Inside she found a little aqua box. As she read the name of the famous jeweler printed on the lid, she gasped.
She lifted the lid and found yet another box. But this box was made of black velvet. Tears of joy rushed to her eyes. She blinked them away. For a moment, she just stood there staring at the little box that fit in her palm.
Graham reached for the box. “Perhaps I should take it.”
Her gaze met his. She had so many questions but her mouth totally refused to work. Of all the times for her to be speechless.
Graham opened the box. The overhead light caught the brilliant diamond and made it sparkle. Her heart was beating like crazy. Was this really happening?
And just to prove it, Graham got down on one knee. “Alina, I didn’t know it for so long but you are what I’ve been searching for. You are the morning sunshine that lights my days. You are the comfort I seek after a long day. And you are the best friend that I’ve ever had. I love you with all of my heart. Will you marry me?”
Tears of joy splashed onto her cheeks as she nodded her head because she was afraid her voice would fail her once more, but she tried to speak, anyway. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
He drew her back into his arms and this time when he kissed her, it was so full of love. She’d never been happier in her life.
And she knew that no matter where she went in the world that her home would always be with Graham. It wasn’t a building. It was the memories. And they would make plenty. And it wasn’t the hallways or the rooms. It was the love in her heart that had room enough for everyone she cared about...most especially her real-life Prince Charming.
EPILOGUE
Two years later... Toliver Tower
HOME AT LAST.
Alina Toliver placed the last table setting on the long row of tables that stretched from her living room into the dining room. Graham had had his people deliver the tables and chairs from his office the day before and now it was all set for this evening’s Christmas Eve dinner.
Prince took a bit to adjust to his new surroundings, but now he thought he was in charge. He rubbed over Alina’s ankles as she straightened each place setting. She smiled at how everything was at last falling into place. She hoped everything would go perfectly this evening. After all, this was their first Christmas in their new home.
In the past couple of years, the Stirling residents had been split apart as there was no one place available in the city to accommodate so many dislocated residents. She had dearly missed her friends, b
ut Graham had kept her distracted planning their wedding. She glanced down at her sparkling diamond engagement ring. One month ago to the day, she’d received the matching diamond wedding band. It wasn’t the ring’s beauty that meant so much to her, it was the promise it carried—Graham would love her forever. And she him.
“Still admiring them, I see.” Graham’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
She lowered her hand to her side. “I was just thinking that today’s our one-month anniversary.”
“That long already?” He stepped up close to her, placing his hands on her waist. “It’s only the first of many anniversaries.”
“Do you know how nice that sounds?”
He leaned down, placing his lips on hers. She immediately leaned into his embrace. It didn’t matter how many times he kissed her, it still felt like the first. Her heart pitter-pattered as desire pumped through her veins.
“Hey, you two newlyweds, aren’t we supposed to be getting ready for a party?”
Alina immediately jumped but Graham refused to let her go. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side. Prince scampered over to hide behind them.
“Hello, Mother,” Graham said. “We didn’t hear you arrive.”
“Obviously.” His mother smiled. “You two look good together. Any news about grandchildren?”
“Mother.” Graham frowned at her. “Stop pushing.”
“Who’s pushing? With the way you two look at each other, it’s a safe bet.”
Alina smiled. She enjoyed seeing Graham reconnecting with his mother. It was long overdue. She moved out of her husband’s hold and went to greet her mother-in-law. Sharon Toliver was tall and slender, her dark hair the same shade as her son’s. When Sharon smiled, it lit up her brown eyes. Alina realized that Graham may have inherited his father’s business acumen but he’d also inherited his mother’s warmth.
Alina reached out and hugged Sharon. “Welcome.”
As Alina took Sharon’s coat, his mother looked around. “This place is beautiful. Not like that stone-and-granite mausoleum that Graham stayed in at the office building. This place has warmth. It looks like a home, not a showpiece. Alina, you have done a marvelous job.”
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