He looked around at the house he had been renovating since Trina left and then back at her. “So, what do you think?”
Trina looked around, a small smile on her face. “I think it’s perfect, although…”
He quirked an eyebrow at her.
“You could do with a new lounge. Is this the same one we bought from the thrift shop when we first moved in together?”
He grinned. “Yeah, it’s the same one. I couldn’t throw it out. We had some good times on that couch.”
Trina blushed and he couldn’t help smile.
“Do you want the fifty-cent tour?”
“Sure,” she replied.
“I haven’t finished the main bathroom yet, but the ensuite is done.”
Trina followed him through the house, cooing at all the changes he’d made and making suggestions for the bits he hadn’t quite gotten to yet. They finished the tour in the kitchen, standing in front of the big bi-fold doors that looked over the deck and backyard.
“It’s just as good as I imagined it could be,” Trina said with a sigh.
“You have to know I did it for you,” he said.
“Tony,” she said, turning to him, but he put his fingers to her lips.
“No, please let me say this. I haven’t been sitting around pining after you…okay, that’s not exactly true. I missed you like crazy and every night I prayed that one day you would come back. I did try to move on. I knew there was no guarantee you would ever forgive me for my part in our breakup. But I never gave up hoping. Renovating the house and using your vision board to do it made me feel closer to you. I didn’t know if I’d come back here and sell it or whether I’d grow old here waiting for you to come back to me, but I just knew I wanted to do this for you. I let you down in so many ways and this was my way of trying to make it up to you.”
Trina stepped closer to him. “You bought a house for me?” She shook her head. “No, that came out wrong.”
“No, it didn’t,” he said, reaching out to coast his hand over her hair. “I did buy this house for you. I should have bought it for you when you asked me. I wanted to. I wanted to give you everything, but I let my fear hold me back. I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to let fear stop me from chasing after my dream.”
“I let fear hold me back too,” Trina said, staring up into his eyes. “Part of me could never quite believe a man like you would really want me. I wanted us to get married and buy a house not just because I loved you and wanted to spend my life with you, and build a family together, although those things were true, but also because I was afraid if I didn’t lock you down, you would find someone better. When I discovered the money, it was like finding the proof that my worst nightmare was true. If I’d had more confidence in myself and more trust in you, I don’t think you would have felt it necessary to hide the money from me.”
“We both made a hash of it, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, we did,” she said on a rough exhale.
He pulled her into his chest and wound his arms around her. “Do you still think that?” he asked, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer to his question.
“What? That a man like you could never really want someone like me?”
He nodded.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “What I do know is I want to be the kind of woman a man like you would want.”
“You already are,” he whispered, lowering his head to brush a soft kiss over her lips. “You always have been that woman, I just hope now you can believe it.”
Trina pushed up onto her toes and kissed him.
“I love you,” she said. “I never really stopped and I was stupid to think I could ever stop loving you.”
“What are you saying?” he asked, his heartbeat ramping up inside as he watched her, hoping maybe she was ready to come back to him.
“I’m saying if you still want me, I want to try again. I want to see if we can do it right this time.”
“Yes,” he said. “A thousand times yes.”
He kissed her then and scooped her up into his arms, heading for the bedroom. If he had his way, he wouldn’t let her out of his sight…for as long as they both shall live.
10
My Heart is Open - Marron 5 (feat. Gwen Stefani)
Tony stood in the congregation and watched Trina walk down the aisle ahead of her sister, Zoë. She looked stunning, but then he couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t. If that made him a sap, he didn’t particularly care.
He shoved his hand in his pocket and fingered the ring box he’d shoved in there on his way out the door. He knew it was bad form to propose to someone at someone else’s wedding, but he wanted the ring with him, just in case the situation arose where he could ask her, but also not steal her sister’s thunder.
He knew it was too soon, or rather, he knew other people would think it was too soon, but in reality, this moment was five years in the making. Yeah, they’d hit some speed bumps along the way, but he’d never once doubted Trina was the only woman for him. He may not have always been the best at showing how he felt, but it had always been true in his heart.
He watched the ceremony unfold, witnessing Zoë and Blake vowing to love one another through all the good and bad times ahead of them. It only cemented his decision. He wanted to make those vows to Trina. He wanted to stand up in front of all their friends and family and promise to love and cherish her and to support her and stand by her and love her for the rest of his days.
He watched Trina throughout, and she watched him and he wondered—hoped—if she was thinking exactly the same thing as he was. One day that would be them. One day soon.
After the ceremony, Tony wandered around the reception waiting for the bridal party to arrive after having their photos taken. He felt a little lost without Trina at his side, pretty much how he’d felt the entire nine months she’d been in Europe. Even more reason for him to pop the question as soon as possible. He never wanted to feel this alone ever again.
He scanned the crowd looking for Daniel. He should probably do something rather than mope around waiting for Trina. He saw his friend standing at the bar, his body turned away and talking to someone. Hitting on someone, more like, Tony thought with a grin. It would be just like Daniel to scope out Zoë’s single city friends and initiate a wedding weekend hook up.
Daniel moved and revealed the woman he was so intently talking to, and Tony’s steps faltered. Daniel was chatting up Sutton. His baby sister, Sutton.
Tony’s fists clenched and he strode purposely across the reception hall to where his friend sat. Sutton saw him coming and her eyes widened. Daniel straightened and turned to see him coming and he smiled. The fucker smiled at him.
“Oh good,” Daniel said, clapping Tony on the shoulder. “You’re just in time to settle this argument I’ve been having with your smart-arse sister.”
Tony’s insta-rage cooled. “Smart-arse sister?’ He said stupidly. Had he misread the situation? Daniel and Sutton were always arguing about something. Was this just another one of those situations and not the chat-up Tony originally thought it was?
“Yes, she’s trying to convince me that zucchini fries are a thing.”
“What?”
“Zucchini fries,” Sutton said. “You know, they’re battered and deep fried. So much better than plain old chips.”
“You are arguing about zucchini fries?” Tony asked, still a little confused about what he’d seen from across the room.
“And sweet potato fries,” Sutton said with a shrug, sipping her drink. “I would definitely go for them over regular chips.”
Daniel threw his hand in the air. “No. No, that’s just wrong. They don’t even get crispy. And don’t tell me you would be happy to sit at a game of footy with a serving of sweet potato and zucchini fries.”
Tony tuned out the argument because something infinitely more interesting just stepped into the room. Trina.
She smiled when she saw him and he made a beeline for
her, leaving Daniel and Sutton to fight over which fries reigned supreme.
“Hey,” he said, pulling Trina into his arms.
“Hey,” she replied, turning her face up to his for a kiss which he gladly bestowed.
“Missed you,” he said.
“Missed you too.”
“Ugh, get a room,” someone said and Trina giggled.
“I gotta do some stuff for my sister and then I’m all yours,” Trina said, kissing him one more time before pulling away.
“I’ll be here, waiting for you,’’ Tony said.
Trina sighed as she laid her head against Tony’s hard chest. The wedding was beautiful, but she’d never had any doubt it would be. Zoë looked gorgeous, the flowers were perfect, the food delicious, and the cake a masterpiece—something Avery was dirty about because the hot new baker was the one to create said masterpiece—and all the billionaires and their significant others who were in attendance—Blake’s friends and family—were suitably billionaire-y. But the best thing about it was right now, standing in Tony’s arms swaying gently together on the deserted dance floor while soft music played. The wedding was over and they’d waved goodbye to Zoë and Blake a little while ago and now Tony and Trina were practically the last ones left.
“You look really hot in a suit,” she murmured, running her hand appreciatively along the lapel.
“Mm, did I tell you how good that dress looks on you?”
“Maybe once or twice,” she replied with a smile. He had in fact gone into great detail about all the things he loved about her dress. He’d also whispered them seductively in her ear while she’d been trying to listen to the speeches.
“It would look better on my bedroom floor,” he said, tilting her head up for a kiss.
Trina melted into the kiss and then laughed. “That was really bad,” she said, her fingers twining around the hair at the nape of his neck.
“Just trying to get you to come home with me.”
“You don’t need to try so hard,” she said with a saucy wink. “I’m a sure thing.” To prove it, she rubbed herself against him. “Is that a rock in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”
He cleared his throat and she frowned as she looked up at him. Was he embarrassed? He was definitely sporting wood, and that had never embarrassed him before so…
Trina pressed against him again and froze. Yeah, there was definitely a hard-on filling his pants, but there was also something in his pocket. Something rock-shaped and hard.
She stepped back. “Do you have an actual rock in your pocket?”
He cleared his throat again and shoved his hand in his pocket pulling out a small black box.
Trina’s heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. “What is that?” she asked, breathlessly. Was that really what she thought it was?
He flicked it open and then fell to one knee in front of her. The cleaners and remaining guests all paused to watch as Tony held the ring up to her. Trina’s pulse galloped and her heart thumped against her chest as she stared down at the man she loved with all her entire heart and mind and soul.
“I know we’ve only just found our way back to one another, but I know there is no one else for me. I love you Trina and I know proposing to someone at a wedding is weird and I know that proposing on Valentine’s Day is cliché, but still, here I am on my knee and asking you to be my wife.”
“Are you serious right now?” she asked, her hands going to her mouth and her eyes filling with tears. Was this actually happening and not some weird dream? Was Tony promising to make her dreams come true?
“As a heart attack,” he said. “Marry me. Take a chance on me, on us. Make me the happiest man in the world. Move into the house we built together and let’s make some babies.”
“Yes,” she said, the words coming out in a rush. “Yes, yes, yes! Now get up here and kiss me.”
“Put the ring on first,” he said, tugging it out of the box and holding it out to her.
She slid her finger into it and it fit perfectly. Of course it did, Tony would have made sure it did.
“I love you so much,” Trina said and she hoped he could see everything she felt in her eyes, because words weren’t enough.
He pulled her close. “Trina, baby. I love you more than anything in the world. You hold my heart and you always will.”
Trina lifted up and kissed him, sealing their vows. She knew that life was bound to bowl them some bouncers every now and again and they would still argue and fight, but she also knew she would always choose him. As long as he continued to choose her, they could face anything together.
“Let’s go home, Button,” he said, nuzzling her neck. “I want to see what you got me for Valentine’s Day.”
“I’ll give you a hint,” she whispered, licking his ear. “I’m wearing it.”
“Excellent,” he replied lifting her up and spinning her around.
“Take me home or lose me forever,” she said, quoting Top Gun.
“Show me the way home,” he replied.
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Other Books by Emma Lea
This is Emma Lea’s complete book library at time of publication, but more books are coming out all the time. Find out every time Emma releases a book by going to her website (www.emmaleaauthor.com) and signing up for her Newsletter.
SWEET ROMANCES
These are romantic tales without the bedroom scenes and the swearing, but that doesn’t mean they’re boring!
The Young Royals
A Royal Engagement
Lord Darkly
A Royal Entanglement
A Royal Entrapment
A Royal Expectation
A Royal Elopement
A Royal Embarrassment
A Very Royal Christmas
A Royal Enticement
Bookish Book Club Novellas
Meeting Prince Charming
Meeting the Wizard of Oz
Meeting Santa Claus
SWEET & SEXY ROMANCES
In my Sweet & Sexy Romances I turn up the heat with a little bit of sexy. No swearing, or very minimal swearing, and brief, tasteful and not too graphic bedroom scenes.
Love, Money & Shoes Series
Walk of Shame
Standalone Novels
Amnesia
HOT & SEXY ROMANCES
Hot & Spicy Romances turn the heat way up. They contain swearing and sexy scenes and the characters get hot under the collar.
Recommended for 18+ readers
TGIF Series
Girl Friday
Black Friday
Good Friday
Twelve Days
Twelve Days of Christmas - Her Side of the Story
Twelve Days of Christmas - His Side of the Story
Collins Bay Series
Last Call
The Christmas Stand-Off
Standalone Novels
Learning to Breathe
Romantic Suspense
Hide & Seek
TOO HOT TO HANDLE ROMANCES
These are definitely 18+ reads and contain graphic sex scenes and high level swearing – not for the faint of heart
The Young Billionaires
The Billionaire Stepbrother
The Billionaire Daddy
The Billionaire Muse
The Billionaire Replacement
The Billionaire Trap
Christmas with the Billionaire
Music & Lyrics
Rock Star
Songbird
Strings
Sticks
Symphony
The Playbook Series
In Like Flynn
Manscaping
Serendipity Trilogy
The Wrong Girl
The Right Girl (coming soon)
The Only Girl (coming soon)
About the Author
Emma loves to read. Reading has been her escape and safe place for as long as she can remember. Her earliest memories are of reading (or making up stories to go along with the pictures in her books) and it is the one thing that has always brought her happiness when nothing else could. Now she write stories and hopes that when people read them, they can find an escape, a safe place and a little moment of happiness when they need it.
She lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia with her wonderful husband. She has two beautiful, grown-up sons, two daughters-in-law, and a dog and a cat who are supposedly her co-workers (but they don’t really contribute much).
She is a ferocious reader with eclectic tastes and has always wanted to write, but never had the opportunity due to one reason or another (excuses, really) until finally taking the bullet between her teeth in 2014 and just making herself do it.
She loves to write stories with heart and a message and believes in strong female characters who do not necessarily have to be aggressive to show their strength.
You can connect with Emma by following her on:
Website: www.emmaleaauthor.com
Be Mine: Valentine Novellas to Warm The Heart Page 71