Before she could invite him in, he took a step toward her, wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers. Kissing Alexander had always been amazing, but this kiss was sudden, impulsive, and heated. He kissed her with a hunger she hadn’t experienced before. Her senses came alive. She gripped his collar and pulled him closer, unable to stop herself from getting wrapped up in the kiss.
When he finally pulled away, she gulped in a breath of air. He stared at her, his brown eyes intense. “I’m not good with words. I thought this would be a better way to say what I came here to say.”
She couldn’t speak. He had muddled her brain and made it impossible to think.
“I love you,” he said. “I think I fell in love with you that first day, when you showed up in those ridiculous socks. You showed me I was living an empty life. You helped me see I was drowning in my own self-pity. And since you’ve been gone, I haven’t been the same.”
Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears. Alexander loved her? And suddenly she knew. She loved him too. She loved the way his lips twitched when he didn’t want to smile but couldn’t hold it in any longer. She loved that he would save a tiny kitten from the cold. And how he put his trust in her.
He exhaled. “Please, say something.”
She threw her arms around him and giggled. “Don’t stress. This time away from you has been terrible. I think somewhere in there I fell in love with you too.”
He smiled and pulled her into another embrace. “The age difference doesn’t bother you too much to consider being with me?”
“I spent a couple of hours when I got home looking up famous couples with age differences. Turns out eight years isn’t such a big deal as I originally thought.” She grinned at him.
“I’m glad. Because I wasn’t going to leave here without you.” He pressed his lips to hers once more.
Milly meowed behind her and Alexander chuckled and pulled back. “I think someone else wants to say hello.”
He reached down and picked up the kitten. She licked his nose, and he laughed. “Yeah, I missed you too.”
Charley couldn’t help but laugh.
Alexander sobered and turned back to her. “I do have one concern, though.”
Her nerves shot through her. “What?”
“You stopped wearing your fun socks. Do you no longer like them?”
She grinned and pulled up the slacks the diner makes her wear to work. Bright pink and purple flowers showed.
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “I should have known.”
Epilogue
Christmas, two years later.
Charley hung the large wreath on the front door, the cold breeze blowing through her sweater. She quickly secured it and hurried back inside. Alexander walked into the entryway and took in the green trim and white lights she’d wrapped around the staircase railing. “Looks nice.”
She walked up to him. “Thanks, sweetie.”
He leaned down and kissed her then patted her round belly. “You feeling okay?”
“You’re such a worry wart. I’m fine. I’ve been fine every day for the last eight months.”
He frowned. “I’m not a worry wart. I just care about you.”
She smiled, warmth spreading through her. He really did care about her. “That’s why I love you,” she said, giving him another kiss.
“Come on, let’s go see what Dorothy is fixing for lunch.”
Charley shot him a strange look. “Why? She’s fixing what she always fixes. Soup and sandwiches. I think you’d have a fit if she fixed anything else.”
He rolled his eyes at her. “Just come into the kitchen.”
Something was definitely up. When Charley entered, Thomas was leaning against the counter peeking at the pot of soup. Dorothy was trying to shoo him away. When she turned and saw Alexander and Charley, she frowned. “Okay. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Alexander put on an innocent face.
Before Dorothy could respond, the back doorbell rang. She squinted at Alexander before heading out to the mud room to answer the door. Everyone followed her.
Dorothy opened the door and Paul stood there in his UPS uniform, a small package with Amazon’s logo on it in his hand. Dorothy smiled. “Hi, Paul. What are you doing here? I haven’t ordered anything.”
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Are you sure? I was positive this one was for you.” He handed her the box.
She shook it. “It’s light. Not a book. What is this?” She turned back to the group of people behind her and Alex just shrugged.
“Open it,” Thomas said.
Dorothy pulled at the tape. “All right, all right. No need to get bossy.”
Paul chuckled as she tugged at the flaps, his smile widening. When she had trouble with one side, he pulled out a small pocket knife and helped her slice through the packing tape. Dorothy pulled back the flaps and looked inside. Her cheeks colored as she pulled out a ring box. “Paul...” she said, a gasp escaping.
He got down on one knee, and Charley blinked back the tears forming in her eyes. “Dorothy, these past two years have been amazing. You are my heart and soul, and I would be lost without you. I love your smile, and yes, even your sass. I am sad when we’re not together. I don’t want to be apart anymore. Will you marry me?”
Dorothy threw her arms around him. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Charley put her arm around Alexander, emotions surging in her. Dorothy deserved every happiness. And marrying Alex had been the best thing she’d ever done. She hoped Dorothy would find as much happiness as she had.
THANK YOU FOR READING my book. If you enjoyed this story, check out Her Big Fat Fake Billionaire Boyfriend. When Kenzie hires a man to pretend to be her boyfriend for her sister’s wedding, she never expected that man to end up being a billionaire. But Camden likes the free-spirited Kenzie. Too bad she keeps putting off “keep away” vibes.
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HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK of Her Big Fat Fake Billionaire Boyfriend:
Camden James stared at his drink as the quiet clinking of glass behind the bar and the gentle hum of conversation filled the room. His sister’s words swirled around in his head. Dating is simply playing the odds. The more you do it, the greater your chance at finding love. Easy for Kelly to say. She was happily married with kid number two on the way. He wasn’t so lucky; somehow he brought out the crazy in every girl.
He glowered and sipped his bourbon. His last girlfriend, Lexi, had been the worst. She seemed nice at first—but soon turned nuts-o. She accused him of cheating on her and followed him to make sure he wasn’t with other women. He caught her sneaking onto his computer. She even took pictures of him when he was with clients. The last straw had been when she burst into the room in the middle of a meeting.
She didn’t take the breakup well this morning. Too bad she lived in his apartment complex. He wasn’t looking forward to running into her again.
He shuddered, shoving Lexi out of his mind. If this was how his relationships were going to go, he’d rather pronounce himself a permanent bachelor at age thirty. Sure, he was lonely, but his business kept him busy. And if he stayed single, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone dating him just for his money. He could think of at least three or four women who had fallen into that category.
His construction company was his passion, and that had paid off in a big way. He’d built it from the ground up. Now it’s a national business, with offices in one hundred and sixty cities across the United States. His business had made him a billionaire. In some ways, he missed the days when he was in the mud, handling the steel, and working the large machines. That was why days like today were good for his soul. He looked down at his muddy jeans and work boots. He’d had a ball at the construction site. Unfortunately, tomorrow he’d be back in his office.
A woman walked into the restaurant. She was hard to miss. Curls that ran down her back. Hair so deep red it almost looked burgundy. She glanced around th
e room as if she were looking for someone. When she spied Camden, she headed over to his table.
“Oh, I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said, flashing him a dazzling smile and removing her raincoat. “I got caught in traffic.” She hung her coat on the chair and reached across the table, and her large bracelet with dangling charms swayed and clinked. “I’m Kenzie Bennett, but you probably already know that. I’m sure they told you everything about me. And of course now I’m babbling because I’m nervous.”
Camden blinked, shaking her hand. She wore a long shirt and leggings with a crazy pattern on them. He opened his mouth to correct her, but she continued. “I have never done this kind of thing before, so forgive me if I ask too many questions.” She sat down, continuing to talk. “It’s not every day a woman hires a male escort.”
Camden sputtered. “What?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, that’s not what you’re called, is it?” She blushed. “See? I’m already making a fool of myself.”
She finally paused long enough for him to say something. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”
Her eyes grew wide and her blush deepened. “Seriously?”
He suppressed a smile. She was adorable. “Yeah. I’m just here to unwind.”
She moaned and leaned her head back. “I can’t believe it. I walked up to a stranger and called him a male escort.”
He chuckled, picking up his drink. “Could happen to anyone.”
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Ava Gilmore has a huge problem. She’s in love with Oliver, her sister’s fiancé. What’s worse? She’s their wedding planner. Now her sister has run off to Paris and left her and Oliver to plan the wedding together.
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OTHER NOVELS BY VICTORINE:
The Billionaire Series
The Fake Marriage Series
Falling for the Beast – A Beauty and the Beast retelling
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Christmas with the Recluse Page 15