by Alicia Rae
“Yes, I did.”
“And because you love me.”
“So damn much,” he agreed in a heartfelt voice.
“And I love you, Damon,” I said, brushing my hands over his stubble again. “I’ll go to Boston with you and stand by your side, so you can follow your dreams. I can work from anywhere. You just have to promise me that we’ll make lots of visits home to see our family.”
“Now you tell me?” He chuckled deeply.
“Hey!” I throttled him teasingly, shoving him back.
He managed to hold us upright.
“Better twelve hours late than never!” I said.
Damon’s rich laughter filled the air.
“What?” I asked with a raised brow.
“You.” He chortled, rubbing my sides. His eyes now sparkled with happiness. “We need to work on our communication skills.” He shook his head. “Because we could have saved ourselves roughly sixteen hours of hell.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “Next time, just try to drop me a hint here or there, so you don’t throw me under the bus,” I added teasingly.
“Okay, I can do that.” He paused and bit his lip. His eyes got that guilty look in them.
“What now?” I asked warily.
“Uh…well…” He laughed, appearing to be looking for words. “Don’t freak out, but I should probably let you know that we are not moving to Boston. I called William Rawn Associates today and told the human resources contact that I couldn’t accept the job offer.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I gaped at him. “So, we did just argue for nothing last night! Why on earth would you turn down the job?”
“Because I love you,” he responded with a heart-stopping grin. He pulled me closer to nestle his nose against mine. “Our life is here in Lake Tahoe with our families,” he continued reverently.
“But your dream…” I refuted, trailing off.
Damon shrugged. “If it’s meant to be, William Rawn Associates will accept my counteroffer of commuting from here. Self-contracted architects do it all the time,” he said calmly. “I won’t give up my family for a job.”
“Are you sure that is what you want? You’ll be happy here?” I asked, not understanding why he would walk away from everything he’d worked so hard for throughout his career.
“Yes. You make me happy, Gail. That is all I need.” He caressed my cheek with his hand. “Someone wise told me the rest are just details that will fall into place.” He smiled. His eyes shimmered with affection and love. “And working with Jason and being near Lily seals the deal of staying here to be with my family.” He shook his head. “No job is worth losing them or my girl.”
I cupped his cheek and whispered, “But you never lost me.”
He set his mouth on mine. “I know,” he said with a smile. “That only makes me love you even more,” he added before capturing my lips.
~Damon~
Since I was surprising Gail tonight, I sent her a text to let her know I was finally on my way home. I’d just finished up the final touches at the office with Jason and Kyle before the grand opening party that was rapidly approaching.
Everyone was so excited to see the new office building after all of us had worked so hard for this day.
William Rawn Associates entered my mind. I had yet to hear from them. Part of me was giving up hope of things working out. Apparently, they were looking for an in-house architect, and I could not be that guy. I would not sacrifice my family or the business I had helped create here in Lake Tahoe. So, today, I was putting the notion behind me with the intention of only looking forward.
Once I parked my truck at our apartment, I slipped my keys into my right pocket and pulled out my last secret from Gail that I planned on giving her tonight. With thoughts of how she owned my heart and soul, I flipped open the black box and gazed down at the large round diamond setting I had chosen just for Gail.
Damn, I’m nervous as hell.
The image of her beautiful face entered my mind, and it made me so anxious to ask her to finally be mine from this day forward. The anticipation of knowing I had to wait a few hours was going to be the end of me.
I closed the box before slipping it back into my pocket just as my cell phone started ringing next to me. I picked it up, and my eyes widened in shock as I recognized the Boston area code.
“Hello?” I said, masking my surprise.
“Mr. Johnson, this is William Rawn speaking,” the man said to me.
I climbed out of my truck and locked it. “Hello, Mr. Rawn,” I replied politely, striding toward the apartment.
Gail was waiting for me to pick her up for our dinner reservations.
“It has been brought to my attention that we have a dilemma with bringing you aboard our company,” Mr. Rawn stated.
“Unfortunately, yes, sir,” I said, opening the door and closing it behind me.
“I would still like to bring you into our team of architects. Can you please explain your reasoning to me, so we can see if we are able to reach a common ground?” Mr. Rawn asked in a friendly manner.
As I watched Gail flying around the apartment in search of her purse and shoes, only to change her heels again, I smiled while I sat down on the couch.
I shifted back into business mode. “While I have always envisioned working for your highly respected company”—my girl and our families entered my mind, giving me the strength I needed right now to lay all my cards out in the open—“my life and family are here in Lake Tahoe. My brothers and I just opened an all-inclusive construction company, and I will be handling all of the architectural design work.”
Gail came to a dead stop across the room.
“If you give me the chance, I will prove to you that I can successfully work with both companies as a self-contracted architect living in Lake Tahoe and commuting to your office in Boston as necessary.”
“I see.” Mr. Rawn paused as though contemplating his response.
My pulse beat rapidly throughout my body with each passing second.
Then, he continued, “As a family man, I understand the need to be with them. As an entrepreneur myself, I know the desire to be independently successful. However, what I must know from you is that you’ll do whatever is necessary to make this work from afar, including traveling when it is required and giving each and every design your all.”
“I give you my word, sir,” I said with conviction and confidence. “And I give every job my all and nothing less.”
“Those are terms I can work with, Mr. Johnson. I will update Mr. Reagan with our new agreement and have him coordinate a schedule with you,” Mr. Rawn stated. “I will also have him forward you my direct line to use from here on out, so if you have any reservations, you can contact me directly.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rawn. I look forward to working together.”
I smiled genuinely at Gail as she approached me. Her expression was full of awe and happiness, reflecting my own.
“You’re welcome. We will be in touch,” Mr. Rawn replied before hanging up.
I barely hit the End button on my cell phone before Gail leaped onto my lap.
“Rawn accepted your offer?” she shouted with enthusiasm consuming her voice.
Laughing wholeheartedly, I enclosed my arms around her. “Yes, sweetheart, he did.”
“Oh my gosh! You did it!” she squealed, kissing me across my cheeks, forehead, and temples.
I relished in her touch.
“I knew you would get it!”
I grinned over at her. “And how did you know that?”
“Because you are talented and deserving”—she smiled playfully—“and you’re extremely sexy and composed when you get in that business mode of yours.” She wiggled against me.
I beamed over at her, and suddenly, the moment struck me. This was everything I wanted in life—my job and the girl of my dreams. There was only one missing piece, and I knew I could not wait another minute to ask her. I was yearning to make her mine to compl
ete my life. Dinner was simply too far away.
Gail ran her fingers through my hair and lowered her forehead against mine. “Hey,” she purred. “Are you okay?”
“More than okay, sweetheart,” I said, breathing in her lavender scent. “I do have a surprise for you,” I crooned with a mischievous yet loving grin.
“You’re not supposed to keep secrets from me,” she chided playfully, reading my lighthearted demeanor.
“A beautiful girl who once hid worms in her purse from me told me that a surprise is not a secret,” I replied.
Unleashing my blue eyes, I gave her a look that I knew would distract her while my hand wandered between us. I took out the little black box that would forever change our lives from this day forward.
“It’d better be a good one, handsome, or you’ll be in trouble,” she admonished teasingly, gathering her hands around my nape.
“It’s a permanent one,” I informed her with sincerity ringing in my tone as I lifted my hand between our bodies.
Gail’s eyes caught the movement. She gasped softly and threw her hands over her mouth. Her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at me, and I could feel her love for me with just that one look.
I popped the lid open with one hand, revealing the stunning diamond ring I had spent days searching for. I’d wanted to pick the perfect one for her.
“You consume my heart, Gail,” I breathed, opening myself to her. “It beats with only thoughts of you. I want to spend my life with you, share my dreams with you by my side, and make all of yours come true.”
I carefully retrieved the ring with my fingers. She lifted her trembling hand and met mine halfway.
“I want to wake up next to you every day, knowing you’re mine forever.” I smiled lovingly at her. “Marry me, Gail,” I finished, feeling all the love I had for her coursing through me and filling every part of my soul.
Her hands came to either side of my face with emotions shimmering in her big brown eyes. “My heart belongs to you, Damon,” she whispered against my lips. “Yes.”
That one word was all I needed from her. I cupped her face and kissed her, transferring and sharing all the love and happiness I felt inside with her in our passionate embrace.
She was my everything. My whole world began and ended with my girl. And we were just beginning our journey.
I rose with Gail in my arms, taking in her gorgeous baby-blue dress she had put on for this evening. Her hair fell around her shoulders as she held me tightly.
“Sorry, sweetheart,” I said, taking long strides, “but I don’t think we are going to make dinner tonight.”
“Why not?” she purred in my ear.
She kissed me with that sweet, warm mouth of hers.
“Because I’m going to make love to my future wife,” I replied with a mischievous grin.
“Fine by me, future husband.” She smiled against my lips.
~Gail~
With all our friends, family, and many of the townspeople gathered around, today was finally the grand opening of the office now known as M & J Construction & Co., short for Madison and Johnson.
I smiled over at Damon, filled with pride for all of his accomplishments. He was finally settling into the groove of things with William Rawn Associates and his office here in Lake Tahoe after peacefully parting ways from his other general contractor back in Denver.
Lily, Abbey, and I all held hands with nothing but love in our eyes as we watched our men cutting the big red ribbon outside of their new office.
“M & J Construction & Co., is now open for business!” Kyle announced to the crowd with pure delight in his tone.
Loud cheers filled the blue skies, and champagne bottles popped open. We all filled our glasses for a toast. Damon, Kyle, and Jason clinked glasses with one another and then threw back their drinks.
The three men came over to us. Jason pulled Abbey into his arms as did Kyle with Lily, all giving hugs and kisses.
Damon reached me, and I threw my arms around him as he linked his hands behind my back.
“Congratulations, handsome.” I nestled his neck and held him tightly.
He swooped me off the ground and spun me in a small circle. “Thank you,” he responded, elated.
Then, he set me down on my feet and gave me a chaste kiss. He drew away, leaving me wanting more, but we would have to wait until later.
Grace and Gavin Madison, Kyle and Abbey’s parents, came up to us, congratulating Jason and Damon.
A tall man approached on the other side of Grace and Gavin. With his matching blue eyes and impeccable strong build, he was unmistakably Jason and Damon’s brother.
“Congratulations, brother,” Blake said in a rich, deep voice to Damon.
“Thank you, Blake,” Damon replied, briefly embracing Blake. “I’m so glad you made it home in time for our opening,” he added.
Damon laced his hand with mine and gently brought me near. “I’d like you to meet my fiancée”—he motioned to me—“Gail Bennett.”
Blake turned his gaze to me and smiled kindly. “A pleasure to finally meet you, Gail,” he said, extending his hand to me.
I shook it with my own friendly smile. “And you as well, Blake. We are delighted you made it home safely.”
“Thank you.” Blake nodded.
“So, how long are you on leave for?” Jason chimed in with Abbey at his side.
“I’m not sure yet. Right now, I’m just looking for some R&R before I make any decisions of reenlisting,” Blake said thoughtfully. Then, he glanced between Jason and Abbey.
“This is my fiancée, Abbey Madison,” Jason said, introducing them.
“Nice to meet you, Abbey,” Blake said, shaking Abbey’s hand with a smile. “Would you happen to be Kyle Madison’s sister?” he asked with a handsome grin that reached his eyes.
“The one and only.” Abbey winked.
Kyle and Lily came over.
“How’s it going, man?” Kyle said to Blake, hugging him with a manly pat on the back. “Good to see you.”
“You, too,” Blake replied.
Lily stepped forward with tears in her eyes. “You’re home,” she cried, hugging Blake with a tight squeeze.
“I am,” Blake responded, pulling away with an affectionate smile at his cousin. “Congratulations on your recent marriage and upcoming baby. It seems like I’ve missed out on quite a bit while I was gone.”
“Thank you, Blake.” Lily beamed as she stepped back into Kyle’s arms. “We’ve missed you, and we have some serious catching up to do.”
“I see that.” Blake chuckled deeply, glancing between us all. “My cousin is happily married with a baby on the way, and both of my brothers are engaged,” he added in amazement. “So, when are the wedding bells ringing for each of you?”
“We haven’t picked a date yet,” Damon and I replied to Blake at the same time.
“In eight weeks,” Abbey said.
All heads whipped to Abbey and Jason, mouths gaping with a few gasps.
“Eight weeks?” Lily shouted.
“In less than two months?” Kathy gasped.
“How in the hell are we going to plan a wedding in eight weeks?” I screeched in shock.
“Aw, come on.” Abbey chortled. “We did it with Lily and Kyle. Surely, we can manage it again.” She winked.
Blake’s laughter filled the air. “Seems like you all have some planning to do.”
“We need Audrey over here,” I said, scanning the crowd.
“Definitely,” Abbey agreed. “She is a planning queen. If anyone can pull together a wedding in eight weeks, it would be Audrey.”
I spotted her and called her over. “Audrey!”
Audrey shifted through the crowd and approached us with a broad, stunning smile that reached her bright green eyes. Her long blonde hair blew in the wind along with her gorgeous white dress.
All heads were turned to Audrey.
I said, “Abbey, Lily, and I are going to need your help.”
&nbs
p; “Of course.” She smiled coyly. “With what?”
“I’m getting married,” Abbey chimed in, “in eight weeks.”
Audrey’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she grinned at Abbey, Lily, and me. “I think all of us can manage that.”
“Wonderful,” I beamed over at Audrey and hugged her dearly.
Then, Abbey embraced her next. “Thanks, girl. You’re a lifesaver.”
“You’re going to need it, lady.” I glared over at Abbey playfully and pointed my finger. “Because you’re in trouble for not telling me your wedding date before.”
Abbey rolled her eyes at me. “We only settled on a date a few days ago.”
“It’s true.” Jason laughed as Pearl came up and embraced him.
“Saved by the fiancé.” I winked at Abbey, making her chuckle.
Suddenly, I caught Blake’s eyes. They were intently locked on Audrey, watching her, as she laughed and conversed with Lily. When Audrey finally glanced over at Blake, the blush in her cheeks did not go unnoticed by me.
As I smiled, I peeked over at Abbey to see she had the same smile on her face. Without a doubt, I knew that she’d caught the shared look between Blake and Audrey, too, because she gave me the biggest grin.
“What are you smiling about?” Damon asked, pulling me off to the side.
He stole a few kisses from me, and I eagerly obliged him.
“It’s a secret,” I murmured in his ear when I came up for air. “But I’ll tell you later.”
“Promise?” he probed in a husky tone before softly biting my bottom lip.
“Promise.” I laughed and then thoroughly kissed him again.
All the love I had for him flooded throughout my heart and soul. I found myself feeling blessed beyond what my heart could bear. Never in my wildest hopes and dreams had I expected to find a man who would complete me in so many ways and love me as I loved him. He was my best friend, my partner for life, and most importantly, the man of my thoughts and dreams.
Today was my brother, Kyle’s, wedding.
Only a few short hours ago on a sandy beach in Lake Tahoe, California, he had said, “I do,” to his bride, Lily, the woman who had stolen his heart.