"Taylor," he said.
His voice was quiet and timid, and I tilted my head at him. "Sir?"
"I just want to tell you how proud I am of you, baby."
I smiled. "Thanks Dad."
"No, I mean it, Taylor," he said. "I don't think any of us knew your store was quite like this, and uh, well, anyway, I'm sure you had to do a lot of hard work to make it this far, and I just wanted to say I'm real proud of you. I don't know if any of us ever thought you would end up with a store like this."
He was staring straight into my eyes with a sincere, almost regretful expression that made me want to cry. My dad was a man of few words, so I knew it took a lot for him to say those things.
I gave him a thankful smile. "Thanks Dad."
"Thank you," he said. He glanced down at his suit. "I don't think I've ever worn anything like this before."
Liam showed up at the store about thirty minutes later when I was wrapping things up with my family. He was coming in as they were going out, and they all hugged him and thanked him again for treating them to a mini-vacation.
He had done it for me—not for my family but for me. He loved me so much that he wanted my family to have more of a grasp on how far I had come. It wasn't that he wanted me to show off or anything… he was just proud of me and he wanted them to be proud, too.
My family walked out waving at me through the window, and seconds later, I was left standing in my store, staring straight at the man I loved.
Liam.
The only one who could ever make me feel this way. He was taking me to dinner and was dressed nicely with a fresh haircut. He walked toward me wearing an irresistible grin, and I squinted and pointed at him like he was in trouble.
"You surprised me," I said.
His smile broadened and he shrugged innocently. "I thought they needed to make sure their suits fit."
I approached him, gently brushing up next to him and feeling breathless at how handsome he was.
"My dad said more words to me in the last thirty minutes than in all the rest of my whole life combined."
"Good," Liam said. "I hope they were the right words."
"They were," I said. "He said he was proud."
"He should be."
His sweetness caused my eyes to sting.
"How'd I get you?" I asked in awestruck wonder as I gazed at his face.
"I thought I was the one who got you," he said.
I shrugged, shifting gently in front of him and encouraging him to hold onto me, which he did.
"I guess we got each other," I said.
"Yep," he agreed.
"And guess what's next week," I asked.
"What? I'm gonna marry you?"
I nodded.
"I can't wait," he said.
"Me neither. Hey, Liam?"
"What?"
"Thank you. Thank you for what you did just now."
"It was my pleasure," he said. "I love showing you off. It's my favorite."
I could see out of the corner of my eye that people were window-shopping in front of my store and could clearly see us.
"You can show me off right now if you want," I whispered.
"How's that?"
"People are looking in the window right now," I whispered.
He squeezed me around the waist, holding me closer. "Are you daring me to kiss you right here in front of Drew and all these nice people?"
I hesitated but then nodded shyly, biting my lip.
And the next thing I knew, Liam lowered his head to kiss me. He placed a gentle kiss right on my mouth, and the soft tenderness of it sent a crashing wave of anticipation over me.
I squeezed his arms, whimpering at the feeling.
"Did they see?" he whispered with his mouth right next to mine.
I nodded, and he smiled as he pulled back.
"I love you, Taylor."
"I love you too," I said.
And I meant it.
I had never loved another human like I loved Liam Kennedy, and the best part was that I knew he loved me back.
I knew it all the way down to my bones.
I knew we'd be together forever.
I knew he was my happily ever after.
The End
(till book 7)
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
James 4:14
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:13
Other titles available from Brooke St. James:
Another Shot:
A Modern-Day Ruth and Boaz Story
When Lightning Strikes
Something of a Storm (All in Good Time #1)
Someone Someday (All in Good Time #2)
Finally My Forever (Meant for Me #1)
Finally My Heart's Desire (Meant for Me #2)
Finally My Happy Ending (Meant for Me #3)
Shot by Cupid's Arrow
Dreams of Us
Meet Me in Myrtle Beach (Hunt Family #1)
Kiss Me in Carolina (Hunt Family #2)
California's Calling (Hunt Family #3)
Back to the Beach (Hunt Family #4)
It's About Time (Hunt Family #5)
Loved Bayou (Martin Family #1)
Dear California (Martin Family #2)
My One Regret (Martin Family #3)
Broken and Beautiful (Martin Family #4)
Back to the Bayou (Martin Family #5)
Almost Christmas
JFK to Dublin (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #1)
Not Your Average Joe (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #2)
So Much for Boundaries (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #3)
Suddenly Starstruck (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #4)
Love Stung (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #5)
My American Angel (Shower & Shelter Artist Collective #6)
Summer of '65 (Bishop Family #1)
Jesse's Girl (Bishop Family #2)
Maybe Memphis (Bishop Family #3)
So Happy Together (Bishop Family #4)
My Little Gypsy (Bishop Family #5)
Malibu by Moonlight Page 15