by Erika Wilde
Jesus Christ, it was that simple, but for a logic-minded guy, the notion had eluded him. But for a sentimental woman like Serena who was waiting to find her Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet, those heartfelt words meant everything.
And now that he knew what she wanted, what she needed, he was going to give Serena the fairy tale she’d waited her whole life for, and the one she deserved.
When Serena’s doorbell rang late Sunday afternoon, her first thought was that it was Dylan. Instead, when she peered through the peephole, she saw an older man dressed in a black suit that looked like a uniform. Confused, she cracked the door open so she could look at the gentleman, who greeted her with a smile.
“Can I help you?” she asked, certain he was at the wrong door.
“Are you Serena Fields?” he asked politely.
“Yes.” Now she was even more perplexed.
“My name is Duke Frasier,” he said, introducing himself as he lifted a shiny, gray Nordstrom’s box, topped with a big bow, toward her. There was also an envelope with her name on it. “This package is for you, from Dylan Stone.”
Surprise lit through her. “Oh.” She accepted the package, unable to guess what might be inside. “Thank you.”
Duke nodded. “There’s a note in the envelope. I’ll wait right here while you read it and follow the instructions inside.” He stepped away from the door and assumed a professional stance.
After closing the door, she headed into the kitchen and set the box on the counter. She opened the envelope first and read the message inside. Serena, please change into this outfit and leave with Duke. He will take you where you need to be. I promise you won’t regret it. Dylan.
She wrinkled her nose in surprise and confusion. It was all so cryptic, considering she hadn’t seen or heard from him since last night at his mother’s. But she was willing to follow his request, because she still loved him and wanted to hold on to hope.
Lifting the lid on the box, she moved the tissue paper aside and gasped at what she found inside. A gorgeous dress in a violet hue, with a fitted bodice and a flowy chiffon skirt. There was also a pair of bone-colored heels to go with it. The outfit was far more modest than the one she’d worn in Vegas, but much more her style. She couldn’t imagine that he’d picked it out himself, but in this case, she was okay going with it was the thought that counted.
She changed, and after a quick look in the mirror, she decided to put on a light layer of makeup and leave her hair down and wavy, just the way she knew Dylan liked it best. Twenty minutes later, she met Duke outside, and he led the way out to a limousine parked at the curb and opened the back door for her. She slid onto the soft, supple leather seat and saw that there was already a flute of champagne waiting for her in the glass holder and an open box of Godiva with her favorite chocolates tucked inside.
“We’ll arrive at our destination in about fifteen minutes,” Duke said, then enclosed her in the back, while he got behind the wheel and started to drive.
Feeling decadently spoiled, she drank her champagne and nibbled on the rich candy, trying to figure out, based on their route, where Duke was taking her. It didn’t take her long to realize that he was heading to Dylan’s house, and when they arrived and she stepped out of the limo, there was a trail of red rose petals all the way up the pathway to the front door.
She started to feel giddy, from the champagne and this romantic gesture that was straight out of one of her Hallmark movies. Anticipation had her following the deep red blooms, and even when she walked inside the house, the trail continued all the way to Dylan’s master bedroom. The door was closed, but she could hear soft music playing inside.
Her heart beat so fast it felt as though it had wings. Swallowing nervously, she knocked lightly, and when Dylan’s voice beckoned her to come in, she followed his order. A shocked gasp escaped her as she took in the transformation of his bedroom. There were white twinkle lights everywhere. Hundreds of them sparkling like a dreamy, romantic wonderland. More flowers were scattered on the floor, and the bed had been turned down, where a heart had been formed with roses.
But it was the gorgeous man standing there wearing a dark suit—which was something Dylan only did on formal occasions—that stole her breath completely. He was grinning, but it was the wealth of emotion shining in his eyes that had her walking toward him, praying that this huge grand gesture came with the most important declaration of all. Because without it, all this meant nothing.
He held his hand out toward her. “Dance with me?” he asked, surprising her.
“Yes.” She let him draw her into his arms and against the warmth of his body, where she fit against him perfectly.
Curling her arm around his neck, she glanced up at him, into the eyes that looked at her with pure, undiluted adoration. “This is all too much,” she whispered. But it wasn’t. Not after all he’d put her through.
“Not for you.” He gently kissed her temple. “I wanted to give you your fairy tale, Serena. All of it.”
The sweetness of it made her melt inside, even as a part of her remained guarded as she waited to see where all this would lead. “It’s impressive. I’m going to assume you had help?”
“Maybe a little.” He continued dancing with her, the hand around her waist tightening possessively. “Everything was my idea, but Peyton and Daisy were more than happy to pull it together while I ran a few errands for tonight.”
She felt his chest rise and fall as he inhaled and exhaled a deep breath, his feet coming to a stop so they were no longer moving. He reached out and gently caressed her cheek.
“There’s something I need to say to you,” he said huskily, his eyes darkening with emotion. “I love you, Serena, and that’s not something I figured out just recently. It’s something I’ve known since high school, but I was too afraid to jeopardize our friendship. There has been no other woman that I’ve ever loved. Only you.”
She laughed softly, joyfully, the relief in her chest immense. “You figured it out.” She couldn’t stop the huge smile on her face.
He sighed, but he was grinning. “I’m a little slow and hardheaded sometimes, but I swear I can be trained with the right incentive,” he teased.
“I love you, Dylan Stone,” she said, needing him to hear those words from her, too. “So much.”
“I know. I’ve always known, but hearing the words out loud is something I’ll never get tired of.” His hand traveled slowly, sensually, down her back. “I want you to have the future you deserve. The husband, the marriage, the family, and all the babies you were meant to have. I always wanted that for you. But I realized something . . .”
She blinked back the happy tears filling her eyes, but her heart was beginning to soar at the realization that all her dreams were gradually coming true. “What’s that?”
“I’m a selfish man when it comes to you,” he said, a possessive tone to his voice. “You’re mine, and I want to be the man who gives you all those things.”
She smiled. “There is no other man I’d ever want to have those things with.”
Relief passed across his handsome features, followed by a hint of nerves. “Okay, since that’s settled, then there is just one more thing left to do.”
She blinked curiously at him. “You’ve already done so much.”
“There’s just one more thing missing from this cheesy Hallmark-style grand gesture,” he joked, as he released her to reach into the front pocket of his pants.
In the next few seconds, he was down on one knee before her, popping open the lid on a small black velvet box that revealed a stunning engagement ring. “Serena Fields, you are the love of my life. Will you marry me?”
She couldn’t deny the jolt of shock that ran through her because he’d come so far so fast, but she didn’t hesitate with her answer, because she’d waited a lifetime to say the words to him. “Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slipped the ring onto her finger, which was a perfect fit, then stood back up and kissed her—h
ot and deep and packed with so much feeling she never wanted it to end. They melted together with all the passion and longing they’d both been holding back, and when he started unzipping her dress, she took that as her cue to help him out of his clothes, too.
When they were completely naked—except for the gorgeous ring on her finger—he pushed her down onto the bed, aligned their bodies, and eased deep, deep inside her. His hands came up to cradle her face, and she opened her eyes to look into his, marveling at the fact that she was going to marry her best friend.
“You belong to me,” he said, leaving no doubt in her mind that it was true.
“Yes,” she whispered, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Epilogue
Serena woke up a few hours later, alone in Dylan’s bed, the twinkling lights still on, which she secretly loved because it was so romantic. Actually, she’d loved everything about Dylan’s grand gesture, and especially the part where he’d professed his love. Really, deep down inside, she was just a simple girl and it didn’t take much to make her happy.
Dylan made her happy. So very happy, she thought with a smile.
Curious to know where he’d gone when it wasn’t even midnight, she got out of bed, pulled one of his T-shirts from his dresser drawer, and slipped it on. She’d missed being able to do that, she thought. Then she went in search of her fiancé. She grinned blissfully. Ahhh, the sound of that made her really happy, too.
She found him in his office down the hall, sitting at his desk with his laptop open, his fingers typing and his mouth curved in a mischievous grin. She came up behind him, slid her hands around to his chest, and placed a warm kiss on his cheek, then glanced at the computer and saw the beta version of the Boyfriend Experience app open on the screen.
“What are you doing in here?” she chided softly. “If you’re working, shut it down and come back to bed.”
“Not working,” he murmured, as he continued entering information into a text box. “I’m creating a profile for Eric on the Boyfriend Experience app.”
“Oh.” She looked closer and saw that Dylan had already uploaded a recent photo of Eric, too. “He agreed to be one of the beta testers?”
“No, not really,” Dylan said with a light laugh. He reached for her and pulled her across his lap, so she was sitting on his thighs. “I’m volunteering him for the job.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure he’s going to be okay with that?”
“I’m positive he’s not,” Dylan replied with a chuckle. “But what’s the fun of him knowing he’s got a profile on the app ahead of time? He deserves this after all the shit he gave me at trivia night. It’s just a little friendly payback.”
She bit her bottom lip, though the thought of some woman tying Eric up in knots appealed to her more than it should. “I can’t wait to see what happens.”
“We’ll find out soon enough. Beta testing begins next week.”
THE END
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UP NEXT FROM ERIKA WILDE & CARLY PHILLIPS!
Curious to read Eric Miller's story from TALL, DARK & TEMPTING? Don't miss his book, TOTAL PACKAGE, the first book in our Boyfriend Experience series!
Looking for a temporary guy for a special occasion or event? Then the Boyfriend Experience app is for you!
Eric Miller isn’t thrilled when a friend signs him up for The Boyfriend Experience app behind his back. It’s not like he has a problem getting women on his own. But when he gets a notification that someone is in need of his . . . services, he’s intrigued enough to check out her profile and can’t resist the sexy, sassy little blonde who only wants him as a decoy for her family reunion.
Evie Bennett needs a boyfriend, stat. Someone who is the total package and can accompany her to her family reunion so she doesn’t have to hear all about how she needs to settle down like the rest of her cousins have. She’s perfectly happy being an independent woman, but what’s a girl to do when The Boyfriend Experience starts to feel like the real deal?
Order TOTAL PACKAGE today!
Also by Erika Wilde
Other Books in the Tall, Dark & Sexy Series
Book 1: Tall, Dark & Charming (Aiden and Daisy)
Book 2: Tall, Dark & Irresistible (Leo and Peyton)
Book 3: Tall, Dark & Tempting (Dylan and Serena)
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About the Author
Erika Wilde (aka Janelle Denison) is the USA Today bestselling author of over 50 contemporary romances for multiple print publishers.
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To learn more about The Marriage Diaries and interact with the series and characters, or to learn more about Erika Wilde and her upcoming releases, visit her at the following places on the web:
Website: www.erikawilde.com