by Erika Rose
Stefan laughed, “And if you want the kid to be a strong leader with a wussy name you call him Julius Roth.” He smiled regretfully at Skye. “I’m sorry Skye but Julius is a wussy name. I vote for Duke.”
“Duke!” Seth called out lifting his beer in salute.
The baby made a happy sound and everyone laughed. “He must like it.” Skye said smiling down at him. “Hello little Duke Roth.”
“Cheers.” Everyone held up their glasses in salute to Duke’s official name.
One of FAWN’s songs started blaring through the speakers. A song about love and finding the right person for you.
Cayden had never been sweet but felt the moment called for it. He leaned into Anna and whispered in her ear. “Care to join me for a dance?”
Anna smiled back knowingly before taking his hand and leading him to the dance floor.
Cayden pushed a knee between hers, pulling her close as they started moving along to the beat. Her mysterious scent filled his senses once more as he slid his hands to her lower back.
“I’ve got to know Anna, what perfume you wear.” He whispered against her ear.
“Why?” Anna asked confused.
“Because it’s intoxicating and I haven’t found any perfume bottles around the house. So either it’s illegal or top secret.”
A laugh bubbled from her lips as she watched him amused. “Apparently all your wild playboy ways didn’t teach you everything.”
“They told you?” Cayden asked horrified. He knew his friends couldn’t keep their mouths shut.
“Some of it at least.” She smiled before leaning back into him, resting her head on his shoulder before whispering into his ear. “It’s not perfume…it’s a fragrance oil. The one I use is white musk.”
Cayden smiled into her hair. “Remind me to buy a truckload.”
They danced and swayed as the song ebbed and flowed through chorus and lyrics and for the first time Cayden was looking forward to entering the year ahead with someone.
The MC announced over the loudspeakers that the countdown was about to begin. Cayden pulled back and took Anna’s hand leading her up to the offices. “Cayden where are we going?” She asked rushing after him.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said tugging her along the dark corridors of the empty offices.
“You painted the walls.” Anna exclaimed as she walked past her old desk.
Cayden briefly glanced at the light beige walls with the bold green and red stripe running along the middle of the wall about hip height. He had to admit it did look better than the ‘inside cow’ color it was before. “What can I say, you give good advice?”
“It looks wonderful! This is the perfect surprise.”
Cayden laughed. “That my dear Anna is not your surprise.”
He reached his office just as the crowd downstairs started counting down from ten.
“Ten…” came the voice over the loudspeaker below.
“Cayden what’s going on?” Anna asked confused standing in the exact same spot she did on the first day he met her.
Cayden pulled a small royal blue velvet box from his trousers and got down on one knee.
“Eight…” the crowd had all joined in the counting.
“Anna-Sophia Jackson, I think I fell in love with you the moment you stepped into this office. So it’s here where I first saw you I want to make you a proposition.”
“Six…”
“A proposition?” Anna asked confused.
“Someone told me life was for sharing and for loving. Would you be willing to love me and to share your life with me? I promise to commit to you and this relationship until the day I breathe my last breath.”
He watched her eyes brighten with happiness and moisture as the crowd chanted below. “Four.”
“Come on, Anna. What’s it going to be? Am I going into the New Year a committed man or not?” He grinned at her arrogantly and took out the ring.
The large solitaire diamond shone bright amongst the smaller sapphire stones.
“Of course.” Anna exclaimed as the crowd below burst into cheers.
Cayden pulled her in for a hot passionate kiss until the crowd quieted downstairs. He grabbed her hand and rushed downstairs, he headed straight for the bar where he grabbed the microphone and jumped onto the bar.
“Happy New Year Everyone!” He shouted to the entire exuberant crowd. “I just want to thank you all for joining in a true Rosi’s tradition and to celebrate even more I’d like to share something with you.”
He held out his hand for Anna and waited for her to join him on the bar, a little tricky exercise with her short tight red dress. When she finally stood next to him he kissed her fingers and looked into her eyes.
“My mother, who hopefully some of you still remember, always told me vows are something to be taken seriously. She had fond memories of the ones she took with my father.”
Salut rang out in respect for his parent’s memory throughout the crowd.
“And hopefully in a few months I will be saying the same vows to the woman I love.” Cayden turned to Anna and felt his heart nearly explode with love as he spoke. “May I never steal lie or cheat. But if I must steal, let me steal away your sorrows. If I must lie, let me lie with you all the nights of my life and if I must cheat, I’ll cheat death. Because I couldn’t live a day without you in this world or the next.”
Applause rang through the crowd but Cayden didn’t hear a single sound as he heard Anna softly whisper against his lips. “I love you.”
~THE END~
I hope you enjoyed this story! I put my heart into writing every sentence to perfection for your reading experience. If you loved this story, or think that I suck butt and should never write again, you can leave a review on this book’s Amazon page. Every single review will help me as an author and allow me to publish better stories in the future. Thank you!
Click HERE to leave a review
~YOUR FREE STORY~
Subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date on my new releases, discounts, promos, and receive your free romance novel.
http://www.erikarosepublishing.com/
(Keep reading to see teasers for the next story in the series)
Teaser for The Billionaire's Legacy
CHAPTER 1
The kettle whistled on the stove, bringing her out of the daydream she was currently having. She startled and laughed at herself before she poured the boiling water over the chamomile tea bag. She sniffed the air as the heavenly scent filled her senses.
It might be Friday night and New York was about to come alive but for Sasha Morris it meant sitting down at her scarred and faded desk in front of the window overlooking Broome Street and studying.
And she didn’t mind any part of it. Not the scarred and faded desk, not the studying or the noise filtering in through the open windows on balmy spring evening. Even though she was accustomed to only the best, Sasha loved the apartment she shared with her friend Kris on Campus. Her father had surprised them with only the best appliances and a brand new leather sofa, but Sasha kept the scarred and beaten desk.
When she had signed up for pre-law at NYU her father had insisted she stay at home, but for Sasha that wasn’t an option. She had spent twenty one years under her father’s roof and watchful eye and she couldn’t wait to start her life outside of his restrictions.
She didn’t mind having lunch or dinner with her parents once a week but the rest of the time was hers, to spend how she chose. No compulsory fund-raisers or dinners where her mother had thought it well to invite yet another Harvard graduate with a bright future to attend. At each of those dinners her mother paraded her awards and achievements and Sasha wanted nothing more than to hide under the table.
Sasha spent most of her time studying, adamant not to make a success of her life riding her father’s coat tails and the little bit of time that was left she spent with whom and where she chose.
; She carried her cup of chamomile tea over to her desk and sat down. Lovingly she ran a hand over the scarred oak that had served many students before her. Where were they now? Did they make a success of their lives? Do they still remember the scarred desk overlooking Broome Street? Sasha doubted it; she was a sentimental romantic at heart.
Sasha opened her textbook and sipped on the chamomile tea as she started reading the legal jargon. At first it had all been legal mumbo-jumbo but over the past year it had started falling into place. She no longer had to look up legal phrases but understood them; her grades were testimony to that. She was at the top of her class and in her few vain moments she allowed herself to bask in it.
The sun started setting, allowing the balmy evening to cool down, reminding Sasha that Spring still fought for purchase in the cooler March evenings. She tugged the blanket over the back of the sofa over her legs and held the fresh cup of chamomile tea and looked out the window noticing the city was starting to buzz with Friday Night energy. As soon as her fingers had heated enough she picked up her pen and continued to take notes. Kris often teased her for being a study-holic, but for Sasha it wasn’t that she was over-committed it simply made sense to study her work when the lectures were still fresh in mind.
What felt like a few minutes later her phone buzzed on the table; she picked it up and recognized Kris’s number.
“Hey Kris.” Sasha smiled knowing her friend would be asking her to join them.
“Okay, you’ve done enough studying for a Friday night, get your sexy dress on and get down here.” Kris said with a no-nonsense tone.
Sasha shook her head looking out over the lights of New York City. Every Friday it was the same story. Sasha declined the offer to join them at the latest club or restaurant and every Friday Kris would call and try to convince her. “Kris, I’ve just started. Maybe next time.”
“Bullshit!” Kris shouted into the phone. “It’s ten pm which means you’ve been at it for hours. You need a break!”
“What?” Sasha asked surprised. “It can’t be…” She turned around to glance on the clock in their small kitchen, only to confirm Kris’s allegation. Where did the time go? “Kris I can’t believe it’s ten, but I’m not coming out now. I’d rather finish this while it’s still fresh.”
Sasha could hear Kris moving through the crowd, the noise level increased for a short while until it quieted. Kris had probably moved outside.
“Now you listen to me Sasha Morris. The semester is almost finished, you’re top of your class and you have no good reason to study on a Friday Night. I gave you your few hours to soothe your obsessive compulsive study disorder, but enough is enough. Either you get your but down here, or I’ll come and fetch you and drag you out in your pajamas.”
The line went quiet for a moment and Sasha envisioned Kris dragging her along the street in her comfy pajamas she loved to study in. The problem was she knew Kris would do it.
“The choice is yours.” Kris’s firm voice came over the line.
Sasha heaved out a sigh before answering, “Fine send me a location.”
“Great, see you shortly.” Kris beamed before hanging up.
Sasha paid the cabbie and stepped out of the cab on West 21st. She tucked her hands into the long coat that covered the short purple dress that Kris had referred to and took a deep breath before heading into the club.
A hypnotic beat filled the club; bodies writhed together on its rhythm on the far end. Sasha handed in her coat and placed the ticket stub in her clutch before heading to the bar. If she was going to be here for the next hour she would need a drink. She would get a drink, find Kris, enjoy the drink and brief conversation and then head back to her apartment, pajamas and chamomile tea.
Squeezing through the crowd Sasha finally reached the bar. She tugged out a few bills and held them over the bar hoping to be held quickly. The seat at the bar where she stood was empty, but Sasha pushed up against the bar ignoring the empty chair.
Finally the barman reached her; she briskly gave her order and watched him make it. After the exchange of bills and a drink Sasha stepped back only to sit down squarely in someone’s lap.
Warm strong hands steadied her as she lost footing. The warm breath against her bare neck freaked her out until she heard his voice.
“Now that’s an entrance.” The husky voice washed over her. She tried to ignore the Goosebumps on her flesh or the flicker of attraction in her belly as she turned to face him. Met with the palest green eyes she had ever seen and perfect straight white teeth, flicker turned into a throbbing. “Sorry.” She whispered inches away from his face.
Dark hair that was overdue for a cut framed his face as he smiled at her. “No problem, you’re welcome to stay awhile.”
For a moment Sasha considered staying in his lap with his voice on her neck and his hands on her hips before sanity prevailed.
“Sorry again.” She said pushing up, grabbing her drink and rushing into the crowd to find Kris.
What was that? It was almost like her body had instantly responded to him. And those eyes, they were so light they appeared almost transparent. By the time she found Kris and a few friends among the crowd her heartbeat still hadn’t quieted.
“Sasha, you came!” Kris shouted before rushing over to hug her. “Oh good I’ve seen you’ve got a drink already. You’re just in time.”
Sasha sipped on her Cosmo, the sweet battled with sour on her tongue and she relished the taste. “In time for what?”
“We’re hooking up with that group of guys for a round of darts.”
“Darts? Kris I don’t even play and we don’t know those guys.” Sasha said glancing over to the group of hot guys sitting across from them.
Kris laughed jubilantly. “That’s the point! You come out on a Friday Night, you meet people and spend time finding out if you like them.”
When Sasha only watched her with wide eyes, Kris played her joker. “Besides look at it this way, at least your mother didn’t pick them.”
Sasha shook her head. One hour that’s it, she thought as she followed Kris to the dartboard with their other friends.
“Hello ladies, we’re just waiting for Stefan. He’s just getting drinks.” The blonde Adonis spoke to the group but his eyes stayed on Kris the entire time. So that was why they were going to play darts, Sasha thought as she was introduced.
“I’m Jason. Peter, Duke, and Stefan will be back now.” Jason said pointing the guys standing around him.
Kris took the lead and stepped up to the line; she turned and winked at Sasha before wiggling her butt and taking aim.
Jason applauded her effort even though she pegged the dart at the edge of the board. Jason followed Kris and nearly hit a bull’s eye.
Sasha stepped up to take her turn, just when she had taken aim she felt the warm hands circle her waist even as the husky voice spoke at her ear. “Fancy meeting you here.”
One of the warm hands slid up her waist leaving a wake of tingles as it slid along her arm and took her hand.
Sasha heard a gasp from Kris standing only a few feet away. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she knew should step away, but she didn’t want to.
She let him guide her hand pulling back and whispering in her ear to release as his other hand remained on her waist. To Sasha’s amazement she hit the bull’s eye.
She flung around ecstatically. “I did it!” From pure joy she grabbed the handsome stranger with the pale green eyes and hugged him. As soon as her body was flush against his, she realized her mistake. She pulled away hesitantly reeling from the brief touch.
Those green eyes watched her, fog lifting from a forest before a sexy smile showed his straight white teeth. “Like I said, you’re welcome to stay awhile.”
CHAPTER 2
Stefan observed the package she made. On the short side with barely five foot two to her name and two large brown pools of chocolate for eyes. Waves of hair in shades of caramel, burnt sugar an
d ebony tumbled over her bare shoulders. The purple dress was made for her; it accentuated the slight hint of curvy hips and small firm breasts. With no shoulders and reaching to just above her knees it was merely a scrap of cloth.
She watched him hesitantly, Stefan couldn’t decide if she was hesitant to stay or hesitant to smile back. In the end she smiled at him shyly.
“Thanks, again.” She said softly so only he could hear.
He nodded before sipping on his beer, still watching her. Even though she was small, she checked all his categories. Feisty, cute, sexy and of course she had waves and waves of hair Stefan couldn’t wait to run his hands through.
“Do you know each other?” A perky redhead asked moving from her spot beside Jason.
That had purple dress stepping forward. “No, uhm we met briefly at the bar.”
“We didn’t actually meet she kind of…”
“My name is Sasha Morris.” She interrupted casting him a warning glance.
Okay, Stefan thought, so she didn’t want her friend to know she sat in his lap. Shrugging he took her small hand in his for the second time. “Stefan Kelson, pleased to meet you Sasha Morris.”
She blushed and quickly focused on sipping her Cosmo
The rest of the night passed by quickly with Jason and Kris monopolizing the conversation. Although Stefan and Sasha barely spoke, knowing glances were exchanged every few minutes. Their hands brushed accidentally when he handed her a drink and nearly got lost in her chocolate brown eyes.
Stefan knew they were playing a game, a game of glances and brief touches until either of them made the first move.
She stood speaking with her friend to the side when Stefan decided he was going to make that move. He walked over and placed his hands on her hips, becoming accustomed to the feel of her small firm hips under his hands.