She shook her head as Mel stared at me in disgust. “No, you’re missing the point. You want something that holds a good memory between the two of you. Something sweet and romantic—not where she was almost raped.”
“Hmm, that is a good point.” I stood there trying to think of some place that meant something strong for both of us. “Allure. I should propose at Allure,” I stated proudly. Now that one would be great. “I could put the ring in one of her drinks as Sandy hands it to her. And Sandy would more than love to get involved in that.” It was the perfect proposal.
“No. You were both picking up dates there. That won’t do,” Izzy admonished me.
I threw her a weird look and reminded her, “Z proposed to you there!
“Over the pool table and might I remind you, we weren’t dating a ton of other people.”
“Sheila,” Mel mumbled. Izzy shot her a mean look and rolled her eyes.
I knew that would start a whole new discussion. So I thought of how Matt proposed to Vanessa. “Okay, how about the picnic thing, like Matt did with Vanessa. That’s sweet, right?”
“No, it’s gotta be special to the two of you. You can’t follow your best friend’s footsteps,” Mel told me. She seemed as exasperated as I was.
“I give up. Why don’t I just slip the ring on her finger after we have sex next time?”
All three answered in unison, “No!”
I snapped my fingers knowing exactly what to do. “What about the roses thing? She loved that. That went over really well.”
Mel rolled her eyes at me. “You really overdid it that night. That’s what you should have saved for a proposal.”
At that very moment, the only thing I could think of doing in response was to stick my tongue out at her. She knocked into me with her shoulder, laughing.
“Think of something personal. Something just the two of you share.” She quirked up her brow as she noticed my sardonic smile. “Not sex. Something else, you jerk!”
“You could have Daryl bring it to her at the boxing ring,” Z piped up thinking he’s some sort of comedian.
“Asshole. That’s not funny.”
“Clark,” Izzy said, pulling me away from wanting to punch her husband. “You’ll think of something special between just the two of you. Even if it’s at your favorite café or something like that, or that restaurant—the Italian place,” she suggested. I nodded, liking where she was going with that.
“Yeah,” Matt started joking. “You could hide it in her lasagna and she could shit it out days later.”
I started heading over to at least give him a good punch, when Vanessa pulled me back, laughing. “Hey, whatever you do, she’ll love it. Just go with your gut.”
The problem was, my gut was terrified to propose, worried that she might actually tell me no. That would really just suck.
I WAITED PATIENTLY for her to finally go up there. Aub hadn’t needed to go up to the rooftop since she started sleeping with me. Since she can get her fill of “calm” by just rolling over and watching me sleep. Of course, I can always tell. I mean, seriously, who the hell can sleep when someone is watching them? With her, it’s easy though. Now, I just pull her to me and have her snuggle up when I find her staring at me. We both get to sleep. Win-win.
After going back and forth through all the ways to propose, I hated all of them, until one particular night when she seemed restless. She always gets that way right before she’s about to leave for her job, which, of course, makes me edgy because I can’t stop my fears that she’ll leave me for good.
As much as she travels for work, I gotta say, Aub is really good when it comes to easing my worry. With her constant text reminders of her flight times, her daily schedule and then our evening calls each night, you’d think I was some crazy jealous guy, but that wasn’t the case. Aub just knows that it eases my worries after what my mom did. She’s surprised me on more than one occasion by just showing up at Allure on a Friday night and then leaving again on Sunday. Usually, she likes to stay at the hotel through the weekends to make sure everyone continues the weekend shift routines.
Tonight was the night though. She was leaving tomorrow for another month or so, depending on how long it takes her to get things set up. I felt her staring at me and managed to keep my eyes shut. Then I rolled away from her, more so because I wanted to start laughing. I mean, she’s staring at me and it was tough to pretend to be asleep.
The bed shifted and I heard one of the dresser drawers opening. She’s so quiet and stealth-like, sometimes it creeps me out. She really should consider the vampire thing.
I heard the apartment door open and close and my heart thumped out of my chest immediately. This is it. I took a deep breath as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood. Reaching into my nightstand, I moved my magazines away as I dug for the little box. I pulled it out and opened the velvet case, removing the ring and holding it between my fingers. The moonlight shone between the slats and shined right onto the diamond. Vanessa insisted this was the right ring for Aub, telling me how much she loves the diamond shaped cut. I think she called it marquise, but what the hell did I know? All I knew is that it cost a fortune and I hoped to God she loved it.
“This is it,” I said out loud as I gathered my nerves and stood up. I climbed the steps up to the rooftop and the door was ajar; the brick holding it open just like always. There she was laying on the concrete in her pajama bottoms and camisole staring up at the stars. I took in a deep breath of warm summer air and looked up briefly. I realized all the stars were out and it really was the perfect night for this. If only my nerves were as calm as the night sky.
Stepping lightly over to her, I sat down on the ground next to her. It seemed like forever since we’d done this, which only made what I was about to do even more perfect. My heart thumped uncontrollably out of my chest as I lowered my body next to hers.
“I can’t remember the last time we did this,” Aub whispered, still staring up at the stars.
Attempting to keep my voice even I responded, “Yeah.” I managed to swallow nervously before continuing, “It’s been awhile.”
She rolled her head toward me and smiled. “I love you. I’m sorry I’m leaving again so soon. I tried to get out of it, but you know how that goes.” She shrugged as I stared at her blankly not even registering what she said. My nerves were rolling way too strong.
“I love you too,” I managed to respond. At least I remembered her saying that at some point.
“You okay? I probably woke you, huh? I tried to be quiet. Guess I’m not as quiet as I used to be.” She smiled and let out that chuckle that makes me want to kiss her. Aub really does have the most incredible smile. Maybe because she spent so much time in the beginning crying that when she did smile it made it more incredible.
“You’re fine,” I managed to say. Man, I sound like a pussy. The nerves rolling through me were nothing like I’d ever experienced. Which is stupid. I mean…I’m asking her a simple question that she’ll say yes to, right? Unless she tells me no. Shit. What then?
Suck it up asshole and just do it.
Toying with the ring on my finger, I reached over and touched her hand. My fingers fumbled slightly as I tried to slip it onto her finger. Shit. Which finger was her ring one?
Aub giggled as she looked over to me while I tried to casually slip the ring onto her finger. “What are you up to?” She asked coyly.
“I’d like you…to marry you,” I blurted out. Then realizing how I screwed up, I quickly added, “Me. Would you marry?” I swallowed knowing I really messed the whole thing up. Why the hell would she marry a guy who screwed that up so bad?
She sat up quick and stared at her finger. I think I got the right one as I followed her gaze. I did. I got the right finger. “Did you just propose?”
I sat up just as quick. “Only if you’re going to say ‘yes’,” I blurted out. Shit. That sounded stupid. “I mean. Yes, I…would you marry me?”
She stared down at the r
ing for what seemed like an eternity. Hell, it was an eternity. I was just about to stand up and head back downstairs. Thoughts of divvying up all the new crap we bought together started to hurt my head.
Aub leaned over without answering me and her lips touched mine with a soft sweet kiss. She was letting me down easy. Hell, if she’s saying no, I might as well get more out of this. I pulled her body onto my lap and kissed her deep. The moan she let out only made me need her more.
“Yes,” she whispered as she pulled back before kissing me again. “Only if you slip the ring on my correct finger,” she teased.
“Deal.” I exhaled, letting out all my nerves. I looked back down and realized I slipped it onto her index finger instead. Placing it on the correct finger, I asked, “Aubrey, will you please marry me?”
“Yes. Absolutely yes.” I kissed her as if doing that only sealed the deal.
There’d be no backing out of this now. We were both in this for good.
“IS SHE HERE?” I asked Z as he stood in front of me. I never could get these stupid bow ties to work. I felt like a kid having to have his friend help him tie the thing. My nerves were shot, my hands were clammy and paranoia was setting in. I just hoped this wasn’t what I would remember about our wedding day.
“Of course she’s here. I might question her sanity about marrying you, but she’s here.”
I glared at him right before he threw me a smirk. I looked back to the door waiting for it to open with someone ready to tell me some bad news. My stomach churned as the cold sweats started up again.
“Clark.”
I snapped my eyes back to Z.
“She’s here. She’s in the other room and ready to marry you.” His pointed stare was supposed to ease my nerves, but all I did was swallow and still couldn’t believe him. I took in a deep breath and then clenched my jaw.
Z finished tying my tie and then smacked me on the arm.
“You’re good to go.”
I nodded, but didn’t bother looking at him. A shot glass appeared in my line of view.
“Here…this might help calm those nerves.” Matt smiled and held the small glass in front of me.
I shook my head and waved it away. Panic struck me and I snapped my head to his. “She’s not drinking, is she?”
“Nah, she’s not. Vanessa just told me she’s just as nervous as you are.”
A knock at the door made my heart jolt. I stared at it, knowing it was bad news. It had to be. Things were going way too well between us, why would it continue?
Flynn entered, smiling like the Cheshire cat. See, I knew it. He’s got bad news and out of all the shitty things I’ve done to these guys, Karma’s coming for me. My heart pounded and I thought I was going to lose whatever I had for breakfast. Had I eaten anything?
“Damn, you look pale.” Flynn laughed and clapped my back. “Ease up there, boy. Today is your wedding day.” He pulled back, still smiling.
“Why are you smiling like that? Did Aub leave?”
Flynn pulled his brows together looking like I was crazy. “Wow. Clark, ease up. She’s here and for some weird reason, she wants to marry you.” He slapped my back again and walked over for a drink.
I nodded. I needed to calm down. She’s here and she’s in the other room. She’s going to be there when I walk down that aisle. Wait. I don’t walk down the aisle. She does. She’s going to walk down to me. Unless she doesn’t and I’m the idiot standing at the end waiting and she never walks down…
“Clark!”
My head snapped in Z’s direction.
“Calm down. You’re starting to talk to yourself again.”
I nodded and walked over to the window. The trees were just blossoming and the air was still cool. The glow of the sun was just starting to set and I knew it was almost time.
Another knock at the door made me whip my head around to stare at the wood rectangle. My dad entered, already wearing his tux. He was smiling. Shit. I glanced down to his hand and noticed a small box. He’s here to tell me she left. My eyes went wide and my heart sank.
“What’s wrong? Did she leave? Did she say anything to you before she left?”
My dad’s brows pulled together the same way Flynn’s just had. I looked around the room at all my guys shaking their heads. They all looked at me like I’m an idiot. I swallowed and waited for my Dad to give me the same news he had when I was little.
Instead, he patted my back and smiled. He’s smiling because he told me all these years what women do and I didn’t listen. Now it’s going to get shoved down my throat.
I looked down at the rectangular box he held in his hand. A white box wrapped with a dark blue ribbon. I inhaled deep and tried to take the news like a man. I pulled the box from his hand and slid the ribbon off the box. I pressed my lips together, ready for the bad news as I took the top off. A letter started to sail out off the top and I scrambled to grasp it.
“Clark. Ease up, my boy. She wanted to give you a wedding present.”
I looked back at my dad with wide eyes. “A wedding present? Shit. Was I supposed to give her one? I didn’t give her one. Is that why she’s leaving?”
“Oh God. Seriously, you need to get a grip, man.” Z’s hands grabbed my shoulders hard from behind as he shook me.
I did. I needed to really calm down. I looked down at the letter in my hand and read.
DEAR CLARK,
If someone had told me that you and I would ever be married, I’d have laughed in their face and thought they were insane. Of course, I’m sure many women (and most of our friends) think that I’m the one that’s insane. Wait. I take that back. Most of the women are more than likely extremely jealous and want to pull my hair out.
It's unfortunate that no one sees the real you, the main reason that I'm marrying you—the one side that you let me see each and every day. I’m more than thankful that you let me in.
You’re not just a lover. You’re not just a friend. You’re not just my fiancé.
You, my love, are my one and only true soul mate.
Before we walk down that aisle together and while we are both panicking in our own rooms, overcome with massive nervousness, I want you to know something. I’m just as scared as you are.
But if you can be at the end of that aisle, if you can meet me down at the alter and if you can say the same vows that I want to say to you, I promise you a lifetime of what we’ve shared since we’ve met.
We’re going to have good times and bad times. I hope more good than bad and I hope all our bad times are behind us. But through it all, I will be there for you. If I leave through a door, I’ll return. I can’t guarantee what the powers that be might put us through, but I hope that together we’ll have many children and grow as old as our bodies will allow.
With that being said, I’m giving you a piece of me. This journal that you gave me after one of the lowest moments in my life has meant more to me than you will ever know. I’ve written down my most personal thoughts and feelings and all because of you. I have you to thank for always being there, even if we were apart.
So…my dear Clark, I am giving you my everything. I’m giving you my journal to safely guard all my thoughts, dreams, hopes and fears because I know deep in my heart you will always be my hero and the one who will always be there for me, regardless of what life sends us.
I love you because you’ve always been the one to gaze up at the stars with and I know you’ll always be there with me, holding my hand every time.
You are my calm.
Love,
Your soon-to-be wife, Aub
A KEY FELL to the floor and I scrambled like an idiot to grab it. I could barely see it through my stupid watery eyes, but managed to grasp it. I stood quick and clutched the key in my hand. I stared at the journal and debated opening it. I probably wouldn’t have much time to read it right now and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it right then in front of the guys. But knowing that she entrusted me with all of the feelings she’d written down was mo
re than I could have asked for at this very moment.
“Hey. You okay?” Z asked.
I sniffed and took out my wallet. I nodded as I slipped the small, flat key behind my driver’s license and quickly returned my wallet to my pocket. I cleared my throat and looked down at the journal again. The leather seemed more worn than when I bought it for her. I remembered the saleslady telling me that each journal was made to be one of a kind.
Just like Aubrey; she was unique and definitely something to be treasured.
Another knock at the door caused my blood pressure to spike. Benji walked in, grinning like an idiot.
“It’s time, my brother.” I nervously smiled and let out a breath. The guys started filing out of the room, patting me on my back as they went. My dad stood in front of me and placed his hand on my shoulder. Dammit, another lecture coming on. My stomach couldn’t take much more of all this stress.
“I know I wasn’t always the right role model for you,” he started.
“Nah, Dad, you…”
“Stop. I said a lot of things only because I was in a lot of pain.” He paused for a moment. “Aubrey. She’s an amazing woman and she has absolutely no doubts about marrying you.” He patted my shoulder and headed for the door.
“You ready, cousin?” Benji asked, still smiling huge.
I smiled back at him, glad to have some confidence back so I could quit acting like a wuss. “Yeah. I’m more than ready.” I straightened my posture as Benji opened the door and waved me through.
It was time to marry a woman so perfect for me, I hadn’t even known to dream of her.
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed Breathless Promises!
For more of the Alluring Promises series:
Matt and Vanessa in Romantic Promises
Clark and Aubrey in Breathless Promises
Each book can be read as a stand-alone!
Reviews are always welcome!
DEAR READER
Dear Reader,
Breathless Promises was a really difficult book to write considering the many sensitive issues that were touched upon. Although Clark and his responses helped to alleviate some the severity of these situations, please know that in no way was there any intention of making fun or light of these issues.
Alluring Promises Box Set (Books 1-3) Page 124