Last Chance Proposal (Entangled Bliss)

by DeLeo, Barbara

  She turned to Cy and frowned. “I don’t understand. Why are you showing us this now?”

  He turned the sound down, but still the images of the New Year’s Eve pageant played on the enormous screen. “Callum sent me the video clip of Jonty singing and I sent it to Maria and Jeff, Susan’s parents. Yesterday I called them and we had a really long talk. They can’t believe the progress Jonty’s made in only two weeks. They’ve dropped the custody case.”

  “Oh, Cy!” Ellie pressed fingers to her lips. No wonder his face had been shining when he’d arrived here. This was the most incredible news. And the most devastating. If Cy didn’t need her for the custody case, then he was leaving here without her.

  She straightened and moved to the edge of the stage, her hands across her stomach, bile rising in her throat.

  Cy walked up the aisle between the rows, then up the steps and onto the stage until he was only a few feet from her. “I came here today to tell the truth, because everyone’s been affected by what I asked you to do.” He threw an arm wide. “I need everyone in this hall, everyone in this whole town, to know what an ass I’ve been in these last two weeks. I’ve been selfish. I’ve only thought about what I need, and I’ve lied to all of them. Now’s the time to tell them the truth.”

  “Please don’t do this, Cy,” she whispered.

  He took two steps toward her, but turned toward the audience and addressed them. “Two weeks ago I came back to the cove to ask Ellie to be my wife for the sole purpose of winning custody of my son.”

  A communal gasp went up and Ellie steeled herself for what Cy would say next.

  “Why did I come all the way back here to ask Ellie?” He turned to look at her again, his face filled with intensity and passion. “Because she has the kindest, most generous heart of anyone I’ve known. You all know how true that is, don’t you? Ellie’s the one you bring a sick bird to because she’s so smart and so gentle. She’s the one who can pull a broken community back together like she’s done for this town, and do it all for free.” Another gasp went up as people turned to each other.

  If only the old wooden boards of this stage would open up and swallow her whole. She knitted her hands together to stop them trembling and waited for the sucker punch when he’d tell her in front of all these people that she was too good for him, that the community needed her more. She waited for Cy to tell her he was leaving tomorrow without her.

  “Ellie, these last few days have been the first in months, no, in years that I let myself feel. When I saw what you’d done for my son at the pageant, when I realized what you’d done for me since I got here, it all became clear. I can’t lose you, and I can’t take Jonty away from Rata Cove.”

  Her chest tightened and an icy blanket shrouded her body.

  “Something you said to me when Jonty went missing from the hall suddenly made sense as I watched that pageant. For so long I’ve run when things got difficult. When my parents fought, when things became tough with Susan, when I didn’t know what to do after William died. Everyone in this room saw me do that after you’d found Jonty on the beach.”

  Ellie looked down. Every muscle in her body had slackened and she held onto the lectern for support.

  “I understand that deep down you still blame yourself for William’s death, that you wonder if you could let yourself be responsible for a child again, but I’ve seen you do it. In this last two weeks you’ve opened your heart to Jonty. You’re confident and calm around him, and you make him believe he can do things. Not only do I love you for the way you do that for Jonty, I love you for the way you do it for me.” His voice hitched. “The way you’ve challenged me in the last two weeks…you healed me. Made me whole. I want us to do that for each other, day after day.”

  “Ellie, when I close my eyes I see your face. When I’m alone I turn to look for you. When I imagine my life, my future, you’re always in it. I love you. I can’t live without you.”

  …

  “No you don’t love me, Cy. You love the idea of me being with you and Jonty, to make things easier. But I don’t want a life like that.”

  He shook his head. She was so damn rational. Didn’t she feel it—what was between them? His chest clenched tight. “No. You’re wrong.”

  “What you and I have is a deep and precious friendship, and that friendship will last a lifetime. You can still come back to Rata Cove as you did this time, just as the children and grandchildren of everyone here will, every holiday every year, nothing will change that.”

  A monster roared up in his mouth, ready to deny all she said, but he swallowed it away. She had to see that everything was different now. That he was different. She’d made him this way. He loved her with his whole soul. He’d never been more certain of anything in his life. It might have taken a crazy Christmas week in a tiny little corner of the world, but day by day she’d swum into his heart and he wasn’t going to let her leave it again. Ever.

  “What you and I have is far more than friendship, Ellie.”

  Lines dug into the smooth skin of her forehead.

  “What you and I have is love, huge, undeniable love. God, I can’t believe I’ve blinded myself to it.”

  “How do you know?” she said in a cracking whisper. “When do you know the line between friendship and love has been crossed? Need? Want? Love? It’s hard to tell which is which. I can’t risk the life I’ve built for myself by trusting something so fragile.”

  “You won’t have to.”

  She looked up at him and frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “For some time now, my biggest competitor has been wanting to buy me out. Yesterday, I let him know I’m moving back to New Zealand and we agreed upon a price. I’d like to invest that money somewhere.” He smiled at the wide-eyed look on her face. “Preferably in a coastal architecture firm that specializes in safeguarding people’s memories. I want you to keep doing what you love so much, and I want to be by your side while you’re doing it.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Tears covered her lashes for a second before she blinked them away. “You’d do that for me? You’d help me build my business?”

  “I’ve listened to you say you don’t want children because you’re too busy, too focused on other things. But I know the real reason is because you’re scared of losing someone. What if you could do both? What if you could have your career and a family who loves and supports you in it? I want to help you do that, Ellie.”

  She blinked and hugged her arms tight against her body and he had to lock every muscle to stop himself going to her.

  “I love you, Ellie. I want you. I need you. They’re all a part of me. I don’t need to know the difference.”

  She drew a shaking hand across her forehead, and her eyes sparked. “Oh, Cy…”

  He pulled her closer. “I don’t want to live in the past anymore. I want to build a future with you. A future where you can do the work that’s so important to you, but with me by your side. A real future with a real family and a whole lot of real love.” He pulled the ring box he’d collected from Auckland this morning from his pocket and dropped to his knee.

  “I want to be your real husband. Will you marry me?”

  …

  Ellie’s mind froze and everyone in the room held their breath as she looked down at the diamond solitaire they’d picked out together in Auckland. He loved her. Wanted her. He believed she had what it took to be a real mother to his son. Her body buzzed as she tried to still her scattered thoughts. “What can I say, Cy?”

  “Say yes and kiss him for God’s sake,” Betty Browning shouted from the back row, her camera lifted to her eye.

  Ellie laughed out loud and a wave of joy began to take off in her body.

  “Say yes,” Cy said as he looked into her eyes. “Just say that you feel the same and that you’ll be my wife, for real this time.”

  “I love you, Cy. I’ve always loved you. Since you’ve been back, I’ve driven myself crazy trying to deny it, wanting to act like the fr
iend I knew you needed. I buried it time after time. I can’t do it anymore.”

  “I still need a friend.” His voice hummed in her ear. “And you’re the best there is.”

  She reached up and hooked a hand behind his neck and he kissed her long and slow as the hall erupted in whistles and shouts.

  When she finally eased her lips from him, she grinned as he slipped the ring on her finger. “And don’t we have a date at a registry office tomorrow, anyway?”

  He shook his head. “Not anymore.” A smile lit his face. “I want everything to be real from now on. And that includes the biggest, best wedding when you’re ready. Not before. But there’s one more thing.”

  “More?”

  “Jonty’s grandparents want to move back to New Zealand now and I’ve offered them my holiday house. That means you, me, and Jonty will need a new one…” His lips lifted in a teasing smile. “I was wondering if you knew any good architects.”

  Ellie pulled Cy to her again and pressed her lips to his. Creating a home for the man she loved and the little boy she couldn’t imagine living without?

  That was one project she couldn’t wait to begin.

  Epilogue

  Jonty’s grandma Maria leaned in and whispered, her breath warming Ellie’s ear. “They’re on next.”

  Ellie reached for the older woman’s hand and Maria’s deep brown eyes crinkled in a smile. “It’s so lovely being here together.” Ellie’s voice quaked under the words. “It means everything to Jonty. And to us.”

  The older woman squeezed her hand. “Being here with you all is so special, Ellie. Especially getting to see our gorgeous grandson sing his lungs out with his cousin. This is really what the holiday season’s all about, isn’t it?”

  Beside her, Cy leaned in. “Thanks, Maria. For the singing lessons. He’s found a big voice in that little body.”

  Maria’s face softened. They’d come a long way in a year, Susan’s parents. Not only had Maria and Jeff moved back to New Zealand for good, at the beginning of December they’d moved into Cy’s holiday home for the summer with Ellie, Cy, and Jonty. They were having a whale of a time.

  “If it’s another step in his recovery, that’s all that matters,” the older woman said.

  Cy nodded. “Having you here has certainly helped him as well. He’s so excited that you’ll be seeing him onstage.”

  Maria’s eyes glittered. “Susan would be so proud of what you’ve both done for him.” She turned to her husband who was trying to focus his camcorder.

  The warm pressure of Cy’s hand slipping into Ellie’s caused her heart to leap, as it always did. With his business in the States sold, Cy had opened surf schools throughout New Zealand. They lived in the cove most of the year, except for the times the three of them would go and visit Ellie’s projects around the world.

  “Here they come,” Cy whispered. “Our boy and our nephew.”

  A moose took the stage—a little brown moose with cloth antlers that sagged over a small, round face lit like a city skyline. In a high and tuneful voice, he began to sing about life in the mountains—how he loved the sun on his hide and the grass under his hooves. Beside him, a woolly sheep in the shape of ten-year-old Louis joined in a chorus about being different but just the same.

  Ellie smoothed the blue-and-green silk scarf that lay across her knee. Jonty never wore it these days but liked to keep it close by all the same. He’d left it in Ellie’s care and her heart burst with pride for all the progress he’d made.

  She turned around in her chair and smiled at her parents and Fleur, then at Cy’s mum beside him. Nana Pat was back in the cove for the first time in years. Ellie and Cy were planning to build her a new house beside theirs. From deep within, a cocktail of tears and laughter fizzed through her. This place had always held such strong memories for them all.

  Cy leaned in closer. “They’re the United Nations of flora and fauna,” he whispered. “Jonty’s graduated from tree to beast, and Louis is just perfect as a sheep.” Ellie turned her face to him and in the dim light, his eyes sparked.

  They watched the rest of Jonty and Louis’s performance and when it was finished, Ellie’s hands ached from clapping, her mouth strained from smiling.

  She snuggled closer to Cy and he kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Ellie Hathaway. I love what you’ve done for our boy, for his grandparents, and I love you for what you’ve done for me. I can’t wait to move into our new house.”

  Ellie grinned. “It’s looking so good. A brand-new house for a brand-new year.”

  “I don’t know how we can beat the excitement of the last year,” Cy said. “A marriage, a thriving business, and a place of our own.” His smiling eyes sparkled and she pulled him closer.

  “We’ll find a way.” Familiar contentment soaked her. “We’ve got a whole life full of Christmas days, New Year’s Eve pageants, and family get-togethers. They’ll all be exciting, as long as I’m spending them with you.”

  Acknowledgments

  Rata Cove was inspired by a gorgeous place I visit every year with my family. There’s sun, surf, and even pukeko chicks! It’s been wonderful to share it with you in Cy and Ellie’s story.

  As always, there are many people behind the scenes who’ve helped bring this story to life and my heartfelt thanks go to:

  My editors: Lewis Pollak, whose patience, persistence and brainstorm brilliance helped breathe life into this book, and Alethea Spiridon-Hopson whose knowledge of what makes a kick-ass romance is awe inspiring.

  My agent, Nalini Akolekar for coming all the way ‘down under’ and being just as fabulous in person.

  My Entangled “family” for all their support, especially Liz Pelletier, Stacy Abrams and Debbie Suzuki.

  Hayson Manning, Rachel Bailey, Melissa James and Robyn Grady for reading every incarnation of Last Chance Proposal and offering their incredible advice and enthusiasm.

  Sandii, because there hasn’t been a GPS invented that could help me find my way without you.

  And to George, and my four amazing children, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.

  About the Author

  Barbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters. After completing degrees in Psychology and English, then traveling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins. She still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.

  Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can find her at:

  Website: http://www.barbaradeleo.com

  Blog: http://www.barbaradeleo.com/blog/index.html

  Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDeLeoAuthor

  Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/barbdeleo

  Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BarbDeLeo

  Find your Bliss with Rachel Harris’s…

  Seven Day Fiance

  One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week…

  Brushing a lock of auburn hair away from Angelle’s face, Cane said, “This charade isn’t going to be easy. I’ll learn everything you want me to know, everything we have time for during the drive. But darlin’, there’s one thing we don’t need to work on. And that’s this.”

  He lowered his forehead to hers, feeling the soft pant of her quickened breath hit his opened lips. He skimmed his nose across hers and closed his eyes as he breathed deeply. Sunflowers. A hint of vanilla. Cherry-scented lip gloss. And Angelle. His Angelle, at least for the next week.

  Angling his mouth so their lips were barely touching, he said, “Desire, Angie. Attraction. We have it. We don’t have to fake that. And since we’re alone, and that’s my ring on your finger, it seems only fair I get to steal a kiss.”

  Anxiety mixed with excitement
entered the emotional gumbo of her gaze, and her tongue flicked out to wet her lips. It brushed over the seam of his mouth, and he growled low in his throat. “Our first kiss of many.”

  Then, closing his eyes, pretending he didn’t see the sudden flash of affection in hers, he dropped his mouth and kissed her.

  He kissed the shit out of her.

  That desire he’d said they had, well, it damn near set off an explosion in his truck. Fire, heat, panting breath. Thoughts that had no place in a cramped cab alongside a busy highway, at least not in the light of day. But hell if he wasn’t wishing he’d stopped at a hotel instead.

  Angelle was soft—soft hair, soft lips, soft sighs of pleasure. And she tasted sweet. So damn sweet. This was his bit of heaven, right here, and while Cane had no right to keep her long, now that Angelle was in his arms, he knew one night would never be enough. To get this woman out of his head, he’d have to extend his plan. It’d take at least a week with her in his own bed, stopping to refuel only when it became an absolute necessity. But he couldn’t rush this. This was Angelle. She required an entirely different game plan than the women he was used to. She needed to be wooed.

  So, with his lips and tongue, Cane began showing her exactly what he wanted to do to her body. Everything he hoped to do before the week was out. And when her tiny, tentative hands reached out to grip the fabric of his shirt, he grinned.

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  Find your Bliss with Robin Bielman’s…

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  Faking it with this flirt never felt so real…

  Moving both hands to his face now, she cradled his cheeks with more tenderness than he deserved. Girls looked at him all the time. But not like this. Not like she saw him as human, faults and all, and still liked him. Most women didn’t see much beyond the exterior. They wanted the spot next to him for bragging rights more than anything else. But Kagan pulled his legs out from under him and all the confidence and swagger he used to keep his heart safe was replaced by fear and humility.