“Hi,” he says softly, kissing the top of my head just before taking a seat next to me.
I’m caught off-guard by the easy-going display of affection. “Hi,” I say in response.
Campbell clears her throat, effectively putting an end to the moment of intimacy. “So Ruth, Michael forwarded me the pictures from Sergei. My private investigator did some digging and was able to confirm that the woman in the pictures is indeed Liz.” Despicable synthetic blond wig and all. Further investigation revealed that she heard some guys at the security desk downstairs joking around about your episode in the elevator with Michael.” I feel my cheeks heat up upon learning that the building’s security guards saw Michael and I getting personal in the elevator. “Anyway, she bribed one of the guards to get the footage. She also hired a private investigator of her own to dig into your past. That’s how she found Sergei. Once she had all that information, she handed it over to the press.”
It’s all starting to make sense now; all the pieces are falling into place. Liz put on an excellent façade. She acted like she was involved with Nicholas, like she had moved on from Michael. But in reality, it was just a diversion to move suspicion away from herself as she leaked my life story to the media.
“Are you okay, Ruth?” Michael asks, covering my trembling hand with his own.
“I just can’t believe that she would go so far to be with you.”
“Well, it’s over now. Her cover is blown. Now, we can just focus on us.”
Campbell gets up from the table. “Yes. You two have been on a hell of a roller coaster ride. I don’t envy you. And the work is far from done. Michael, we have to rebuild your reputation if we want to get you elected to office.” She pulls out a new folder from her briefcase and sets it on the table. “This is our revised ‘Personal and Professional Image Rehabilitation Strategy’. We need to get to work on it now if we want to come out ahead.”
Michael interrupts her. “Campbell, I appreciate that you’re so dedicated to your job. But now, is really not a good time. Can you give Ruth and me a moment alone, please?”
She doesn’t protest. Instead, she shrugs slightly before gathering her things and heading out the door.
Michael turns in his seat and looks me deep in the eyes. There’s such intensity on his face. “I’m exhausted from all this back and forth. We need some time alone, just me and you.”
His words are music to my ears. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I lean my head against his shoulder and he strokes my hair. “Go pack your bags. We’re leaving for the Hamptons tonight.”
Chapter 27
Michael drapes a warm blanket around my shoulders before he takes a seat next to me on the rug in front of the roaring fire. “Did you enjoy dinner?” he asks as he refills my wine glass.
I think back to the skillet lasagna he had prepared a few hours ago when we first arrived at his family’s Hamptons home. “It was delicious. I’ve missed your cooking,” I say with a laugh as I tuck my head against his shoulder.
“I’ve missed cooking for you,” he says with a tender kiss to my scalp. “It feels amazing just to be here with you.”
“It does. This is just how it should be – just me and you. No pressure. No fighting. Just us.”
He runs his large hand up and down my arm. “Yes.”
We sit in silence watching the fire burn and basking in each other’s company. There’s a lot that we need to talk about. A lot that I want to know. But now is not the time.
I turn and gently coax Michael’s lips into a slow dance with mine. He runs his hands up my neck and into my loose blond curls. He lays me down on the rug and he’s on top of me, kissing me till we’re both breathless.
He pulls back and looks affectionately into my face. “I love you, Ruth,” he says, his eyes brimming with passion. “If I had known that saying it felt this good, I would have said it a long time ago.”
I look into his eyes, all the way to his soul and I know that his words are true. The intensity emanating from his body goes so far beyond desire.
He loves me.
“I love you, too.” And my heart has never felt so full.
Chapter 28
My heart is pounding in my chest as I lock eyes with Michael, handsome as ever standing at the other end of the aisle. His dark hair is brushed off of his face, his brilliant blue eyes glimmering in the light of the hundreds of small candles flickering at the altar. He’s tall and beautifully-built in a simple navy sweater and khaki pants.
I take one step towards him as the pianist plays the first notes and all my doubts fade away.
This all feels so right.
Just me and him.
The way it’s supposed to be.
No Campbell waving around a prenup or making sure we get the perfect shot for tomorrow’s tabloids. No Gabriella whispering doubts into her son’s ear. No Amber trying to persuade me to wear the perfect wedding dress, or Hailey hinting that I’m making a mistake.
It’s just Michael and me and our love in a tiny chapel in the snow-covered Hamptons with simple rings we picked out at the local jeweler this morning. Michael looks at me wearing the plain knee-length shift dress and cardigan I had packed for our trip, and I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
This is what I wanted all along. What I needed. To see that look on his face, to feel his love in my heart.
Last night, after we made love in front of the fire, he held me in his arms and told me that his future is with me. He said that wherever I want to go, he will be right there with me. His words were sincere. I could feel it. He left his political future up to me. He said that he wouldn’t run for office if I didn’t want him to. My heart overflowed with joy. Finally, I had a choice in the matter; it wasn’t being thrust upon me. I told him that I want him to enter politics and that I’ll be at his side every step of the way.
And then, I told him that I wanted to get married.
And now, in the presence of god, a pastor and a pianist we’ve never met before, Michael tells me that he loves me and that he’ll love me all of his life. He promises to cherish me and be there for me, in good times and bad. And I make the same vows to him, from the bottom of my heart.
And when we kiss for the first time as man and wife, I know that this is only the beginning of our happily ever after.
THE END.
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Ruthie's Desire - The Esquire Girls Series - Ruthie's Story (Books 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Box Set Page 23