Beautiful Rose (Elixir Billionaires #1)

40. Rose

40

ROSE

I look around my living room and notice for the first time that Zander has turned it into a cozy, romantic place I never could have imagined. He’s lit candles on every surface, and I can count at least three bouquets of pink flowers.

He’s the kind of boyfriend plucked out of every girl’s favorite romance novel.

I’m still taking in my surroundings when he lifts me into his arms.

“Zander!” A squeal escapes me, and I hug him koala-style, which is kind of our style now. My hands go around his neck, my head resting on his shoulder while his hands are under my behind. He squeezes me and then heads confidently toward my bedroom.

When he places me down, I gasp at the sight of pink flower petals scattered on the floor, making a path from the door to my bed. The string lights hanging on the wall above my bed are on, illuminating the photographs clipped on them. Six months back, there were only two pictures of Kristy and me, but now the entire wall is filled with photographs of Zander and me that were taken on our numerous dates, some in Cherrywood and some in St. Peppers.

“Go in, babe.” With his hand on my back, he gives me a gentle push, but I’m rooted to the spot. “It’s all for you.”

“I can’t,” I whisper.

“Why not?”

Our hushed voices, the lights, the flowers, the overall ambience—they all amplify the sensation of our surroundings.

“I’ll ruin it and… I want to keep it like this for…” I want to say forever, but that would be stupid, so I add, “A long time.” My voice breaks, and all the bottled feelings of the past few months strike me hard.

I’ve missed him so much. Every second.

“We can do it every day or as frequently as you like, couch girl.” He turns me around to face him and squeezes my waist.

“We can’t. You’re not here every day.” I know I sound childish, but these feelings are all foreign to me, and I don’t know how to react.

Zander holds my face between his hands. He smiles, and the corners of his eyes crinkle. With his thumbs, he wipes my tears and then gently kisses my lips.

“Your lips are so soft,” he says in a wistful tone. “They always are whenever you cry.” He runs his thumb back and forth over my bottom lip. “I’m addicted to them.”

“I can cry whenever you like,” I state sincerely, and I know I’d do that, just for him.

“I would rather you not.” He chuckles before hugging me tight.

When I turn my face toward my bed, I notice a wine bucket placed over my nightstand.

Crab.

Great, Rose! Your fiancé planned an amazing surprise, and you turned it into a sob party.

“I’m sorry for ruining the surprise.” I try to pull away from him, but he holds me captive, halting my movement and urging me to look at his handsome face.

“You ruined nothing. You don’t know what it does to me, seeing you aching for me just as I do for you, couch girl. You crying for me and missing me like this makes me feel so loved and…cherished.”

I rise on my toes and kiss his lips, pulling him down with my hands around his neck. “And I do. I love you so much.”

Not wanting to further ruin his surprise with my sappy mood, I grab his hand, and we both make the brief journey from my door to bed, where more pink and red flower petals are scattered, which I now see are roses.

I turn to him, and his gaze is riveted on me.

To know this man would go to such lengths to make one evening special for me is beyond comprehension.

How did I get so fortunate?

His mere presence makes me believe that I was alone for so long because someone as caring and loving as Zander was meant to enter my life and take away all those years of pain.

“How did you do all this?” I point to the flowers.

I know Zander hasn’t forgiven his mother. He hates anything that relates to her, her name, and the flower, as it stirs painful memories for him.

Do I blame him? Hell fishing no!

My cold blood starts to simmer, my own demons crawling from the dark, hating the people who didn’t protect us.

“Hey, where did you go?” Zander’s hands run up and down my arms, making me realize how tense my body is.

“I don’t want you to remember any nightmares while doing anything for me.”

“I didn’t. I could bear thousands of crappy memories to see one smile on your face, but I only focused on your fondness for soft, pink things.” Zander smiles, giving me his dimple that he knows I love so much .

He fell in love with me, a woman who not only holds his mother’s name but also has her own positive association with the flower, which is, to say the least, ironic.

Zander picks the red wine from the wine bucket, his cherry-red tie wrapping around the dark-green merlot bottle.

The corners of my mouth quirk up at the reminder of our awkward dating days. It was the tie he wore when I met him for the first time. It was the tie he wore when he declared to a room full of Elixir Inc.’s staff that I was his girlfriend.

“You are the best,” I tell him. “You remember everything. Every detail.”

“I try. After all, I have to keep up with your photographic memory.” He hands me a glass of wine before pouring a second for himself. “Thank you, Rose, for agreeing to be mine.” He clinks his glass against mine.

“Thank you so much for wanting me.”