Chapter 32 I Loved Our Alpine Love Affair
I LOVED OUR ALPINE LOVE AFFAIR
CLAIRE
I was going to have a panic attack.
I just quit my fucking job.
When Warner saw Declan walk up on the doorbell camera, she was sprinting to the door before I could stop her. She knew I didn’t want to see him, but letting him leave without facing him was the coward's way out.
I was no longer a coward.
I played it off pretty well, but the moment I saw him standing there, all I wanted to do was run into his arms and let him hold me. It was so hard to fight that urge, but I needed to say what I did.
I couldn’t be with a man who was comfortable lying to me.
Although, the more I thought about it the more it seemed like I was making a mountain out of a mole hill.
I was so fucking confused.
I walked to my bedroom and fell back on my bed with a scoff. Just as I threw my arms out to the sides, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and stared at the name on my screen.
Declan
None of it was fake, Bear. There is a package waiting on your front step. Merry Christmas.
Tossing my phone onto the bed, I covered my face and squealed into my hands.
“Not to interrupt your casual crisis, but Boss Man left this for you,” Warner said as she pranced into my room holding a large gold box.
She placed it down but didn’t retreat from my room. She just lingered by the edge of bed, her eyes trained at the ceiling.
“Say what you need to say,” I mumbled.
Warner smiled weakly. “He just seemed really sorry. Consider putting him out of his misery.”
I nodded but didn’t respond. My head was all over the place.
She left my room and closed the door behind her. I sat up, glaring at the gold box like I had x-ray vision. What could possibly be inside?
I didn’t need to open it. I didn’t care what he could have possibly given me.
Nope.
Didn’t matter.
I lasted about two more minutes before I ripped off the lid of the box.
I was curious, okay?
Inside, there were two letters sitting on top of tissue paper. I picked up the first letter and clapped a hand over my mouth.
It was my recommendation. It was three pages of Declan praising me for the work I’d done for him. He called me thoughtful, intelligent and creative. Dedicated with a hell of a work ethic. Reading it felt like a lie, but he’d written it sincerely.
Shaking my head, I picked up the second letter. This one wasn’t addressed. I slid it open and began reading.
Claire,
When I got your letter in Switzerland, I almost chased after you.
I wanted to stop you from leaving and demand you hear me out, but I also wanted to give you time to comprehend what was truly happening between us.
None of it was fake, Claire. In fact, it was terrifyingly real for how short it was.
But, I can’t help the way I feel and I am so fucking in love with you.
I can’t express how sorry I am for not telling you about that kiss.
It’ll be something I will punish myself for for years to come.
If it’s the reason I lose you, then it’ll be my own fault, but believe me when I say that I am not that man.
I am a man who will always honor your calendar.
I am a man who will wear whatever silly socks you give me.
I am a man who will give you my jacket when you’re cold and hold you when you’re sad.
I will always have dance parties with you to ridiculous Christmas music.
I will always fight anyone who thinks that us being together is wrong.
I will be your number one supporter, and it’s time for your career to really shine.
I got the Denver position, but I turned it down.
For a long time, I thought nothing could ever be more important than my career, but you blew into my life and proved that wrong.
You’re what is important to me, Bear. You will always be most important.
Meet me tomorrow night at the Annual New Year’s Eve party. I’ll be waiting for you at midnight on the patio.
Love,
Declan
I choked on my sob as I dropped the letter. Picking up the box, I opened the tissue paper to see what was sitting inside. My fingers ran over the black, silky fabric. I picked it out of the box and held it up.
“He got you a dress?” Warner asked from my doorway.
I dropped the dress back into the box and arched a brow at her. “Do you ever knock?”
She rolled her eyes. “I gave you like ten whole minutes before I snooped.”
I snorted but stood and held the dress up for her anyway. It was a floor length gown with a fitted bodice. There was boning thorough the cups and torso and then it flared out at the natural waist with a slit.
“He has great taste,” Warner said as she took the dress from my hands and grabbed a hanger from my closet.
She eyed the letter on my bed. We both lunged for it at the same time, but she beat me to it. Her eyes went wide as she scanned his words.
“This is the cutest shit I’ve ever read, oh my god.”
“I don’t even know if I’m going to go.” I sank onto the bed and crossed my arms.
Warner slapped my arm, a little harder than I would deem necessary.
“Ow,” I winced.
“Stop being stubborn. This man loves you. Wear the stupidly pretty dress and kiss the hot millionaire on New Year’s Eve.”
I was still unsure until Warner reached inside of the box and pulled out a small jewelry box from the same jeweler that made the necklace that was still around my neck. She handed it to me.
I popped it open and gasped. Inside of the little box sat a pair of diamond earrings in the same bevel set pear shape as the necklace.
I locked eyes with my sister. “I think I need to go to this party.”
Warner pulled up to the front of the tall building in Austin that was hosting the Annual New Year’s Eve party that our office threw every year.
Up until a month ago, this party was being planned by me but honestly, I almost forgot it was even happening. Technically, I wasn’t even an employee anymore.
Warner dragged me out of bed this morning to start getting ready. We got our nails done together and then went for blowouts. By the time it was time for me to get dressed, I was primed and pampered.
My stomach erupted into knots as I stepped out of my parent’s SUV. I adjusted the long skirt and grabbed my clutch before looking back at Warner.
“Do I look okay?”
“You look amazing, Cee. Go get your man.”
I swung the door shut and squared my shoulders before walking into the lobby and straight to the elevators with my chin held high.
When I stepped out onto black and gold rooftop space, I noticed too many sets of eyes trained on me. This was not my usual attire for a work party. This dress—while stunning—also propped my chest up in a way that was mildly inappropriate for work.
Ignoring their looks, I glanced at the clock.
Eleven forty-five.
This was not the time to get nervous about people staring at me. I was a woman on a mission. I weaved through the crowd until I reached the open air patio.
When I was originally planning this party, I visited a lot of venues but this one caught my eye because of the stunning views. Now, I was grateful to my past self for picking such a romantic spot.
I walked to the exposed brick wall and looked out over the city skyline.
A few minutes later, the DJ announced that it was only sixty seconds until midnight. I looked around, but there was no sign of Declan. This was where he told me to meet him, unless he changed his mind.
Panic started to seep into me as the crowd started counting down.
20, 19, 18, 17…
I searched the crowd again, leaning on my toes to see over the sea of people.
10, 9, 8, 7…
I was about to give up when a pair of caramel eyes finally met mine. My heart rate threatened to kill me as Declan stalked through the crowd that seemed to part for him.
3…
He looped an arm around my waist.
2…
He cupped my jaw.
“I love you, Claire,” he whispered.
“I love you, too.”
1…
His mouth was on mine. I gripped the lapels of his jacket and pulled him into me. He nipped at my bottom lip as both of his arms circled my waist and lifted me off of the ground. The crowd around us was a mixture of cheers and shock as people muttering “what the fuck.”
The latter made us both burst into laughter.
Declan nudged my nose with his but didn’t place me back on my feet. My arms were around his neck as he walked me toward the wall.
“You know, this was my first New Year’s kiss,” I admitted.
Declan leaned in to kiss me again. “Grateful to be your first and last, Bear.”
When he placed me back on my feet, he didn’t take his hands off of me.
“You read my letter, then?”
“Yeah,” I smiled at him, “I read your letter.”
“Was it a good recommendation?”
I shrugged. “It was okay.”
He hummed. “Just okay?”
I nodded with a shitty smirk.
Declan just exhaled and laced our fingers together. “Guess I better up the ante then.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant until he dropped to one knee. The crowd around us went deathly still.
“Claire, I did this once three weeks ago on a whim. Turns out it was the best decision I’d ever make.
I am so punch you in the face, makes you stupid in love with you and I can’t go back to how it was before.
” He paused and swallowed. “You’re not a stranger anymore.
Your favorite color is pink. Your middle name is Elizabeth, and you live in Drufton Hills.
You’ve lived there for your entire life.
I know you. This might be a little reckless, but I loved our alpine love affair. Marry me, Bear. Be my wife. For real.”
He pulled out a ring box and popped it open, revealing a simple, bevel set oval stone on a thin gold band. While the other ring he proposed with was obnoxious and not me, this was the opposite. It was classy and understated.
It was perfect.
“You need to stop proposing to me at corporate events,” I said on a laugh.
“I’m waiting for an answer here, Claire.” Declan’s eyes were shining with humor.
“Yes, Declan Alexander. I will marry you.”
The crowd erupted into a deafening cheer as Declan slipped the ring onto my finger and scooped me into his arms.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked as he headed toward the elevators.
“I haven't seen you in days. I’m not sharing you tonight.”