41. Chapter Forty-One #2
I broke her trust once before, and I don’t plan on ever doing that again. Trust is the foundation of love. Without it, relationships are doomed from the start.
“You’re spoiling me,” Juliet tells me before sipping on her wine .
“You deserve it,” I say as I stretch my arm out across the table to take her free hand. “You should get used to it.”
“I forgot you were a billionaire,” she admits as she sets her glass down. “This probably doesn’t even make a dent in your bank account.”
“I don’t make it a habit to flaunt my wealth,” I reply. “But I’ll do it on special occasions.”
Juliet laughs. “Is this a special occasion?”
“Maybe,” I tease her. “Every day that I get to spend with you is special.”
Her teeth graze her bottom lip as she smiles. “Cheesy. I love it.”
“Only for you, Juju.”
We talk about putting Piper in a sport during the coming school year and what kind of room to convert one of the guest bedrooms into until our waiter comes back with two filet mignons and two lobster tails.
“I think I’m going to devour this entire plate.”
I chuckle as I cut into my perfectly done medium rare steak. “Please do. Impress me. ”
Juliet smirks at me before placing a bite of lobster between her lips. She hums in satisfaction. “That might be the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
“The best thing?”
She kicks me under the table, our laughter ringing out into the night.
Dinner is actually worth the big bucks that I spend on it. I would’ve gotten dessert too, but Juliet taps out.
“Man, I bet that crème br?lée would’ve been really good,” I say as I join her at the railing.
Juliet playfully pushes my shoulder. “You’d have to carry me across the street, all the way up to the rooftop, and into the helicopter.”
“Done,” I tell her, coaxing a laugh from her.
“Thank you for all of this. It has been an amazing night,” Juliet says.
“We’re not done yet,” I reply as I turn to face her, my hands taking hers. “I want you to know that you mean more to me than all of this. All the money. The companies. Everything else I have.”
Her face softens.
“You and Piper are what matter the most to me,” I tell her. “I’ve told you that before, but I feel like I need to show you that.”
Before Juliet can say anything, I pull Mom’s engagement ring out of my pocket and get down on one knee in front of her. Her jaw drops, her hand moving to her mouth. “Leo!”
I smile up at her, a vortex of emotions spinning around and around within me. I know she loves me, but I’m still nervous. I don’t want to mess this up.
“I’ve loved you for years, Juliet. When I was a boy. When I became a man. You’re the only person I’ve ever loved,” I say. “We’ve been through a lot together, and it has only made me love you so much more. You’re so strong and caring and smart. You’re the best person I know.”
Tears build up in her eyes as she gazes down at me.
“I love our family, and I want you to be mine forever,” I tell her before lifting the ring up for her to see. “Will you marry me, Juju?”
Tears roll down her cheeks as she nods. “Yes!”
My chest aches with so much damn happiness that it hurts. I slide Mom’s ring onto her finger and stand up, my lips capturing hers.
Juliet wraps her arms around my neck, kissing me deeper before peering up at me. “I love you so much.”
“I love you,” I say. “Until my last day.”
I hope I have millions of days left with her, but I’ll be grateful for however many I get.
She admires her ring the entire walk back to the helicopter, barely taking her eyes off it even as we board. I have to grab her arm and help her inside so that she doesn’t trip and fall.
“Congratulations!” Stuart tells us as we get situated in the back.
“Thank you!” Juliet calls back before taking my hand, her face glowing with happiness.
I've seen her smile a thousand different ways over the years, but I've never seen one quite like this.
Juliet turns her hand beneath the cabin light, watching the diamond sparkle. Then she looks at me. Not the ring. Me .
Like she's still trying to convince herself this is real.
“Fiancée,” she says softly.
I laugh. “What?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head, smiling again. “I just wanted to say it.”
My chest tightens. Fiancée. The woman I've loved for years. The woman who gave me a daughter. The woman I want beside me for every holiday, every bad day, every ordinary Tuesday for the rest of my life.
Juliet slides her hand into mine. “This was the best night of my life.”
“Good,” I say, threading my fingers through hers. “Because I plan to give you a lot more nights like it,” I tell her with a sly smile as the helicopter lifts off the rooftop, carrying us above the city lights. “We’re just getting started, Juju.” This night will last as long as she wants it to.
Juliet moves the microphone away from her mouth and leans forward to kiss me, gripping the lapel of my suit jacket.
I nudge the microphone away from my face and grab the back of her neck, holding her close as our kiss deepens. She tastes as sweet as that wine we had at dinner, and I drink her in, letting her flood my senses.
Juliet gets as close as she can without sitting in my lap. We’re not going to scar poor Stuart.
I part my lips against hers, feeling her tongue brush mine. My fingers curl in her hair, making her exhale in a silent moan that sends heat rolling through every inch of my body.
She smiles at me as I grip her hair, her eyes darkening. “I’ve loved this entire night, but I can’t wait to get back home.”
I press a kiss to her temple. Neither of us are patient, but can I blame us when we’re still so into each other all these years later?
“We’ll be there before we know it,” I assure her before stealing another kiss, already looking forward to having her all to myself.
We have our whole lives left for nights like these.
I’m looking forward to every single one of them with her.