Epilogue
Sophie
*
“We are now starting our descent into Aéroport de Cannes-Mandelieu. Please fasten your seatbelts,” Nathan’s jet pilot said through the microphone.
Still in disbelief that we were about to touch down in Cannes, I turned to my gorgeous boyfriend. “Do all famous actors invite their lawyers to film festivals?”
“Only when their girlfriends are talented writers with a novel that can easily be turned into a screenplay.”
“Shut up.” I drew it out, rolling my eyes. “I’d never embarrass you like that.”
“Embarrass me?”
“I’m not one of those women who make their men jump through hoops—”
“I don’t think you understand. I’ve already sent in the story,” he said with a nod, looking me straight in the eyes. “Sophie… someone’s interested in turning it into a screenplay, and this festival is the perfect place to discuss it.”
Pressing my ten fingers on my lips, I murmured underneath, “Oh my God! You’re shitting me!”
“I’m not shitting you.” Smiling, he slowly shook his head and reached for my hand. “And please don’t say stuff like that in front of Terry de Ravine.”
“Terry de Ravine! You’re shitting me!”
“Again, I’m so not.”
I couldn’t believe it. Terry de Ravine was the biggest producer supporting emerging filmmakers. His company funded over ten films every year, discovering new talent. Through his connections, he gave them great exposure opportunities through touring film festivals and screening in the most vital spaces.
What Nathan was giving me was a gift for which I could never repay him.
Feeling lightheaded, I floated through the next few hours and the party in the evening with the aid of my smile and Nathan’s hand in mine.
On our way back to the hotel—in the luxurious limo the festival had arranged for us—I turned to Nathan and gave him a grateful smile. “I can’t believe you’ve planned this whole thing for me. I’m… I’m speechless.”
“Really? Sophie Jones can’t find the words?”
“Proud of yourself, are you?”
“Maybe just a little.”
Stepping into our suite, Nathan flicked on the light switch while the first thing I did was kick off my high-heeled shoes. Everything around us was sexy and conducive. I remembered the first time I wanted to kiss him and thought that it must have been on that weekend where we’d met at my old job.
“Come here,” I whispered, throwing up my arms to receive his neck, resting my elbows on his shoulders. “How can I thank you for tonight?”
His piercing bright eyes devoured me, bit by torturous bit. “If you want.”
“I insist,” I purred, inching closer and running a hand down the length of his chest. I then paused at the top of his black belt as my eyes went back up, teasing him from under my lashes. Slowly, I drew my bottom lip between my teeth and bit it.
Nathan sucked in a harsh breath. “You know I like it when you do that.”
“How about this?” I unzipped my strapless dress at the side under my arm and eased it off, leaving me in my bra and thong. My eyes didn’t stray from his face as I reached up with both arms, pulling a bobby pin from my hair, propping up my breasts. “Oh, I was gonna forget this.”
Nathan shook his head once, tilting it to one side. “How can you do this to me every time?”
Taking a step toward the bed, I cocked a finger in his direction and beckoned him forward. “I think you’re going to have to prove it.”
Coming closer, he undid the button of his blazer while he whispered, “But there’s something important I need to tell you.” He then tossed the blazer on the couch as he watched me flop backward, bouncing against the soft mattress.
“What’s that?” Sitting up, I began to slowly part my legs.
“Hold on.” With both hands, he pressed my knees back together while his eyes solemnly gazed into mine. “I mean it; it’s important.”
I started to worry. “Nathan, just tell me.”
Sitting next to me, he parted his lips and started to mindlessly unbutton his shirt. “I had this whole speech prepared, but now I’m drawing a blank.”
My eyes froze on his lips. “Which is concerning, because you’re a lawyer.”
“I think I’m in love with you,” he blurted it out when I least expected it. My eyes were on his lips when he said it, though, which was a sight I wished I could record for eternal memory.
My mouth remained open, and as I drew in a deep, sharp breath, the air rushing between my lips dried them for a second. Involuntarily nodding, I launched at him with both my hands clutching his face on either side, feeling the warmth of his cheeks. “I think I’m in love with you, too.”
With that, he pulled me to him, his lips seeking out mine, and I was falling. We both were, our bodies weightlessly descending for a moment until we reached the mattress, feeling the momentum and the heat on our skins.
Hesitantly, he drew back, gathered me into his arms, and kissed me soundly, repeating, “I love you,” into my mouth, over and over again like a mantra.
Every time with Nathan felt like the first, which in and of itself was a first for me. Being with him was better, much better than anything I could have ever imagined. Better than all the things I had cried over in the past. Better than my best dreams for the future.
The taste of him lingering on my lips reminded me of how lucky I was to have made every decision the way I had. Because if I hadn’t, then I wouldn’t have ended up in his arms tonight. The way he smelled made the butterflies in my stomach break into a fever. The way he touched me made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.
“I love you.”
Three words that meant that there was nothing wrong with me. I was simply waiting for the right man to come into my life.
THE END