Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Olivia
“Hypothetically speaking…” I stop because I know Kate is about to interrupt me.
She does, right on cue.
“Spit it out, Olivia.” She rolls her eyes. “I have to get through my inventory check before we can go for pizza. I don’t have time for your friend-of-a-friend stuff. What do you need?”
I glance out the window of her shop.
The sun is shining. It’s the day after my birthday.
“A wedding dress,” I answer softly.
She drops the veil in her hand and turns right around. “What?”
“Alexander proposed last night.”
Her hand leaps to her mouth, her eyes instantly flood with tears.
I look down at my ring. It was Alexander’s mother’s ring. It’s a beautiful pear-shaped diamond set in a platinum band.
“It’s beautiful.” Kate peers at the ring. “It’s perfect.”
She doesn’t know how perfect. When he got down on one knee in our apartment, he told me I was his future. He whispered words about finding me in a sea of darkness. I’m his light, his hope and his promise.
When he slipped the ring on my finger, I fell into his arms.
We made love on our blue vintage velvet sofa and then in our bed.
I woke to a yellowed envelope on his pillow addressed to ‘Alexander’s Love’.
The letter inside was handwritten by his mother days before she died.
I cried as I read each tender word about his soft heart and strong spirit.
I will cherish the letter until I take my last breath just as I’ll cherish the man I’ll marry later this year.
“You’re getting married.” She grabs hold of my shoulders. “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
“You’ll help me with everything, right?”
“Everything.”
I suck in a deep breath. “You’ll be my maid-of-honor?”
Her eyes search mine. “Really? You want that?”
“I need that.” I kiss her cheek. “You’re my best friend. I need you by my side when I say my vows.”
“Inventory can wait.” She claps her hands together. “Today we start trying on dresses.”
“I missed you,” Alexander says as soon as I walk into our apartment. “I made dinner for you.”
He takes my sweater and hangs it up. I look over his shoulder. “You cooked?”
“You always say it as though you’re surprised.” He’s on his knees, removing my knee-high leather boots. “I’ve cooked for you dozens of times since I moved in.”
It’s true.
I’m treated to his cooking at least a few times a week. On Sundays, we go to Phoebe and Monte’s house. Sometimes they cook, other times Alexander takes to the kitchen, but it’s always a delicious meal spent with our family.
His hand inches higher. It moves past the hem of my black skirt. “Tell me about your panties, Olivia.”
He wasn’t here to watch me dress this morning. He had an early meeting at the school with a potential investor.
He’s expanding his classes to include adults. Those will take place during the day.
“They’re pink.” I look down and run a hand through his dark hair.
“Pink,” he repeats back, gazing into my eyes.
His hand moves closer to my core. “Tell me more.”
“I chose lace today.”
He groans as his finger skims the inside of my thigh. “You know how much I love the feeling of lace on your skin.”
I part my legs. “You know how much I love the feeling of your lips on my skin.”
He leans down to press a kiss to my leg. “Here, Olivia?”
“Higher.” I yank on his hair. “Much higher.”
His hands move behind me, pulling the tight black skirt up. “Higher?”
I gasp at the rush of cool air as it hits my ass.
“I’m hard as nails right now.” His tongue flicks the center of my panties. “I’m going to rip these right off of you.”
“I like them,” I whine.
“I love what’s inside of them.” With that, he pushes the triangle of lace aside and devours me.