Chapter Twenty-Eight
Marama
At last, I feel as if I can breathe again.
For a moment, my throat tightened so much my breaths wouldn’t come, and I nearly fainted.
I don’t know if it was the shock of his proposal or the fact that everyone was watching…
Don’t some women faint during pregnancy, too? Maybe my blood pressure dropped…
My thoughts are spinning like clothes on a rotary washing line in a high breeze, and I’m having trouble pinning them down.
Spencer proposed to me. He wants to marry me.
Did I dream it? That beautiful ring, the hope in his eyes, his shocking words, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you ?
No, it really happened, and oh my God I burst into tears in front of all those people…
And he picked me up and carried me somewhere.
I was hardly aware what happened, I was so overcome with emotion.
Without moving my head, I look around the room. It’s some kind of office, and luckily it’s empty. I’m sitting curled up on his lap, and he’s holding me tightly, kissing my hair and murmuring sweet nothings to me.
He looks amazing. He’s so incredibly handsome. I spotted him immediately from right across the room. I couldn’t believe he’d come to the unveiling. As far as he knew, the painting was going to show him being subjugated, tamed and brought to his knees by a woman.
Something occurs to me then, and I move back a little and look up at him.
“You didn’t know I’d changed the painting?” I whisper.
He shakes his head.
“You were going to propose even though you thought I might have humiliated you?”
He nods. His eyes are kind.
My bottom lip trembles. “Can I see the ring?”
“Of course.” He extracts the box from his trouser pocket, opens it, and hands it to me.
I study the ring. I’m guessing it’s white gold. The pink stone is enormous, and there are so many diamonds…
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I admit.
“I wanted something different. Do you like it?”
“Of course, it’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad.”
“Can I put it on?”
He blinks and looks suddenly uncertain. “You haven’t given me an answer yet.”
I stare at him. “Oh my God… Spencer, of course I’ll marry you. Oh, I’m so sorry… I didn’t give you an answer in front of everyone…”
“I don’t care about that,” he says, his voice hoarse. “I just thought maybe you didn’t want to…”
“No, I do, I do!” I start crying again and throw my arms around his neck. “I love you, I love you…” I press kisses all over his face, over his eyes, his nose, his brows, his cheeks, his jaw…
Eventually he laughs, takes my face in his hands, and holds me still, then lowers his lips to mine, and we exchange a long, slow kiss that gradually calms the roaring emotions inside me.
When he lifts his head, he touches his lips to my tears, kissing them away. “Sweetheart,” he murmurs. “I love you.”
“Really?” I can’t believe it.
“Really.” He looks into my eyes. “And I want to say that I’ll support you, whatever decision you make about the baby.
I understand if you’re not ready for a family.
But I do want you to know that I spoke to Orson this morning, and I thought he’d rung to tell me you’d had a miscarriage, and I was gutted until he said that wasn’t it.
I realized then… if you want this baby, I’d like to be a part of his or her life.
I’d like to be a father again, if you’ll have me. ”
I rest a hand on my stomach. “I’d already decided I was going to have it.”
His face lights up. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. I knew it would be a piece of you I could keep and treasure.”
He smiles. “You can have all of me if you want.”
“I do want.”
“You know only dogs can hear you right now?”
I smack his arm, and he laughs and pulls me into his arms. “I adore you,” he murmurs, kissing me again. “And I don’t care who knows it. I want to tell the world that you’re going to be mine.”
“Oh, Spencer…”
He takes his pocket square out and hands it to me, and I try to mop up the fresh tears. “Are you sure?” I say. “What about my father?”
“Well, I was thinking about how I’d feel if Helen fell in love with an older man.
Maybe initially I’d be suspicious. But if she told me she loved him, and he asked her to marry him, I hope I’d be big enough to believe that you don’t choose who you fall in love with, and all that matters is that you love one another. ”
“I do love you,” I tell him sincerely.
“And I love you.” He takes the pocket square from me and wipes carefully under my eyes.
Then he pauses and frowns a little. “I know I’m not an easy man to live with.
I’ve spent a lifetime cultivating a reputation of being emotionless and cold and ruthless in the boardroom, and sometimes it’s tough to stop that filtering into my personal relationships.
But I want to be better. A better husband, and a better father. ”
“I know you’ll be amazing.” I love his honesty.
I can’t believe that Spencer Cavendish, the lone wolf that everyone believed was cold and heartless, has stood up in front of a whole crowd of people, including his son and Genevieve, and told them all that he loves me and wants to marry me.
It must have taken huge courage to do that.
He brushes his thumbs across my cheeks. “I thought your painting was amazing.”
“I’m so glad you liked it.”
“Are you going to take the job at Lumen?”
I shake my head. “I’ve decided to concentrate on my own art… and the baby.”
He smiles, then tips his head. “But Genevieve still wants to go ahead with the exhibit?”
I smile. “She was surprisingly forgiving and understanding.”
He looks thoughtful. “Hmm. I wonder if that had anything to do with yesterday?”
“Why, what happened yesterday?”
“There was a meeting at Midnight… I’ll tell you about it later.” He looks over as there’s a knock on the door, and then it opens. It’s Orson, with Scarlett right behind him.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Orson says, “we just wanted to make sure she was all right.” He smiles as I get to my feet.
“I’m fine,” I say, “feeling a bit silly. I was overwhelmed.”
“Aw, that’s okay!” Scarlett grins.
“Are congratulations in order?” Orson asks cautiously.
I nod happily, trying not to cry, and Scarlett laughs and gives me a hug, while Orson and Spencer exchange a bearhug.
“I’m so excited for you!” Scarlett then turns to hug Spencer, and Orson grins and envelops me in his arms.
“You’ll be my stepmum,” he says mischievously.
“Oh God, don’t start.”
He laughs and releases me. “I’m thrilled for you both. It’s great news. And… what about the baby?”
“Orson!” Scarlett glares at him, then says, “I didn’t tell him, I swear.”
“No, that was me,” Spencer says apologetically.
I chuckle. “I’m keeping the baby,” I tell them happily. “And we’ll bring him or her up together.”
That leads to more hugs. It’s only when we break apart that I see Genevieve standing in the doorway, watching.
I walk up to her, surprised when she holds out her hands. “I’m guessing by the hugs that the answer was yes,” she says, smiling.
I take her hands, and we exchange a kiss on the cheek. “Yes, I agreed to marry him,” I whisper.
“I’m thrilled for you,” she says. “He obviously loves you very much.” She turns as Spencer walks up, and she does the same with him, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “She’s a lucky girl,” she says, smiling as she touches his arm.
He looks taken aback, but just says, “I’m the lucky one.”
She nods and hesitates. Then she says, “I’ve decided not to open a new club on Waiheke.”
He stares at her. “Oh! Why not?”
“I don’t want to be associated with all those old white guys,” she says. To my surprise, she gives a teasing smile, and I realize she’s joking.
His lips curve up. “Yeah, God forbid you get too close to that toxic masculinity. You might get infected.”
She gives a short laugh. Then she says, “Actually, I was hoping maybe you could set up another meeting for me with the Circle—with yourself present too, this time. I’d like to put forward the idea of a charity partnership.
Not working as part of the Circle, but alongside it, to donate some of Lumen’s funds to the charities you work with.
Quietly, not for publicity. But I understand if you’d rather not. ”
“I think that’s an amazing idea,” Spencer says. “I’ll set up the meeting and let you know.”
She smiles at me. “Come on, people are asking to meet the artist.”
“Oh God, how do I look?”
“Amazing,” she says. “You’re all glowy.”
“Hold on,” Spencer says, and he holds out the box containing the ring.
I take the ring out and slide it onto my fourth finger. It’s a very tiny bit big, but it’ll do just fine for today. I meet his eyes and smile. Then Genevieve takes my hand and leads me back out into the foyer.
I enjoy my fifteen minutes of fame, walking around the room, talking about my work, and accepting congratulations on my engagement as I show everyone the ring.
But the best bit is when I glance over and see Spencer’s gaze following me.
His eyes never leave me. They’re full of love.
And I’m filled with an incredible warmth that I hope will never, ever go away.
Midnight Bargain (Book 3)
Midnight Bargain (Book 3)
Girls like me don’t get the prince…
I’ve been in love with Kingi Davis since we climbed trees together as kids. But we were destined for different worlds.
He’s gorgeous, confident, and powerful, and on the verge of running one of New Zealand’s biggest Māori foundations. I’m awkward and ordinary, a gardener with dirt under my nails who doesn’t belong in his glittering world.
When his glamorous supermodel ex-girlfriend sparks a scandal, Kingi asks me to be his fake fiancée to save his reputation. It’s dangerous to get so close to him, but he’s promised to help my struggling family, and I can’t say no.
Suddenly I’m wearing his ring and being photographed on his arm, in a world of billionaires and luxury.
It’s just a favor between old friends. Just a performance. But every glance, every touch, every stolen kiss makes the pretense feel dangerously real. I want him more than I should, and he wants me too—despite the risk, despite the rules.
I know how this story ends. Girls like me don’t get the prince. He’d have to risk his kingdom… and his heart… to keep me.