Epilogue
Casey
One year later…
A new Miller Valentina was for sale, and I intended to win it this time.
Not that I’d lost out technically on the last one.
I’d won, and I’d won big. Even so, I had my sights set on my favorite artist’s latest work.
I practically bounced in my chair with excitement because it was next on the evening’s agenda at the sale of modern art at Sotheby’s in New York.
We sat in the front row. Nate had arranged with the auction house in advance for us to have these premiere seats.
He’d told me it was a special gift to celebrate one year of being in business together.
It had been a busy year, and the partnership our companies struck had been a smashing success.
The new product had delivered a fantastic return on investment for Joy Delivered, and for all its launch partners, from Sofia’s to The Luxe and even to the loose-lipped Grant Abbot at Entice, who’d remained a solid business associate, especially because we’d connected recently about renewing our deal, and then got to chatting about Ethan.
Grant had mentioned he’d talked to him once and had perhaps said more than he should about our partnership before it launched.
Grant had a habit, it seemed, of opening his mouth too far, but I wasn’t going to kick him to the curbside for that.
I simply reminded him of the importance of privacy.
As for Ethan Holmes, he’d tucked his tail between his legs and had gone home to live with his parents after Victoria Hotels let him go. Word on the street was he was selling cryptocurrency. Or trying.
Nate threaded his fingers through mine. He must have sensed my nerves, but also my coiled desire to nab the prize. “It’s up next,” he whispered, and I squeezed his fingers.
“Ouch,” he said playfully as if I’d hurt him. I squeezed harder in response, and he planted a quick kiss on my cheek.
“And for the next item this evening we have the newest Miller Valentina,” the auctioneer said as his assistants escorted the painting to the front of the room. I nearly groaned with lust for the painting. I wanted that beauty badly. “I shall start the bidding at—”
Then he stopped, brought his finger to his lips, and gazed at the ceiling. “Wait. That’s not quite right.”
I furrowed my brow. Auctioneers were always poised. This guy sounded as if he’d been thrown off his game.
“No. That’s the wrong item. Take it back,” he shouted, shooing away the painting dramatically. His assistants obeyed. My jaw dropped and I turned to Nate. “What was that all about?”
He simply shrugged and held up his hands.
“Now bring out the correct item,” the man said, and a few seconds later, one of the assistants returned with a small maroon box.
I pointed and whispered. “Now that’s definitely not on the catalogue tonight.”
The auctioneer flipped open the box, and it was almost like being blinded, the stone inside was so bright.
“Our next item is a vintage halo ring, set in a handcrafted platinum band with an inlay of diamonds, and this gorgeous two-and-a-half-carat stone. I start the bidding at—”
Nate raised his paddle. “I’ll take it.”
The auctioneer pointed at him. “Sold! To the gentleman in the front row.”
Then it hit me. It had happened so quickly, and I hadn’t been expecting it at all, but my heart was beating out a wild rhythm in my chest as Nate clasped the box, dropped down to one knee, and took my hand in his.
“Casey, I was wild about you long before I even kissed you, and that’s because you have the kindest, most caring heart I have ever known.
I still can’t believe you’re really mine, but somehow the dream isn’t ending, and every moment with you is more wonderful than the last. You make me laugh, you make me happy, you make me want to be better every day for you.
You’ve been my best friend, my lover, and now I hope you will continue on this journey with me as my wife,” he said, holding open the box, as my lower lip quivered and my heart danced. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” I said as tears streamed down my cheeks, a wholly necessary side effect from this cocktail of bliss and pure happiness I was having right now.
I held out my hand, and he slid the ring on my finger.
I held it up, stunned by its beauty. Then I locked eyes with him—with this man I’d never expected to become my partner for life.
And he’d become the love of my life.
I sealed our promise with a kiss, then another because he was too hard to resist. But there would be time later for so much more.
He returned to the seat next to me, and tipped his forehead to the podium where the auctioneer was beaming.
He’d clearly been in on it. “And now, we have a painting from Miller Valentina,” the man said.
“You better bid on it,” Nate said in a sexy whisper. “You know how I like it when you go after the things you want.”
“I know you do. And I’m going to make sure I get it.”
“You will.”
The bidding began and a few minutes later I had a new painting, and a promise for a lifetime of love. I had everything I’d ever wanted and more.
In the mood for more forbidden romance?
Keep flipping pages for the next story in this collection!