Chapter 31
KIMBERLY
"Aspen is growing on me," I said.
The weather was glorious in May, and it was nowhere near as full as it had been on Valentine's Day. We'd officially started construction work two months ago, and Drake and I decided to come out and pay the crew a visit.
My cousin Luke had designed the architecture of the hotel. He was the one who found the construction company as well. We trusted him implicitly, but still, I wanted to keep a close eye on this. In many ways, it was the family's baby.
“Hey, do you want us to go to the site again?" I asked. "I really want to take another look at that spot where we’ll put the panoramic pool."
"Kimberly." Drake's voice was full of warning.
"Oh, come on! What can happen?"
"You heard the construction manager. It's not safe to go on the site on our own."
I rolled my eyes, grinning. "But what's life without a little adventure? If you're too afraid, I’ll go on my own."
"No, you won't."
I heard the growl in that deep voice. Yum. "How are you going to stop me?"
"Throw you over my shoulder and carry you all the way to the hotel."
I laughed. "I'd like to see you try."
He pinned me with his gaze.
"Oh! You're serious."
"Damn right I am."
"Fine. I’m so happy we came here to check everything out."
"So am I," Drake said.
"Still want us to go back to the hotel?"
He glanced around. Was it my imagination, or did he seem a bit nervous?
"Not yet."
"Oh, still have plans around here?"
"Yes, and they don't involve trespassing."
"You're no fun."
"Yes, I am."
I wiggled my eyebrows. "Prove it."
He cleared his throat. "Damn, I love you, woman."
Oh, that was unexpected. Flutters filled my belly, and I smiled from ear to ear. I'd never get tired of hearing him say it. It always filled me with joy and a bone-deep sensation of happiness. I had no idea it was possible to feel like this.
He kissed the side of my head, lowering his mouth to my ear. "I love you, Kimberly."
I shuddered in his arms. I loved that he said those words so often and completely unrestrained.
He came closer, kissing my forehead this time. I inhaled his scent, melting against him. I was sure I’d love him for as long as I lived. The past few months felt like something out of a dream.
Drake kissed my forehead again and then stepped back. He tilted my chin upward, brushing his lips against mine. His body language was strange, and I couldn't tell why.
I took a bigger step back, as he reached inside his pocket. Oh, he wanted to take a selfie.
No, Mother of God, that's not his phone.
He took out a ring box and kneeled in front of me right here on the massive construction site.
"Kimberly, I've thought very hard over the past months where to do this, where to ask you to tie your life to mine forever, and I thought this place in Aspen was the most appropriate."
"Drake," I whispered.
"Aspen brought us together. There will never be a day when I don't consider myself extremely lucky to meet you considering all the things it took for us to get together."
I laughed, even though my throat felt raspy. "First time we met face-to-face, you crashed my date.”
“A story to tell our grandkids." He chuckled. "Then we came to Aspen and stayed in that suite together. I was so thankful there were no other rooms."
"We truly made fate work for it, huh?" I asked.
"We did, but I fell madly in love with you. I wouldn't have it any other way. You own my thoughts, my heart. I want to be yours forever. Will you be mine?"
"Of course I will. God, there's nothing more than I want than to be yours forever, Drake."
He put the ring on my finger, and I sighed. Oh, this was a ring after my own heart. The stone was pink, and there was nothing subtle about it. I grinned from ear to ear.
His eyes sparkled. "Look at that smile. I knew a regular diamond wouldn't do."
“Pink is always better.”
He rose to his feet. The ring looked amazing on my finger. And he was right, a normal one wouldn't do.
He planted little kisses on the corner of my mouth before capturing my lips, kissing me long and deep. I felt like he was kissing me for the first time all over again. It was so full of love and tenderness and the things that had grown between us since then.
Drake pulled back a bit, looking down with satisfaction.
"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious.
"Your lips are red." He took a bigger step back.
"Oh, right, your secret dream was for everyone to know I'm yours, huh?"
He pointed at the ring. "And now they do."
“That’s a much more elegant way to stake a claim on me," I said, feeling supremely proud that he was so possessive.
We walked side by side at a lazy pace back to the hotel, but we weren't hurrying anywhere even though we were meeting Declan and Luke today. Luke had flown with us to introduce us to the crew, and Declan was taking care of some legal issues.
"Oh my God!" I exclaimed, the realization hitting me. "Is that why when my cousins wanted to make plans with us for dinner, you said we already had something scheduled?"
"Obviously. I wanted to celebrate all alone with you."
"What did they say when you told them you were proposing?
Drake jerked his head back. "What are you talking about?"
I pressed my lips together, giggling. "You didn't tell them?"
"No."
"Declan might have expected you to ask for my hand." I grinned. "You know what? Serves them right. They always think they should know every little thing, but I can't wait to see their reactions."
Declan was in charge of all the legal things for the hotel, and nowadays we Maxwells kept him so busy that I had no clue how he had time for other clients, too, but he did.
He'd fought tooth and nail for Suze and got her the alimony she deserved.
Lawrence tried to play the custody card and failed miserably.
We were staying at the same hotel as last time. Same room. God, my man was so romantic. I couldn't believe he'd planned it this way.
Luke and Declan were in the reception area, sitting on the leather couch. There were several folders between them.
"You’re back," Declan said, standing up. He immediately noticed my ring. "Luke."
Luke glanced up from the files. I was holding my hand forward so he couldn't miss the ring. He immediately rose to his feet too.
"Congratulations. When did this happen?"
"Just now," I said.
Drake kissed the back of my hand and rested his chin on top of it.
Declan looked at Drake for a long time before saying, "Congratulations, man."
"Oh, stop it, you two," I said.
Drake chuckled. "Kimberly says you were expecting me to ask for her hand."
Declan stared at him. I pressed my lips together and looked over my shoulder at Drake.
"You’re not her dad," he replied.
"He forgets that sometimes," Luke said. “Declan thinks he's the boss of everyone. Relax, brother. And, Drake, welcome to the family."
Luke kissed my cheek and then shook Drake's hand. "I figured something was going to happen when you said you didn’t want to have dinner with us. But I have to say, I didn't think you'd move this fast.”
I glanced down at the folders. "Can we discuss what you have there tomorrow?"
"Actually, we should start right n—” Declan started, but Luke cleared his throat.
"Yeah, we can." He stared at Declan, who nodded.
"Sure. You two have a great evening. Luke, let's go grab a beer and we can finalize this."
Usually, I’d feel guilty for letting my cousins do the heavy lifting, but not today. Today, I simply wanted to bask in my man and reward him for the romantic proposal.
I felt myself blush as we entered the elevator.
There was another couple inside. As we squeezed in, Drake took my hand, interlacing our fingers.
He caressed the ring with his thumb. I already felt more connected to him, which was crazy.
We loved each other, ring or not, but somehow it seemed to intensify everything I felt for him.
The first stop was our floor, and we stepped outside quickly. I giggled as I walked down the corridor.
"I love seeing you so happy," Drake said.
"I’m over the moon."
"Music to my ears." He slid the card in, and the second we were inside the room, I closed the door and then simply jumped him. He chuckled. "Easy there, girl."
"Nope, nothing about this will be fast or easy."
He grinned big before pressing his lips to mine.
"Hey, stop it. Don't take over. You're mine to kiss and torment." I could feel a stirring in his jeans. "Ha, that was exactly what I wanted. And just so you know, I appreciate all the effort you might have put into this evening, but I'm not sure we're going to get out at all."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Already ahead of you, Kimberly." He carried me into the suite. There was a bottle of Maxwell champagne in a chilled bucket on the counter. He grabbed it and took me inside the bedroom. "I asked for a delivery from our favorite restaurant."
"You know me so well."
"I do. And I have a lifetime to explore you even more. And it starts tonight."