Epilogue
EPILOGUE
E mma
Six months later
“Are you leaving soon?” Malcolm, my fiancé, asks, embracing me from behind as I smooth my hands over my dress.
Since moving to Los Angeles months ago, I’ve increased my time getting ready in the morning to go to work. Anna has been fantastic to work for, and she’s been teaching me a lot. I’ve been finessing my illustrating skills and learning about various textiles and fabrics, current trends, and the process of designing a wedding gown. It’s a lot more work than I thought.
“I have ten minutes.” I wink at him. “What’s up?”
“Ten minutes.” He tightens his grasp on me, and a shiver rolls down my spine. “In a few months, I’ll have to bribe your assistant to take you to lunch.” He nips the back of my neck.
I don’t have an assistant yet… but things are happening quickly. Anna says I’m a fast learner and likes the way I work. Apparently, I have the raw gift of designing marketable gowns, even if I need polishing. I honestly couldn’t be happier with where things are headed.
And as for Malcolm… he surprises me every day. We’ve moved here together, and I don’t regret one moment. Besides supporting my career, he gives me my space since he’s busy with his businesses—which he can thankfully manage from here.
“Archer said he and Hazel may drop by in a couple of weeks for a quick visit,” he says.
“That’s wonderful,” I say.
I texted Hazel back and forth, and she mentioned they’d be making a trip to the West Coast soon, but time must have flown by since. I miss her and my friends back in Texas, but I’ll fly over when things are calmer. She mentioned that her dad had found a girlfriend—a lovely lady his age whom he met at the grocery store.
I’m glad that her dad has someone to share his life with. We should all get that chance. I sigh.
“I had a meeting this morning that got canceled,” he says, and my eyes catch his in the mirror. “Ten minutes, you said?”
He turns me around and kisses me, enveloping me in his arms and filling me with his warmth. He’s asking for nine minutes when he’s given me every second since we met. He’s given me all of him, and for the first time, I’m wholeheartedly trusting someone.
I disengage my lips from his, and our breaths tangle in the air as his hands lower to hike up my skirt. “Nine minutes now.”
“I’ll make do,” he says and slams me against the wall.