Epilogue
Paisley
S ix months later- New Year’s Eve
He runs a hand down my red silky dress, skimming my ass as I stare up at him, a flutter in my chest. I have never felt like this before. I thought what we had three years ago was some kind of magical, but after the last six months together, our connection has only grown stronger. He looks different tonight though, a little stressed or on edge. I fix his tie, adjusting the knot as he draws me in close, the salt spray kissing each of our lips as waves roll into the shore. Deception Bay beach is stunning at this time of night. The moon is almost full and casts a glow over the water. My feet squish into the cold sand, and I’m grateful I kicked off my heels when Noah asked me to come for a walk with him before we joined our friends at the Alexanders’ annual New Year’s party.
“Before we go to the party, I need to ask you something.” He searches my face, and my heart kicks up a beat.
“Am I going to like this or not? ‘Cause I’m in a good mood, and I’m ready to party. I don’t want you springing something on me that’s going to piss me off,” I snip, not liking the flash of anxiety I see in his eyes.
“Why do you always go to the worst-case scenario?” He laughs, trying to keep it lighthearted, but I see the tension he’s holding in his shoulders. What the hell is going on?
My eyes narrow in on him. “I don’t know.” I shrug, waiting for him to enlighten me.
“Stop giving me the stink-eye, baby, I think you’re going to be happy about this.” Then he gets down on one knee, and my heart constricts. Is he doing what I think he is?
My hand comes to my chest as I stare back at him. “Noah,” I gasp.
“Paisley Whittaker, you constantly keep me on my toes with your sassy smile and sarcastic eye rolls, but you know I wouldn’t have it any other way. This past six months with you has been nothing but perfection, and I know without a doubt I want to spend the rest of my days trying to make you as happy as possible.” He pauses, his eyes locking with mine in a way that makes me feel like he can see right into my soul. “Will you marry me?” He takes a small navy-blue velvet ring box from his pocket and presents it to me.
I stare back at him, awestruck. I’ve wanted to marry this man for a long time, but I had no clue he was even considering asking me. For once in my life, I’m lost for words.
“Not the reaction I was expecting.” He laughs nervously.
My heart races, and my palms grow sweaty. “Yes. Of course I will. I love you, Noah,” I gush as he takes hold of my hand and slips the stunning square-cut diamond onto my ring finger. Then he stands, pulling me into his body, kissing me passionately while my heart does a happy dance.
Eventually he pulls back, holding my face in his hands. “I love you, Paisley.”
“Guess we better get to the party.”
“Nah, I have a better idea. Let’s celebrate.” I take his hand, my laughter filling the air as we slip further into the darkness of the dunes, and he takes off his suit jacket, laying it out for me to sit on. I pull him down with me, rolling on top of him as my lips meet with his again.
I make fast work of unbuckling his pants, pulling his cock free, stroking my palm all the way up the length of him. He’s so damn hard, and I can’t wait to have him inside of me.
I didn’t just agree to marry this man, he’s my one and only, and I know I’m his. I suck in a shaky breath and pop up onto my knees so I can shove my thong out of the way and lower down on top of him, his thick cock stretching me deliciously.
“You sure you’re okay with missing most of the party, baby?”
I nod, rocking over him, my body tingling all over. “I can’t think of a better way to bring in the new year.”
His grin widens, and he pulls me down so our lips meet again, and his fingers dig into my hips, our bodies moving together like they were made for each other. We find our releases together before I collapse down onto his chest, feeling the way his heart races for me.
Noah holds me close as fireworks erupt all around us, and I realize it must be the new year. We stay like this, enjoying the display until the last twinkling light has extinguished.
Noah eventually checks his phone. “Shit, I have about thirty missed calls from the boys.” His eyes go wide.
“Guess we better make an appearance at the party. We did say we were on our way a couple of hours ago.” Hand in hand, we wander back up the beach toward the Alexander function center and ballroom. When we’re close enough, I dust the sand off my feet and slip on my heels.
All of our friends are either on the dance floor or mingling by the bar. Noah heads in the direction of Brody, Elliot, and Parker. Mae is the first one of the girls I find. She’s alone, downing a margarita, and I grab her, tackling her into a tight hug. “This is going to be your year, I just know it.” I smile with so much excitement for my bestie. She has been out of sorts lately, but I just know her luck is about to change.
“I hope so,” she whispers, not sounding so sure. Her skin is unusually pale for her, and her cheeks look red hot.
I look her over with fresh eyes, wondering what I missed while I was partying down the beach with Noah. “Mae. What’s wrong, you look strange. Did you have too many of those margaritas? I told Jake he was making them too strong when he got me to test them.”
She stares back at me, her expression blank, and I start to really worry. She’s not a big drinker, maybe she really has had too many.
“Come on, let’s get you some fresh air,” I tell her, wrapping a protective arm around her as I usher her out of the ballroom and into the cool night air of The Alexander Hotel gardens.
She looks back over her shoulder, and I follow her line of sight, spotting my brother staring back at her. Oh, shit, did I just interrupt something? “Spill, girl. What’s going on?”
Her attention shifts abruptly back to me, and she stares at me all stary-eyed. “I just kissed your brother,” she stutters out.
I can’t help the smile that paints my face. “Shut up. You didn’t.” I look at her more seriously to make sure she’s not messing around with me. I knew Parker looked guilty as hell when he spotted me and Noah. “You did.”
“Or he kissed me. I don’t know, it all happened so fast, and slow, and oh my God, I’m so confused. It was just a New Year’s kiss, wasn’t it? That’s what people do?”
I smirk back at her, happy my stupid brother finally made a move. “Maybe he was just taking the opportunity to kiss the girl he’s obsessed with and has been for a long time.”
Her eyes go wide. “He’s not obsessed with me. We’re just friends.”
I laugh. “Keep telling yourself that. But the way I see it, you like him as much more than a friend, and he’s definitely crushing on you big time. This might be the start of something.”
She looks me over; she knows I’m right. She grabs my hand. “Is that an engagement ring on your finger?” she shrieks.
“Sure is. Noah asked, and I said yes.” I beam back at her.
“Oh my God, Paisley.” She hugs me. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my own head, I didn’t even notice. Is this why you guys were so late tonight?”
“We had to celebrate.” I smile back at her cheekily.
“Too much information.” She laughs as she pulls me in tight for a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Paisley.”
“I’m happy too, but don’t think this conversation is over just because you’re distracted with my new piece of jewelry.”
“I know, Paisley. I think I’m in real big trouble when it comes to your brother. Before tonight, I could tell myself it was just a silly crush, that we were friends. But now…” She touches her lips.
“It’s real?” I ask, seeing the look written all over her face. She’s so smitten with him.
She swallows hard. “So real. I think I’m in love with him, Pais.”
The End