54. EndearingCreepy?
Chapter fifty-four
Endearing Or Creepy?
Maggie
“Wait, what? You know Wyatt?” I asked.
Paul chuckled. “Yeah, he’s a hoot. Went to his bar but didn’t try the food. This is the best.”
I took an inhale, then another one. “How do you know him exactly?”
Setting down his burger, he wiped his hands on a napkin. “Well, this part is either endearing or creepy.”
“Crap on a cracker,” I mumbled. “Nothing should ever start that way.”
“I met him before I saw you with the sniffer.” He fidgeted with his glass.
“So, I told you I came to Chicago before you came back to town. Well, I had a hotel room across from your office at Kent Designs. I watched you come out, hug the sniffer, and I wasn’t sure what was going on with him.
So, I followed you to the gallery. I met the artist, chatted with her for a bit, and then … ”
“You met Karpathia?” I interrupted. “She’s my mentor.”
“Vibrant lady. Yeah, she told me all about her art display, and then I went down the street to the Rooster Tavern. When I sat at the bar, imagine my surprise when I found myself in Wyatt Jones’s company.
Then, we even danced to his music in the truck bed that night.
Still can’t believe I had a drink with him. ”
“He was one of your favorites when we were growing up,” I said.
Paul turned, his eyes softening. “You remember?”
“You’re not the only one who remembers everything,” I said, leaning over to kiss him.
Threading his hands in my hair, he kept me close. “Then you understand why I need you so damn bad. All those times you threw these pretty arms around my neck and I had to pretend I didn’t want to kiss the hell out of you. Damn, I gotta make up for those now.”
He pressed a desperate kiss to my lips, loving on me until I was overcome.
My foggy brain tried to put words together. “If I’m your first, how do you know how to do this? Kissing me wild and all that other stuff?”
With a smirk, he teased me. “Learned about the birds and the bees on the farm.”
“Not sex in general. Sex like this,” I said, gesturing to the two of us. “No way did you learn how to do that thing with your tongue from watching sheep mating.”
Paul chuckled. “No, definitely not. I read articles and did research on sites that talked about pleasuring a woman. When we were together, it took me a bit to get the hang of it, but you’re so expressive that it helped.”
My mouth gaped open, then snapped shut a few times. “Research? That’s what the cool kids call it these days?”
He tickled me under my ribs until I squealed.
“Seriously. You’ve really never, um, watched things or practiced with someone else?” I asked timidly.
He pressed a kiss to my lips. “Swear on my granddaddy’s grave that I don’t watch that stuff. And I ain’t been with no one else nor will I ever be. It’s always been you, Mags. You’re the only one for me.”
His fingers teased my lower lips, lighting my core on fire. “Then how are you so good at this?”
“Well, we did practice quite a bit.”
With a whack to his chest, I averted my eyes, blushing. “You’re terrible.”
“I loved practicing with you until I found the spots that made you scream, and I have no plans to stop pleasuring you until you insist.”
Somehow, I choked out the question I needed answered. “So, the last eight hours are real? Not some sort of fever dream?”
Clutching my head with both hands, Paul’s lips tipped up into an actual smile. “This is real. We’re real. I’ll never forgive myself for ever making you doubt it, but I want you and only you forever.”
Swallowing hard, I felt my throat thicken with emotion. “I want to be with you, too.”
“I’ll never make you doubt me again,” he promised.
When he let go of me, he popped a fry into my mouth. I grinned, feeling so happy I was almost giddy. We enjoyed our meal together, laughing and sharing good memories from our past.
“Remember that art thing you dragged me to in Mainview?” Paul asked. “Well, I have something to show you,” he said, reaching over to pull something that looked like a garment bag closer. “I invested in a special painting that I brought to share with you.”
“You did? What is it?” I asked, wiping my fingers on a napkin while I pulled my legs up to crisscross them.
Paul glanced back at me, his eyes darkening as he focused on the fact that I wasn’t wearing panties.
“The painting,” I prompted, enjoying the fact that I could distract him so thoroughly. “Show me.”
With a dramatic flare, he held up a painting of an incredibly realistic farm landscape. “It’s a Russell Spencer.”
“Oh, Paul,” I gasped. “It’s beautiful.” I hopped up to get closer, studying it before glancing around the room. “We’ll have to put it somewhere safe from Rusty, though. I can’t put holes in the walls.”
Glancing around with it in my hands, I found the perfect place of honor above the stove I never used. We sat it there, barricading it with coffee cups, then admired it together.
“Perfect,” I said, beaming at the way I felt with his arms wrapped around me.
“No, but you are,” Paul said, turning me as he sunk to one knee in front of me with a green velvet box in his hand.
I gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth.
“The day I signed a contract, this ring was the first thing I bought. Never wanted for anything but you. Been wanting to claim you as my own for so long that I don’t want to wait another minute to as you a very important question.”
“Oh, Paul,” I said softly, lowering my hand to my pounding heart.
Gazing into my eyes, Paul’s brown eyes glistened. “Do you forgive me for all the times I didn’t say what I felt in my heart and being a fool this summer?”
I sniffed, nodding eagerly. “I do. It was all just a stupid misunderstanding, wasn’t it?”
“Then, if you can look past all my other obvious flaws to see a man who adores you, who’ll do anything for you, stay here or go or travel around the world with you, then I’d ask you to accept this ring and be mine.
Will you be with me always, Maggie Roth?
Would you do me the honor of being my wife and letting me pleasure you as much as you can bear for the rest of our lives? ”
Sobs tumbled from my lips. “Mom was right!”
It was all I could say as I sat on his knee, hugging him. Mom knew how Paul felt about me since high school. Even though I couldn’t see it, she was right. And I just knew that somewhere she was smiling down on us.
When I pulled back, Paul looked a little stunned. “Not sure how to take that one. Is that a yes or a no?”
The smile that spread across my cheeks so wide that it almost hurt. “Yes, definitely yes.” With my hands framing his face, I pulled him in for a kiss. Then it hit me. I’d been so excited about the proposal that I hadn’t even looked much at the ring. “Now, let me see it.”
Bringing the box closer, he cringed when I snatched it and shrieked as I set my eyes on the vintage diamond ring with detailing around the band. “It’s gorgeous, Paul. It’s absolutely perfect.”
“Just like you,” he said, taking it from me and sliding it on my finger.
After he pressed a kiss to my hand, he beamed up at me. “I have the bands for the wedding, too, whenever we’re ready for them. Yours was a set and then I found one to match it for me.”
“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?” I said, planting a kiss on his lips.
And then, I remembered the gallery opening.
I popped up off of his lap, racing over to my desk. “Oh, shit!”
Concern crossed Paul’s eyes. “Don’t tell me you changed your mind.”
Darting back, I planted another quick kiss on his lips before rushing back to my computer.
“No, nothing like that. It’s actually really good news.
I have a gallery opening, but it’s in less than three weeks.
And I still have so many photos to work on that I have to get ready. That means I have a lot of work to do.”
“Then get to it. I’ll clean up dinner.”
For the next several hours, Paul hung out with Rusty, only interrupting me when it was time for a break like eating, drinking, or sleeping.
And something incredible happened. I felt more efficient, more productive, and more relaxed.
It was amazing how my art benefited from taking care of myself.
The photos were more coherent, better worked, and more focused.
Wyatt popped over with doughnuts the next morning, giving us the chance to tell him in person about our engagement.
“I knew you two would figure it out in your own time,” he said, giving Paul a chin tip. “You two were a done deal since I met you that night at the bar.”
I beamed as I hugged them both. We took the long way to get here, but now that we were together, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Wyatt heartily welcomed Paul into the family and insisted we come over that night for a celebratory dinner.
I brought my aunt and uncle, too, and made a huge deal of it.
Being in a pretty dress, holding my left hand out for all to see, seeing how happy my family was for me, and feeling Paul’s steady arm around my waist was everything I needed.
Two weeks later, Karpathia came over for a pre-viewing, squealing as she reviewed my finished pieces. “So much life in these. I am truly impressed, cher.” Then, she stalked over to Paul. Eyeing him suspiciously, she circled him. “I knew we’d meet again. I could feel it.”
My smirk couldn’t be suppressed. “This is Paul Stratton, my fiancé.”
Karpathia stomped over to him. “I’ve got a mind to tear into you for the hell you put her through,” she started, but then shifted her narrowed eyes to me.
“But I know she was at least half of the problem. Always holding back. Afraid to go for it.” With a huff, she came over to me. “Are you afraid anymore, cher?”
A smile lit up my whole face as I shook my head. “Not anymore.”
Karpathia gasped. “Wait, did you say ‘fiancé’?”
“Yes, we’re engaged,” I said, colliding with her in a huge hug.
We screeched together before I showed her the ring.
“Congratulations, you two. Oh, dear sir. That is a stunning ring.” She paused patting Paul on the shoulder. “I’m thrilled that you both finally figured things out.”
Paul pulled me in for a kiss.
Karpathia shrieked with joy. “You two are magnifique.”
“What about the opening?” I asked, biting my thumb nail. “Are we set?”
“Absolutement. The photos are ready, you’re ready, I have the final edited pieces, and I’m taking care of the rest. My guys will deliver everything, so you need to be there all morning to check on placement and lighting. Point and someone will put the frames and spotlights wherever you want them.”
I placed a grateful hand on her forearm. “This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me. I can’t believe you spent your art time on me, putting this together. Thank you, Kar.”
Pulling me in for a side hug, she held me tightly. “For you, cher, anything.”
Then she was gone.
Paul kicked aside a few cat toys so I wouldn’t trip on them. “When I met her, I knew you’d like her.”
I nodded, heading for the kitchen. “She’s believed in me since the beginning. She always said I had that je ne said quoi.”
He followed me, leaning on the island. “How did you two meet?”
“My uncle introduced us at one of her gallery openings. We talked a little, and within minutes, she insisted that I intern for her. She said she had a feeling about me that we were destined to work together.”
Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss to my lips.
When he pulled back, his expression was soft.
“You’ve always had this light inside you that made everyone love you.
It’s one of the reasons I fell so hard for you.
Even though you could be with anyone, and I knew it, there was this satisfaction I felt knowing you chose me.
Always hoped we were destined to be, too. ”
I pushed up to kiss him, deepening it this time. “I choose you every day, Paul. I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”
Squeezing me a little closer, he nuzzled my neck. “Then why wait? Let’s get married after your gallery opening.”
I leaned back gasping. “You don’t want to be married back home with your family?”
He shrugged. “I’ll get married anywhere you want to, but don’t need to go back there and wear monkey suits. Besides, I want it to be soon. I want to start introducing myself as Maggie Roth’s husband.”
Tilting my head, I was stunned. “You don’t want me to take your last name?”
With darkening eyes, he grasped my face with both hands. “You can have any part of me you want, even my surname, but if you want to keep yours due to your already thriving career, I won’t howl about it.”
I couldn’t contain the huge smile that overtook my entire body as I surged forward, kissing him.
Between kisses, I told him how amazing he was, how he was everything I needed and I could ever want.
And as he carried me to the bedroom with promises of all the ways he was going to pleasure me, I was thrilled that I was days away from marrying the man I loved.