My voice cracked. Singing was not my strong suit, but the evening wasn’t about talent. The performance was about Natalie and doing right by my girl.
She hadn’t moved from her spot center stage, so I joined her there, circling, throwing in a shuffle here and a sashay there, butchering the song. She laughed, though tears poured down her face.
On the last line I dropped to my knees, laid down the mic, and pulled the little blue box from my pocket.
I couldn’t hear myself talk over the roar of the audience, all of them friends and family. Natalie joined me on the floor, her steepled hands pressed to her lips, those ridiculously adorable frames sliding down her nose.
Fuck, she was gorgeous. She was everything. I gripped the side of her glasses and slid them back into place.
The audience chanted, “Nat King Cole, Nat King Cole.”
I’d practiced a speech as well.
Staring at my girl, my future, I couldn’t remember a word.
I removed the ring from the box. Pulled her hand away from her face, then slid the gold band onto her finger. I leaned close, kissed her wet lips, then whispered, “Yes, I’ll marry you. My heart is yours. Always has been. Please, please don’t break it, baby.”
Natalie
We celebrated into the early morning hours. Until I couldn’t dance anymore, cry anymore, or hug, laugh, or see straight.
Cole drove me to his home above the gym. His one-bedroom apartment where a prince of the city lived like a commoner.
We made our way up the stairs. Cole carried my shoes and held me close. Inside the apartment, he helped me out of his suit jacket and then toed of his shoes.
“Still living above the gym,” I teased, looking around the dark space.
“Got a problem with that, sunshine?” He pinned me to the door, his gaze fixed on my lips.
“I don’t.” I grazed his mouth, savoring the taste of tobacco, the Cuban he’d shared with my father. “In fact, I like it here.”
“Yeah?” He dropped his head and nibbled the top of my breast.
“I do. I love the view.”
He chuckled. “There is no view.”
I wiggled free and escaped to the window, where he pinned me once again, my back to his front, my breasts smashed against the glass. Soft kisses dotted my shoulder, eliciting a shiver.
“The view is extraordinary.” I tapped a finger on the window and pointed. “See that building?”
He lifted his head. “There’s nothing out there but buildings.”
“The silver one that’s shorter than the others.”
He slid his hands to my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. “That’s your old bank building.”
Cole thought he’d had the last laugh, hijacking my proposal party. But that soiree wasn’t my only birthday surprise. Swaying my hips against his erection, I whispered, “That’s where I work.”
His arms snaked around my waist. “Are you fucking with me right now?”
“I start next week.”
With a grunt, he flipped me around to face him, then kissed me with all the grace of a drunk baboon. “You did that for me?”
“No. I did that because I love this apartment.” I shoved him away and made for the bedroom, trusting he’d follow. “It’s walking distance. And my favorite coffee shop is just around the corner.”
I stopped at the foot of the bed, then peeled the black, stretchy gown down, over my breasts, past my waist, my thighs, then let it fall to the floor. “I did it because there’s this gym downstairs with a really hot owner. Nothing turns me on like sweaty men with muscles.”
“Fuck, Natalie.” He leaned against the dresser, drinking me in. “You were naked under that dress this whole time?”
I looked down at my naked body and shrugged. “No room for undergarments.”
He unbuttoned his shirt cuffs. Then yanked at his tie and dropped it at his feet. “Had I known that, I would’ve thrown you over my shoulder hours ago and skipped to the end.”
He removed his shirt while he stalked closer.
“But then I wouldn’t have been able to hear you sing.” I grabbed his belt and kissed his neck while I worked the buckle, my entire body tingling with need.
“So you’re back home. For good?”
“No more long distance love affair.” God, what a great feeling.
Impatient with my trembling fingers, Cole shoved his pants to the floor and kicked them out of the way. His boxers followed.
We stood toe to toe, skin to skin, my eyes level with the cross he wore around his neck.
His chest rose and fell twice before his lips landed on my forehead and he asked, “What did I do to deserve you?”
I lifted my chin to savor his golden gaze. “We didn’t have to do anything, because you’re my destiny, remember?”
“I’ll never forget.” Heat poured from his body. “Happy birthday, Natalie.”
“Happy birthday, Cole.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist, then took my left hand in his right, and we danced in the dark room, naked as the day we were born.
Free to laugh. Free to dance. Free to love.
The End
Thank you so much for reading L.O.V.E. Thank you for sticking through the ups and downs, the pretty parts and the frustrating situations. Like life, Cole and Natalie had tough decisions to make. They stuck to their guns, and chose the paths they believed right. And because this is romance, their integrity and faithfulness paid off in the end. My wish for you, my cherished readers, is your own personal happily ever after, no matter your journey.
SexyBoyfriend. Our love story isn’t always pretty, but I’ve never doubted that you are my destiny. We have countless chapters to go and I can’t wait to see how our journey plays out.
My babies. You are my everything, even when I’m locked in my office and begging you not to bother me.
Corinne. Thank you for your wisdom and guidance. I’m beyond grateful to work with you again. I hope there are many books in our future.
Lia. You are gracious and gorgeous and you always lift my
