“Does that mean he’ll have to sell a bunch of apartments?”
I know she’s trying to decide if she wants to buy one. But I want her living here with me. Getting down on my knees, I pull her close, and with my head on her belly, I close my eyes. “Tinsley, I know these past five months have been a whirlwind. My life was complete chaos before I met you. You center me and are the sun in my universe. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know you don’t want to get married, but can we make a commitment to be together for the rest of our lives?”
I look up into her big brown eyes. She nods and smiles. “I will commit to you. And if you want a big ceremony in front of friends and family in a church, I might be willing to do that.”
I look at her, puzzled. “Did you propose to me?”
She grins. “I think I expanded on your proposal.”
“Does this mean you want to get married? I didn’t think you wanted that.”
She lets out a deep breath. “I talked to my mom about it when she told me she was getting married again. She reminded me that a marriage is more than a piece of paper. It’s a commitment that goes beyond an agreement and sharing powers of attorney. It’s an expression of our love. Is it okay that I changed my mind?”
I pick her up and twirl her in my arms. “We’re going shopping for a ring.” I know exactly what I want. I saw it at Cartier shortly after we met and knew it was perfect for her.
“A gold band is more than enough.”
“Are you kidding? No way. You need a big rock that’s a beacon, telling all men you’re not available.”
“We’ll see.” She bends down, and our lips meet in a soft, lingering kiss.
“I don’t want what happened tonight to happen again.”
“I know, but I also know that it might.” Tinsley steps back so I can stand, and then she presses up against me. “You’re a good-looking guy who stuffs his pants with two socks.”
I pick her up and toss her on the bed. “You’re going to be so sorry you said that.”
“Do you promise?”
Chapter 43
Tinsley
Claire and I have talked several times over the last week about this party at Caroline’s, and we know something is up with it. When I ask Caroline what I should bring, she says, “Totally not necessary.”
Claire tried to get details from a few other friends, but everyone seems to be in the dark. All we know is that it’s supposed to be a press-free event. It’s hit the gossip pages, and I know it’s going to be huge. I feel wholly unprepared.
I look down at my left hand. Landon picked the perfect ring for me—a very large, princess cut diamond and an eternity band of sapphires, all set in platinum. When he presented it to me, I rewarded him with an intense night of therapy with the cock ring.
To prepare for the party, Claire, Chrissy, and I schedule a girl’s day to go shopping and end with a massage. Claire introduces me to her personal shopper at Nordstrom, Jennifer. It took almost three hours, and it seems like I’ve tried on three hundred dresses, but we finally found one. It’s blue and silver and hugs all my curves. I would prefer that it not be so revealing, but Chrissy, Claire, and Jennifer swear it’s perfect.
Claire also talks Jennifer into picking out a whole new wardrobe for me that isn’t primarily jeans, Chuckies, and retro T-shirts.
“Where am I ever going to wear this stuff?” I bemoan.
“To start with, you’ll wear it when we ring the opening bell on the Nasdaq. We also have a few events coming up, and I’m sure we’ll find some other reasons for you,” Claire replies.
“If you can get her out of her uniform of jeans and a T-shirt, I’ll help you burn them all,” Chrissy says.
“No ganging up on me.” I try to sound annoyed, but I’m not.
Claire starts clapping and bouncing up and down. “Wait until we go shopping for a wedding dress.”
I shake my head. I’m not ready for that. “And it would be a commitment dress,” I correct with a raised eyebrow.
Before we leave, Jennifer comes in with an ivory-colored gown and a sexy pair of sandals. “I know you’re not shopping for this occasion yet, but I thought you might want to keep this in mind.”
She holds up the dress. It’s sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice is covered in hand-sewn Swarovski crystals, and the skirt is a simple A-line. I stop and stare.
“It’s you,” Chrissy breathes.
“Would you like to try it on?” Jennifer asks.
I nod. The ladies help me into the dress, but I’m too nervous to look in the mirror. When Claire gasps and covers her mouth with her hands, I finally do. It’s a little longer in the back, so that it has a subtle train.
“It’s perfect,” I whisper.
The dress costs more than ten thousand dollars, but Chrissy and Claire talk me into it. “We haven’t even decided where, let alone when, we’ll have a ceremony,” I protest.
“You said it would be in a church,” Claire counters. “It’ll work.”
Each of us spends more money than we expected to, and we send the packages back home while we get massages and have our hair blown out, plus mani/pedis—all in preparation for tonight.
I wish Chrissy could join us at the party. I need to find a good friend of
