I run around him and bolt down the hall. My God this is like one of those end of the romance movie scenes isn’t it? Bounding past people, hopping over obstacles. Running towards the man I love after finally realizing after two hours of movie footage that he is my soul ma–
“Shit!”
My shoe, which by the way is a Croc that is totally not in sport mode (so thought that was a gimmick. PSA– it’s not) stuck to the floor where it changed from marble to wood and I hit the ground right in front of the studio door. Luckily, the room is soundproof so if Callum is in fact inside, he probably didn’t hear me. Not as luckily, half the staff is standing behind me staring at me.
I stand up and brush myself off pretending nothing happened before opening the door and walking inside.
“Goddamnit, the light is red!” he growls out from behind the glass. But then he stops. His scowl fades and he looks up at me.
And fuck my life the man looks good.
He’s wearing jeans. At work. Fitted, black jeans with…is that a hole in the knee exposing the tattoo on his thigh? What on earth? He’s also got on a deep purple Henley with the top two buttons undone.
I blink just to make sure it really is Callum I am looking at. But when his eyes meet mine, I realize it is.
“Amanda,” he starts to say.
I shove through the side door and march up to him. “Did you record a song for me and pretend it was a demo for a new artist?”
“I did but–”
“Shut up,” I lean in and kiss him before he can say anything else. Callum is shocked for all of two seconds before setting the guitar haphazardly to the side and kissing me back. He comes to his feet, our lips still locked, and pulls me against him before the kiss goes deeper. It lasts for four, five, six seconds before he pulls back.
“Amanda, I’m sorry.”
We both crash back to earth, and I realize that yes, I came here for a reason. And it wasn’t to make out with him and possibly more. It was because this man broke my heart, andhe owes me an explanation. So, I pull myself together and step back, letting him talk.
“I freaked out on you when I saw those tests. I said some terrible things. I made some stupid accusations. And I hate that I hurt you.”
“I wasn’t with anyone else,” I tell him. “And even if the relationship wasn’t…well…a relationship, I don’t think it’s fair that you assumed I was.”
“You’re right. But even if it was a crazy whirlwind between us, even if we never meant to get married and we didn’t know you were my new hire and I was your new boss…” Callum takes a step closer and to my own surprise, I don’t take a step back. “Even if I asked you to stay with me so that I could prove I was the man who should inherit Hardin Records…none of what happened between us from there on out was fake.”
My chin starts to quiver, and I can feel the salty tears welling in my eyes. “Really?”
“Really,” Callum nods, taking my hands in his. “You have rocked my world since the moment I made eye contact with you, Amanda. You’ve woken up a passion in me that has been lifeless for so long. You reminded me why I love music. You taught me to laugh again. Taught me to let go. Taught me what everything is all about. And it’s not about money. It’s not about success or even becoming the next CEO. All I want…” he pulls me even closer. So close I couldn’t get away if I wanted to. “Is you.”
I am about to break down. About to give in. About to tell him how I feel. But then something flutters deep inside of me so small it’s almost undetectable. “What about…the baby?”
I expect Callum’s eyes to dart down to my belly. To hold a look of uncertainty. But his focus stays on me. His eyes are bright and warm and a smirk, a real full smirk, pulls at the corners of his lips until he is smiling at me.
“The baby too. I want you and the baby and us forever.”
“I didn’t think you wanted kids,” I say, my throat tight. My chest is tight because I am afraid to fully let go. The words seem too good to be true.
“I didn’t think it was in the cards. I never said I didn’t want them. The right woman never came along before. I was never in love before. But you came along, and you are the one for me. And I love you, Amanda.”
Cue the floodgates. And just like in the movies, I melt.
It’s enough to make my knees buckle and the tears spill. He has to pull me close again to keep me from collapsing. “I love you,” I tell him through the tears, pressing my forehead up to his.
“I want to prove it to you,” Callum says, stepping back. “I want you to believe me that I am completely in love with you for you and that I’m not going anywhere, come hell or high water.”
“You don’t need to—oh my God.”
I stop and cover my mouth with my hands as Callum lowers to one knee. Then he produces a ring box from his jean pocket. “Amanda? Will you marry me? Actually, marry me? I know we are already married, at least in the eyes of Vegas. But I am asking you if you want me, if you’ll choose me every day for the rest of our days? Because I want you. And I choose you.”
I nod and the tears spill down my cheeks. “Yes. Yes I will marry you, Callum Hardin.”
