“Emilia … I’m serious. I set up the meeting. I’m the client.”
It took a few seconds for his words to register.
“Why would you …”
I glanced around the space and noticed the bouquet on the single table that was set up to show off our tableware. It was hydrangeas.
My heart stumbled out of rhythm as I tried to make sense of what was happening. “What’s going on, Drew? Are you firing me or something?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Why on earth would you jump tothatidea?”
I held my tablet out and jammed my finger on the screen. “Just confirm that I’m not about to blow an important meeting, okay? Because I’msuperconfused right now.”
He was still laughing as he pulled me into his arms. I reflexively snuggled up to him despite my confusion. “I promise you that this is the only appointment on your calendar today, and I’m the one who set it up, so would you relax? Geeze, you’d think you work for some sort of tyrannical dickhead or something.”
“You think?” I laughed. “So tell me why you needed to set up a meeting to get me alone. And why you felt you had to book a ballroom for it. Because I know of a certain closet that’s seen plenty of private action.”
“Don’t tempt me,” he growled as he slipped his hand down to smack my ass. Drew kissed me on the top of the head then pulled away.
“I brought you here because I think it’s an important part of our story. We spent quite a bit of time in this ballroom working out the details for Kristen and Carter.”
I smiled as I glanced around it. “We sure did. I can’t believe how much happened in this room. Right over there is where you pitched me being your fake fiancée.” I pointed to the spot where he dragged me into the room to plead his case. “So ridiculous.”
“Yeah, but it worked,” he said. “You know what else happened in here?”
I sighed. “A million memories.”
“You’re right,” Drew said as he studied me. “But more importantly, this is also where I started falling in love with you.”
I took a step backwards. “Inhere?”
He nodded. “Maybe even in the lobby, the first time I saw you.”
“Please,” I laughed softly. “You hated me on sight.”
Drew reached out to cup my cheek and I nestled against his palm. “Not even close. I was mesmerized by you. Your beauty, obviously, but more the way you didn’t back down. I liked that.”
I giggled. “Sure didn’t seem so that day.”
“I wasn’t used to it yet. Not many people have the balls to stand up to me.”
“Well, maybe they should,” I insisted. “Anyway, can we get to the point of this meeting, please? I’m still on the clock and I don’t want to piss off my boss.”
He chuckled. “Okay, okay.”
Drew took my hand and led me out to the balcony. We paused by the edge of it, overlooking the garden’s endless green, framed by the bright blue sky. I felt like I could hear the ocean just beyond the palm trees.
“We’ve created so many beautiful memories for our happy couples, right here,” Drew said. “Now I think it’s time for us to make our own.”
My breath caught in my chest as Drew turned to face me, then slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
“Hold on, what’s happening?” I panicked a little as I looked around for cameras.
Drew was looking up at me with so much love in his eyes that I almost burst into tears. I could feel my bottom lip trembling as I tried to remain composed.
He took my hands in his. “Emilia Louise Marino, you’ve shown me how sweet the world can be when you have someone special beside you. You’ve taught me to laugh off the tough stuff and focus on the little things that make each day brighter, like a best friend in a shell with a taste for hibiscus. You’ve helped me weather challenges, and you’ve shown me time and again that you’ll always be there for me, even when I don’t deserve it.”
“Stop,” I sniffled. “You absolutely deserve it, and I’ll always be there for you no matter what.”
