"I'm not giving up anything." I brush my thumb across her cheek. "I'm choosing what actually matters. I’m choosing you. Us. A future together."
Margie clears her throat softly. "I'll leave you two to talk." She squeezes Grace's shoulder as she passes. "He's a good one, dear. Bit intense, but good."
When we're alone, Grace pulls back slightly, studying the room with new eyes. "A book-themed inn," she murmurs, a smile tugging at her lips. "That's... that's actually perfect."
"Yeah? You like it, then?"
"Yeah. I like it." She meets my gaze again, and there's something different there now—hope, maybe. "I really like it, but Asher, this is a huge decision. You can't just upend your entire life…"
"My life was already upended the night you spilled whiskey on me," I tell her, smiling. "Everything since then has just been me trying to catch up with that reality."
Grace laughs, the sound breaking through the last of the tension between us. "So dramatic." She bites her lip, and I recognize that look; she's considering it, actually considering this life we could build. She looks around the place, spinning in a big circle before she turns back to me.
"I love you." She says the three words that do something to my heart and have it beating it a crazy rhythm. I want to hear those words again. Over and over for the rest of my life.
I step closer to her, wrapping my arms around her the way I've wanted to since she walked down the stairs in her family's farmhouse.
"I love you, Sugar."
"I want this life with you." She smiles, looking up at me, eyes sparkling.
"Yeah?" I repeat, needing to be sure.
Grace nods, tears finally spilling over. "Yes. To all of it. The inn, Cedar Falls, us." She laughs through her tears. "God, I can't believe I'm saying this, but yes."
Relief crashes through me so hard it's almost painful. I pull her against me, capturing her mouth with mine. The kiss is different from all the others; it's not about dominance or control or proving anything. Just pure, uncomplicated joy.
She melts into me, fingers threading through my hair as she kisses me back with equal fervor. I taste the salt from her tears and something sweeter underneath.
When we finally break apart, both breathless, I rest my forehead against hers.
"Marry me, Sugar."
She laughs as more tears fall. "Asher, we're already married."
"No, that was a charade. Marry me for real. Because you actually want to."
Lifting onto her tiptoes, she kisses me again, her acceptance a caress over my lips.
"Yes. Asher Caine, I'll marry you for real."
NEW STORY IDEAS
We meet the heroine in her tragically boring life. Maybe she’s broke?
The heroine is rescued from her average life by the enigmatic billionaire.
The heroine and the hero make a mutually beneficial agreement.
