“I just don’t know what to say.” His eyes are alight with love and happiness. “I’ve never been so nervous in my life, but it went so much better than I thought.”
James’s lips crash down on mine. The love he gives me on a daily basis is unmatched. I love him more than life itself.
“Are you ready to get out there and win them over?” James drops his forehead to mine, his lips giving me another quick kiss.
“James.” I grab him before he starts to pull me out to the main hall. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
The love shining out of his eyes mirrors my own. “You did it all on your own. This is just the beginning for you, Zara.” James squeezes me to him. “Everyone is going to fall in love with you. Just like I did.”
I drag my fingers down his jaw, tracing over his kiss-swollen lips. “You were easy. They might be harder to win over.”
“C’mon. Let’s go win them over.”
James
Zara’sbig night couldn’t have gone better for her. The performance was incredible. Everyone was fighting to get a word with Zara. I was forgotten, and I couldn’t be happier about it. And I hope the night will only get better now that we’re home.
Zara hasn’t officially moved in—heaven forbid two adults cohabitate—but we spend the majority of our time together.
“James. Why am I blindfolded?” I’m leading Zara through the dark gardens. There’s some light from the park, but it’s quiet back here.
“Just wait.” My hands on her waist, I guide her towards the sunken garden surrounding the apartments here. Finding the spot, I stop and pull the blindfold off.
Her eyes go wide at the scene in front of her. A blanket is laid out before us, a bottle of champagne chilling. “What is all of this?” Awe is in her voice.
“You had this incredible night, and we need to celebrate you.” I take her hand, sitting down on the blanket. I pull her between my legs as I pop open the bubbly.
“You are too much sometimes.” She turns in my arms, leaning on my leg.
“Z. I am so fucking proud of you.” My voice catches. It’s hard to put into words just how proud of her I really am. “You shone like the brightest star tonight.”
She closes her eyes as I drop a kiss on her temple. My nerves are starting to get the better of me. I take a large gulp of champagne.
“I can’t wait to see how much money we raised tonight. I’m so happy that I get to do this.” She looks at me, love filling her eyes. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Bollocks. You didn’t need me at all.”
“Whatever you want to tell yourself.” She sips at her champagne.
I take the glass from her hand, turning to face her. “Zara, there’s something I want to ask you.”
Her eyes widen. “Okay.”
I take her hand, warm in mine in the cool London night. “I love you more than life itself. When our parents introduced us, I never thought I would fall in love with you, but I did. Hopelessly. I saw what my life would be like without you, and I never want to be without you.”
Tears are glittering in her eyes.
“I want to wake up to you every day. I want to have kids with you. I want to support everything you do. I want to go to bed with you every night.” I pull the ring from my pocket. Not the ring I picked out from the vault, but a ring given to me by my grandmum. “Zara Cross, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
Zara leaps into my arms, crashing her lips down on mine. Her tongue licks at the seam of my mouth, and I open to her immediately. Love and passion swirl around us in the night.
“Is that a yes, love?”
She smacks me in the chest. “Of course, yes!”
I pull the ring out of the box and slide it on her finger. “James, it’s absolutely gorgeous.”
She holds her hand out in front of her face.
