“Uh-huh. This is a big day for you, and I wanted you to be supported. No matter what the outcome was.”
“I’m gutted I didn’t win, but still happy to have done as well as I did.” He cups my cheeks. “Thank you, Min. From the bottom of my heart, this truly means the world to me. I love you so much and I can’t wait to watch our relationship grow and develop.”
My heart flutters at heating a different set of magic words. “You took the words right out of my mouth, Sam I Am. I love you too. Now stop talking and kiss me before we’re interrupted again.”
Fire burns in his eyes. He licks his lips and pulls me into a deep kiss, dipping me.
I never had any designs on falling in love, but the truth is, love isn’t something you can control. It just happens. If you ever find a stray spur on the ground, don’t be afraid to pick it up. You just may find yourself falling madly in love with a horse guard of your very own.
Epilogue
“Min! It’s out!” Liz exclaims.
“What’s out?”
“The December issue ofHaute Couture Mondemagazine.” I set down the knife I’m using to slice the carrot cake and wipe my hands on my apron. Liz practically shoves her phone under my nose. “Look! You made the cover!”
“The cover?”
“Yes, the cover!”
Taking the device from Liz’s hands, I stare at the screen. Sure enough, there is a photo of me wearing the one-shoulder sapphire-blue evening gown I created for the Household Cavalry’s Studio 54 ball with Sam. The caption reads, “Minerva. Designer, Dancer, It Girl. Meet the hot new junior designer taking the fashion world by storm.”
“I don’t believe it.” I stagger back into the island. “The reporter mentioned she was doing a story on Clarissa’s wedding. She never said anything about focusing on me or being on the cover.”
I continue to stare at the image. I’m on the cover of oneof the most important magazines in the fashion industry. Me. A girl who eight months ago was worried about finding a job.
“Well, as the saying goes, seeing is believing!” Liz is beaming. “Go grab your coat and handbag. We’ll run down to Central London and go buy as many copies as we can find. Everybody is going to want one!”
On cue, my phone rings. Reaching into the pocket of my apron, I answer. “Hello?”
“Min! Have you seen the email blast fromHaute Couture Monde?” Clarissa asks.
“I have. Liz just showed me the email.” I point to the phone and mouthClarissato Liz. She nods.
“Surprise and congratulations,” she gushes.
“Thank you, but I don’t understand. I thought the article was supposed to be on you?” I sputter.
“Er, I’m sorry we deceived you. That was a little fib Sonya concocted. She thought it would be less stressful if you didn’t know the magazine planned to write a feature story on you.”
“She was right,” I whisper.
“The editor ofHC Mondewas so taken by what you produced for the fall-winter collection that she found me right after the show and wanted to know all about who came up with the fresh new designs on the runway. I was thrilled to tell her they were done by you. I shared your story with her, and she decided on the spot you’d be the face of the end-of-the-year special issue.”
My heart is pounding a mile a minute. “The face?”
“Uh-huh. I think the spread was supposed to be about ten pages long?”
“Whoa.”
“Did you reach her?” Sonya’s voice asks in the background.
“I did,” Clarissa says.
“Way to go, girl,” Sonya says. “You deserve this. We’re so proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I manage.
