Audrey slept for almost four hours. When she woke up, I was halfway to sleep myself. Pepper and I were sitting on the couch together, watching as the first bits of dawn were streaking across the sky.
“Hi,” Audrey said with a trace of shyness.
I stood up and hurried over to her, kissing her gently. Her lips were chapped, and she smelled like musk and sweat, but it felt like coming home. Just the feel of her mouth against mine was enough to stir a small wave of desire in my body.
“Hi,” I said, pulling away.
Audrey followed me to the couch. When she curled up with her knees folded, Pepper scooted over to her and rested her head in Audrey’s lap.
“Thank you,” Audrey said. She glanced down, and I saw that she was blushing. It was a familiar sight, and yet she looked different somehow. “I’m not sure how I wound up in that mess, but…” She trailed off, yawning and covering her mouth with a pale hand. “Thank you, Enzo.”
“Of course.” I felt at a loss. What else could I possibly have said? We’d been through so much together. “I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to see me again.”
Audrey swallowed. “Are you okay, too?” She gestured towards my body. “I mean, after the crash. Do you need to go to the hospital?”
I laughed drily. “I was already there. And I had to leave, it was terrible.” My head had begun to throb, and I winced. “I have a concussion, but it’s not serious. And those damn nurses would have kept me in the hospital for years if I hadn’t broken out.”
Audrey’s eyed widened. “You broke out?” Her Wisconsin accent was there, but like the frumpy clothing, it just seemed like a part of Audrey now. I didn’t mind in the slightest.
I laughed again. “I had to,” I admitted. “Otherwise there was no way I was going to get out of there.”
Audrey pursed her lips together. “Enzo, I’m sorry.” A tear fell from her eye and dripped down her cheek, but she made no move to wipe it away. “I’m sorry for what I said—about how I wished that I’d never met you.” Her lip trembled, and the overwhelming desire to embrace Audrey came over me. “It wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now,” Audrey finished. “I hope you can forgive me.”
My heart softened. “Of course. I’d completely forgotten about that.”
“So you’re not mad at me?”
“God, mad at you? Why the hell would I be mad at you, Audrey? If anything, I’d think that you were angry with me!”
Audrey shook her head. “I’m not angry,” she murmured.
I moved closer and pulled her into my arms. At first, Audrey resisted. Then her limbs softened, and she leaned against me, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me close. Holding her, having her in my arms, was the most relaxed I’d felt all day.
“This is nice,” I whispered into her hair.
Pepper barked, and Audrey kissed me.
“I know.” She pulled away. “Enzo, I love you. I don’t ever want to be apart from you. I had a lot of time to think in that warehouse.” Audrey’s thin frame shuddered in my arms, and I hugged her extra tight. “And I don’t think I can ever be separated from you.”
“I feel exactly the same way,” I told her honestly.
Audrey looked into my eyes. Her own blue eyes were wide with fear, and her forehead was creased. “Are you sure?” She glanced down at herself—I’d put her into one of my old college sweatshirts and a pair of my sweatpants, but she was honestly dressed as flatteringly as ever. “I mean, I’m not exactly glamorous.”
“I think you’re beautiful. And I don’t care about your clothes.”
Audrey giggled. “Really?”
“Really. I want you to wear whatever makes you happy. Of course, if that included the occasional lingerie from time to time, I wouldn’t exactly be upset.”
Audrey blushed bright red. “I can’t believe you saved Pepper,” she said softly. “That’s when I knew. When I saw that you’d brought her to me, that’s how I knew how much I loved you.”
Pepper whined, pawing at my leg. I laughed again. “She grew on me,” I admitted grudgingly. “Good thing my condo allows dogs.”
Audrey’s eyebrows went up. “What do you mean?”
“Because you’re sure as hell not going back to that apartment,” I said. “Even though Richard’s dead, I don’t want you getting into any more trouble.”
Audrey swallowed. “You mean, move in with you?”
I nodded. “Yes. That is, if you want to. I can’t exactly force you.”
“I do,” Audrey replied, her voice still so exquisitely soft. She closed her eyes briefly. “Do you think that makes me a bad person?”
“What? Why?”
“Because…” She opened her eyes, sounding exasperated. “Because it means that… well, it means that I’m not going to be living so frugally.” She looked away. “I always thought that I should be ashamed of my money.”
I shook my head. “Audrey, it doesn’t make you a bad person.” I pulled her close and hugged her tighter still. “It makes you practical. You’ll be safer here, and Pepper will be, too. It’s the best thing.”
Audrey bit her lip. “What about my parents?”
“Well, that’s something I have to talk to you about.” I handed her a sheaf of papers. “I did some research while you were sleeping, but obviously, I didn’t know where they’d want to live. I was thinking something in Wisconsin—since you said you grew up there. But maybe they’d like to move across the country instead?”
“Enzo, these are all really expensive,” Audrey said, breathing out the words. She glanced down at the various papers, each showing a house for sale. “I couldn’t ask you to do this.” She blushed. “You can’t buy my parents a house!”
“No, I can’t, but we can,” I said smoothly. Audrey gaped. “I mean, I want to. And I want you to be my wife. It won’t just be my money anymore. It’ll be yours, too.”
Audrey shook her head. “You can’t be serious.”
I got down on one knee and looked into her eyes. “Audrey, I’m more serious than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I love you, and I can’t be without you. And I want you to be happy, which means taking care of your parents.” I swallowed hard. “And maybe even sending my family a check or two every now and then,” I relented. “Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Audrey nodded again as tears spilled from her eyes. She didn’t answer, just threw herself into my arms and wrapped her skinny arms around my neck. With her perfect body crushed against mine, I kissed her passionately, slipping my tongue between her lips until she moaned.
When Audrey pulled away, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and looked at me shyly. “So, where’s my ring?”
I groaned. “We’re going to pick it out as soon as you’re feeling better,” I promised her. “Whatever you’d like, I’ll get it for you.”
Audrey blushed deeper. “You mean it?”
I stared at her. “You know, I was perfectly serious about giving you everything you want,” I murmured. “This isn’t my money anymore. It’s our money, and I want you to be happy.”
“I don’t want a lot, Enzo, but I’d like to get married in a church, in a real white dress, and have my parents see me.” She closed her eyes and let out a long, happy sigh. “They’re going to flip! They won’t be able to believe this!”
“Any thought to where they’d want to live?” I raised my eyebrow at Audrey.
Audrey bit her lip. “You’re going to say no.”
I shook my head. “Try me,” I countered.
Audrey pointed to the floor. “Right here,” she answered.
I stared. “I don’t think the condo is big enough.”
Audrey shook her head. “No, no. I didn’t mean actually here. I meant in this building, close to us. My parents miss me so much, and I’d love to have them close.” She swallowed. “Plus, they’re getting older, and I always want to make sure I can be close by to take care of them when they need it.”
I pulled Audrey into my arms and stroked her brown hair. She was in definite need of a shower, but I didn’t mind. I loved having her near me. “Okay,” I said into her hair. “If that’s what my bride wants, that’s what she gets.”
Audrey twisted out of my arms. She craned her neck back and looked at me. “Enzo, are you sure about all of this?” Before I could speak, she pressed a finger to my lips. “I mean, you’ve never even had a girlfriend before. What if you get bored with me?” Her expression turned anxious and sad. “What if you want another girl, or another secretary or something? What if you decide that you’ve had enough of me?”
I laughed. “I’ll forgive you for asking,” I said in a warning tone as I nuzzled her forehead. “But you have to believe me, Audrey. There’s no one out there for me, no one except for you. You’re it, and I love you, and I never want to be without you again.”
Audrey reached up to wipe her eyes. She sniffled and laid her head on my shoulder. In a moment, her arms were wrapped around me and squeezing me tightly. “I love you. I’m so sorry that it took me so long.” She wiped her eyes. “I thought that you were going to change me into a whole different person. I thought you wanted me to be someone that I’m not. And I guess that scared me,” Audrey finished softly. “But I love you just the way you are, and now that I know you feel the same way about me…” She trailed off.
“Baby, I’d never want to change you into someone else,” I whispered into her ear as I hugged her close. “And I’d do anything to make you happy.”
Pepper whined and barked, and we both laughed.
“And Pepper?” Audrey turned to me. “You know she’s basically my kid, right?”
“And Pepper, of course. She’ll have the finest of steak every night if you so wish.”
Audrey giggled. “I wouldn’t want her getting spoiled. But, Enzo? May I ask you something? There’s one more thing that I want,” she said, suddenly coy. “If it’s not too much trouble, that is.”
I laughed. “Hit me. Tropical vacation? Done. I like Bora Bora, we’ll go there. You want your parents to have a second home? Done, we’ll get them one someplace warm, maybe Florida. And jewelry? You got it, babe. You’ll get nothing but the best.”
Audrey shook her head. There was a cute little smile on her lips, and as I watched, she stuck her tongue out and slowly licked the chapped skin. “No,” she murmured. “Although all of that does sound nice.”
“Then what is it?”
“I want to give Pepper a brother or sister. I want another dog.”
“You got it. Whatever you want, it’ll be great.”
Audrey broke into a wide smile and hugged me tighter than ever. “I can’t believe I’m getting everything I’ve ever wanted. I love you so much, Enzo.”
“I love you, too,” I said as I pulled her close. “And I’m never gonna let you go.”
THE END
Thanks for reading!
Sign up to my mailing list by clicking here:
Also, follow me on Facebook for hot content and free giveaways!