One Year Later

Rhett had always been a southern boy at heart and so, of course, the adjustment back to California took him a good long while. Cece, for her part, was so absorbed in her new job that she was simply glad to be home whenever she could. Between her numerous TV appearances as a result of her article and being officially tied to Rhett, she found she hardly had a moment to breathe.

Being a reporter on television, she found, was completely different than anything she had ever done. She had always wanted to report things that really mattered, and now she found she could connect with people face to face. While she still enjoyed writing the occasional guest article for magazines and newspapers, she focused on newscasting, and, within a few months, she built a close rapport with her crew and producers.

Rhett was happy, for once, to take a back seat to someone else. Of course, he could never stop being Rhett Wilder, and if anything, more people knew him in California than Georgia. That said, he finally took advantage of his work schedule in the way that Tony had always recommended and took some much needed time off. This meant sitting around the house he’d bought for Cece and watching her juggle her daily life like she was made for it.

He couldn’t ever remember being prouder of her.

 

Ultimately, however, as the utmost authority on overwork, he had to insist that she take a break. The station would function without her for a few days, and his need to explore had turned into an incessant itch that he could no longer ignore. When he suggested to Cece that they head back to the cabin in the Blue Ridge mountains, she agreed almost immediately.

After that, it was just a matter of getting things ready.

While Cece went hunting for wild blackberries, Rhett lit candles and scattered rose petals. When he’d told Tony his plan for this trip, his friend has given him enough shit that Rhett wished he could reach through the phone to clobber him. Though Jeb, being Jeb, had talked his way in circles and uttered no small number of threats, he, too, had ultimately given his grudging blessing.

“Jesus Rhett, you should go into the blackberry business. If you really own all this, these woods are full of them. They’re huge and perfectly ripe too. Just look-”

The moment she stepped through the door, Cecily stopped in her tracks. In the hour that she’d been gone, the cabin had been completely transformed. Candles were scattered on every available surface and rose petals littered the floor. A bottle of champagne was chilling in the kitchen sink, a fire crackled in the hearth, and soft music played from a radio. “Rhett?” Cece closed the door behind her, setting her basket of berries on the kitchen counter. “What’s all this?”

Rhett rose from where he’d been waiting for her by the fire with a small, almost sheepish smile. In the past year that he’d spent with Cecily, he’d learned that not as much had changed about her as he’d thought. She still liked to assert her independence. She could be stubborn, she despised elaborate displays of affection and she had never been fond of surprises. But he hadn’t been able to help himself just this once.

“I know you’re not the best with surprises,” he took a few steps forward before hooking his thumbs in the belt loops of her jeans to drag her against him. “But there are certain courtesies that have to be observed here.”

“Observed for what?” She only got out a single question before he was crowding her against the door, his mouth roving hungrily over hers.

Cecily had no idea what all of this was about, but Rhett’s deft, knowing hands were rapidly overcoming any curiosity she might have. She let her head fall back against the rough wood as Rhett’s mouth trailed down her neck. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he headed still lower, and her breath hitched in anticipation as he knelt on the floor before her.

And then he stopped.

All but squirming in need, Cecily looked down at him - and her breath caught in her throat.

 

Rhett was holding a ring - and sporting a smug grin. “Sorry to disappoint you.” He chuckled. “But I’m sure we’ll get there eventually.”

Cece found that she couldn’t speak. As little as she liked to cry, she found her throat thick with tears as moisture pricked at the corners of her eyes. Rhett was the only one that could turn her into a frenetic ball of emotions with little to no effort.

And she secretly loved it.

“You...idiot.” She sank to her knees with him, cupping his face in both hands to press her mouth to his. In their kiss, she tasted the salt of her tears and the sweetness of the berries he’d snuck. “I’m really shit at surprises.”

Rhett chuckled, extracting the glinting diamond ring from the box to take her hand. “Last one, I promise.” He slipped it onto the fourth finger of her left hand, where it rested like it was always meant to be there. “This means you’re mine, you know.” He whispered against her forehead, his heart full. “Really mine. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?”

Cece laughed through her tears. “About thirteen years, give or take.”

“No.” Rhett corrected her softly, his gaze meeting hers. Everything she needed, everything she wanted was in those eyes. “Longer. Much longer that.”

 

THE END