CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CeCe
I arrive at the boutique a little earlier than usual. I’d rather get a head start on my morning than spend another day in bed crying. It feels like that’s all I’ve done for the last five days.
My heart is broken, a mangled mess, and by the way it’s looking, it might never be repaired. I knew I fell hard for Gabe but this has just shown me that I truly lost my entire heart to him over these past couple of months. Without him, I have no drive anymore, not even the sight of my boutique brightens my spirits.
I miss his handsome face and cocky smirk. His warm chocolate eyes have been ingrained in my mind and heart forever. I’ve been such a mess that I even went and bought dark chocolate and ate it. Gained five damn pounds.
The bastard.
His scent lingering on my pillow doesn’t help matters either. It taunts me, and toys with my fragile emotions.
I’ve considered contacting him, especially after finding out about his father. When I got the news from his mother about what went down at her house, I was speechless and my heart ached even more for Gabe. It’s no wonder why he was so upset when he arrived at the party. Then Victor’s rude assumption only made things worse.
I want to reach out and check on him, but since he has made no move to contact me, I’ll continue to give him his space. As much as I miss him, I’m not prepared to put my tattered heart back up on the chopping block. I don’t think it can take another beating like the one it’s had this past week.
Sighing, I scoop up Pep from the passenger seat then climb out of the car. “At least I have you, boy,” I whisper, dropping a kiss to his tiny head.
Mrs. Nelson from the flower shop pokes her head out of the store and waves at me, an excited smile on her face.
I manage a wave back but don’t have the energy to return her smile. Reaching my door, I unlock it and walk inside. When I move for the alarm, I stop cold, seeing it’s already been disarmed.
My feet are rooted to their spot, imprisoned by fear. I turn to run back outside but stop myself when I catch a glimpse of rose petals beneath my heels. My heart skips a beat as I take in a rainbow of colors coming to life on the floor before me. Hope thrums through my body as I place Pep on the ground and walk further inside.
The knot in my throat tightens when I turn the corner and find my entire boutique filled with an array of flowers. Dozens of vases are placed upon every flat surface. The best part though, the one that has my soul lighting up, is the man standing in the midst, holding a single white rose.
I blink several times, praying I’m not dreaming. It’s not until he flashes me that sexy lopsided grin of his that I realize everything in this moment is very real.
“Hey, Blondie.” His deep voice only feeds the warmth in my heart.
My breath catches as I struggle to maintain my composure, but no matter how hard I try there is no stopping the instant tears from slipping down my cheeks.
“How did you get in?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Jill let me in.”
That sweet little traitor.
“Why are you here?” I ask, twisting my hands before me, terrified to hear his answer.
“Because I needed to see you. I want to apologize for what I did the other night.”
My eyes fall shut on a rush of emotions, both hope and fear fighting for a foothold. I want so badly to believe what he’s saying but then again, I’m afraid to accept the words when he’s shattered my heart once already.
He steps forward, his large, warm hands framing my wet cheeks. The small touch alone has me close to breaking down.
“Look at me, Bella.”
My eyes spring open, his handsome face blurry before me.
“I’m sorry for what I did. I was a fucking mess after seeing my father and when that asshole said what he did…” He trails off, his jaw ticking in anger. “I lost my cool and even though I don’t regret hitting him, I do regret ruining your party.”
“The party doesn’t matter,” I choke out. “This boutique means a lot to me but so do you, and I would never let anyone treat you that way. I would have kicked him out, even if it meant losing his business. But you didn’t even give me the chance, Gabe. You just walked away from me like the past couple of months meant nothing to you.”
He rests his forehead on mine, remorse reflecting in his dark eyes. “I know, and trust me, I’ve regretted it every second of every day that has passed. But make no mistake, CeCe, I care. I more than care… I love you.”
A sharp inhale moves swiftly into my lungs. “What did you just say?”
“I said I love you.” His fingers graze my cheek, wiping away the flowing tears. “I love everything about you. Your dog, your ridiculous-sized purses, even your sassy mouth,” he adds with a smirk. “There isn’t one thing I don’t love about you.”
The sob I’ve been trying to keep in claws its way to the surface and explodes past my lips. I drop my forehead on his chest and blubber like a fool. “I love you too, even if you did make me gain five pounds this week.”
A chuckle vibrates in his chest as he enfolds me in his arms, his embrace bringing me the comfort I’ve longed for.
His hands frame my face and he lifts my eyes to his. “Cásate conmigo,” he whispers, the words rolling off his tongue in the most beautiful way as his warm eyes penetrate my soul.
Sniffling, I gaze back at him in confusion. “Can you not be sexy for a second and say that in English? I haven’t been keeping up with my Spanish this week.”
A dashing grin curves his lips but it fades quickly, his expression sobering. “Marry me.”
Every muscle in my body stills, shock rocking me to my core.
“Hear me out,” he starts, lifting a hand up. “I know it’s quick and you’re probably thinking I’m fucking crazy right now. I could wait and ask you this a year from now or even two but the question will be the same, CeCe. I want you to be mine forever.”
My belly flutters with excitement while my brain tries to comprehend the moment.
“There’s a lot I can’t give you,” he continues. “Like an expensive Barbie mobile or a three-thousand-dollar dress from that Vera chick.”
A small smile dances across my lips.
“But I would walk through fire for you. I would run into a burning building for you.” He reaches up, cupping my neck, his thumb stroking my skin. “I’d die for you, CeCe.”
His beautiful words send my heart into a tailspin.
Reaching behind him, he grabs a white gift box with a red satin bow sitting next to a vase of flowers. “I don’t have a ring because I spent hours in every jewelry store in this damn city and couldn’t find one good enough. So I got you this instead.” He hands me the present.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Open it. It’s part of my speech.”
I pull the red tie before lifting the lid. A gasp parts my lips when I see what lies inside. “Oh my god.”
A glass slipper made of crystal rests on a satin pillow, sparkling with promise.
“I know you’ll always be your father’s princess but I want you as my queen.”
A sob tumbles past my lips, my mind reeling from his declaration and thoughtful gift.
“If you say yes I promise to build a palace with you. I’ll cook for us every night, give you in-depth Spanish lessons, and an abundance of never-ending orgasms.”
Laughter explodes from me, my heart swelling with love.
“What do ya say, Bella?” he asks, gathering me into his arms.
Smiling, I peer up at him through blurry vision. “I say Barbie mobiles are overrated. I’ll take the orgasms any day.”
The husky laugh that vibrates from his mouth filters into my own as he takes my lips in a kiss that solidifies what I already know. This man is all I’ll ever need. His love is more than I could have ever hoped for and I will cherish it until the day I die.
“I’ve missed you,” I tell him between heated kisses.
“I’ve missed you too, baby.” He severs contact, replacing his thumb where his mouth just was and brushes it across my lower lip. “We’ll go out together soon and pick a ring for you.”
My fingers circle his wrist as I lean into his touch. “I don’t need a ring. I don’t need anything but you.”
“You have me, forever.”
Tears of joy stream down my face as our future flashes before my eyes. Palace or no palace, money or no money, he’s the prince I’ve been waiting for.
His arms tighten around me. “How about you let me take you home for the day and start on all those orgasms I’ve promised?” he says, with a cocky smirk.
A smirk that used to irritate the hell out of me but now I crave to see it.
“Jill is on standby, willing to work for the day,” he adds temptingly.
The opportunity to be in his arms all day is one I cannot pass up. Rising to the tips of my toes, I brush a kiss across his lips. “Bring it, Fireboy. Let’s see what you got.”
“Aw, Blondie, you know how much I love a good challenge.” Leaning down, he sweeps me up into his arms, yanking a laugh from my throat.
My arms lock around his neck, a smile resting on my face as I stare back into his mesmerizing brown eyes.
“Ready?” he asks.
“More than ready.”
I’m pretty sure my whole life has been leading up to this moment.
I flip the sign over to closed as we walk out, Pep trailing behind us. My eyes are drawn to the purple crown on my glass window, my heart warming as I realize I’ve finally gotten the fairytale I always wished for. Only my Prince Charming turned out to be a cocky firefighter who doesn’t have the slightest clue about the importance of a pair of kick-ass heels and a designer handbag but he does know how to love me and, for me, that even trumps a pair of Jimmys or my friend Louis.