“This is the risk you take when you go to a winter wedding out of state,” I say into the phone. “You’re gonna have to run point on this one without me. It’ll be fine. All of the documents are in a neat pile on my desk.”

“I told you you should have backed out when you saw the forecast. Ninety percent chance of a blizzard. Two feet of snow for the tri-state area. That’s not a risk; you knew what would happen. You walked right into it willingly.”

“Mr. Murray, I told Ava I would be here, so here I am,” I continue. She’s walking toward me in a creamy pink silk chiffon dress that sweeps across the floor around her feet as she moves. Her hair is up in a side chignon, and she is wearing simple makeup: a soft cat-eye and a bold matte red lip. She is stunning. “I don’t back out on the really important stuff. And you’re there to take care of it, so it’s no problem.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” the old man says. The truth is that he doesn’t need me there, and running the meeting himself will earn him big brownie points with the firm we’re doing this deal with. He’s been trying to spend less time at the office lately and more time reconnecting with his daughter. He’ll be happy I’m not there for the meeting. “I’ve got to go.”

We end the call as Ava steps up in front of me, the party moving around behind her like a movie. She’s so gorgeous, and I haven’t stopped telling her that every day. Just seeing her pretty alabaster face and dark hair in front of me is making my cock act up.

Ava looks down and puts her fingertips to her mouth.

“Is there something in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?”

As a matter of fact, there is something very fucking important hidden in my pants, and it’s not my cock this time.

I grab her by the waist and pull her close, and she melts into my arms.

“Here?” she says coyly, “in front of all these people?”

I scan the crowd behind Ava. We might be snowed in for the night, but no one really seems to care. In fact, it’s making the party even better. The banquet hall where the party is being held sprung for an extra hour of open bar, and even though the DJ went home an hour ago, someone’s set up their phone and a portable speaker on one of the tables, and it sounds just as good.

“It looks like Zoe is having a good time. Who would have guessed that I’d introduce her to her new boyfriend?”

Ava brought Zoe along to a small party I had with some colleagues at one of my properties about a month ago. She and Mike hit it off and have been dating ever since. The two of them are having a great old time on the dance floor, grinding to some hip hop song from the early 2000s.

“I guess we’re not the only good thing that came out of all this,” she whispers into my chest.

My heart is fucking pounding. I haven’t been this worked up since I caught a glimpse of her that first night at the Boat House. Tonight is kind of like that night, because I have something big I need to give her.

“Sweetheart, there’s something we need to talk about.” I slip her hand into mine. I didn’t plan on proposing here tonight; I wanted to propose in the car when Danny came to pick us up tomorrow, but since we’re snowed in and won’t be going anywhere for a while, I have to do it at the wedding. And I can’t wait.

Ava looks up at me quizzically with her big baby blues and purses her lips.

“Everything okay?” she asks.

“No,” I respond, a big grin overtaking me. The muscles in my face are starting to hurt from how fucking exciting I am, smiling over it. “Everything's not okay. I need to make this official. But not here.”

I grab her by the hand and we make our way through the crowd of people dancing and drinking. The room feels so big, our travel through it so long.

The venue reminds me of where I had to break it off with Christine a year and a half ago. That place was big, and imposing, and a little impersonal. But this time it’s different, and I see the event in a different way. It’s people coming together; it’s not a transaction, the way I’ve thought about it since my ex.

This place is actually beautiful. Flowers adorn every table, overflowing from their centerpieces. Subtle violet uplighting on the walls contrast with the ornate gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There’s a glass skylight overlaid with brass rods, and the dance floor is light bamboo wood. The most important thing is the people dancing and having fun.

“Where are we going?” Ava says, hitching her dress up a little to not trip. I’m walking too fast, and I’m breathing too hard, and I’m too fucking happy.

“Just here,” I say, pushing open an ornate white door with two glass panes in it covered with a white curtain. We’re in a foyer with a fireplace and a baby grand piano, and there’s no one else around.

I look down at her and guide her over to a couch set up across from the fireplace. I couldn’t have picked a better spot for this, and I can see in her eyes that she knows what’s coming.

“Ava,” I say, sitting her down and taking her hands into mine. “My sweet, sweet Ava. I need you to listen carefully. This isn’t what I planned.”

“Caleb?” she says biting down on her lip. Her knees brush against mine, and her hands are shaking a little. “What’s the matter?”

Hooking my hand behind my head, I continue. “I wanted to do this tomorrow. I was going to have Danny bring the car up and I wanted the back seat to be fucking covered in white rose petals. Because I wanted it to be perfect and I wanted you to see how much I love you. But that’s not going to happen because we aren’t leaving tomorrow. We’re here until Tuesday, and that’s okay, because I get to ask you one day earlier instead.”

“Ask me what, Caleb?” Her eyebrows rise up and her lips part, and she squeezes my hands expectantly.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the black velvet box with the ring inside.

“This,” I say, opening it. “When I saw you at that party, you were really something else. You were beautiful. Anyone with two eyes could see that. But that’s not why I love you. It’s so much more than that. Your spirit is so innocent. Your heart is so pure.” I take the ring out of the box. Ava’s eyes flash from the rock in front of her up to my face, and down again.

“I...I can’t believe this.” Ava scrunches her knees up a little and beams at me, bringing her gorgeous little body closer to mine.

“Well, believe it,” I say. I slide the white gold band onto her finger, and it fits beautifully. The perfect rock glimmers next to the fire. Someone as pure and perfect as her deserves this, and so much more. “I’d give you the world if I could. The world on a silver platter. Anything you want. But Ava, you can go out and get anything you want for yourself. And that’s why I’ll be here to give you the one thing only I can: myself. No one else can give that to you, and that’s why I need you. Because you’re the only person who can give me you. And you, baby, are all that I want.”

Sweet Ava throws her arms around my neck, and I feel hot, fresh tears of happiness land on my shoulder.

“Yes,” she whispers into my ear. “Yes. Because you’re the only one I want, too. You’re the man I was waiting for this whole time “ She draws away from me and takes my face in her hands, kissing me gently. Her lips taste like sweet bubbly champagne and fresh strawberries and cream. “You’re the one I need too, Caleb.”

I take her by the hand and we start to leave together. We might not be going home when we planned, but with her, I feel like I’m already home.

I can’t believe I have her. I look down at her, at the ring and how it sparkles. Her eyes shine brighter than a ring ever could, and I want to make her laugh every day for the rest of my damn life.

Leaving the party with her feels so fucking good. Ava’s next to me, admiring her ring, and then she looks up at me with admiration.

I’m lucky to be leaving the party with her this time. And I’m not letting go of her again.

This time it really is over! But don’t worry because I’ve got more coming! Flip the page to sign up for my mailing list to get a free book and be the very first to find out about new releases the literal second they go live (okay not the actual literal second, but I’ll get them into your hands as fast as I can). And be sure to check out the rest of my catalog on Amazon for more romance, more sweetness, more steam and more fun.