Chapter 20: Chapter 20

BLAKE

^A FEW MONTHS LATER^

“What do you think?” Annabelle asked as she walked toward me, looking both excited and unsure as she trailed her hands along her dress. “Is it too much?”

The sequined navy-blue evening gown with a halter neckline showed a bit of cleavage and clung to her curves, beautifully accentuating her figure as it fell to the floor.

“You look gorgeous, baby,” I said, taking her hand and giving her a little spin before pulling her back into my chest. “It’s perfect for tonight. I couldn’t imagine my birthday girl in anything else.”

I placed a sweet trail of butterfly kisses up her exposed shoulder to her tempting neck.

“You think so?” she giggled.

I hummed in reply as I pulled back and pecked her glossy lips.

“Are you almost ready?”

She nodded. “Just have to put on my shoes and earrings. What time is our reservation again?”

“Seven,” I replied, digging my face into the crook of her neck and enjoying the smell of her perfume.

“So, we need to leave in?”

“Roughly five minutes,” I finished for her.

She all but jumped out of my arms, eyes as large as saucers as she rushed down the hallway to our room.

“Five minutes?! Why didn’t you tell me?”

I let out a chuckle of amusement as I leaned against the wall, watching her as she hopped back out, slipping on one silver stiletto.

“I didn’t want to rush you on your day.”

“You’re too sweet sometimes, you know that? Just one minute, and I’ll be done.”

She stumbled, and I caught her as she slipped on the other shoe and hurried back to the bedroom for her earrings.

“Done,” she cheerfully announced a moment later. “Where’s my bag?”

“How about you use this one?” I said, walking over to the cream-colored, L-shaped couch in the living room and picking up a wrapped box.

“Blake,” she whined with a playful pout. “You’ve literally dressed me from top to bottom tonight.”

“Is it too much?” I asked, feeling nervous. “Did I go overboard?”

Letting out a giggle, Annabelle threw her hands around my shoulders and hooked them behind my neck before she replied.

“I wouldn’t say that. Thank you,” she added, placing her lips against mine for a quick kiss. “I love you.”

Warmth trailed up my body as I tightened my grip around her. Even after months of hearing her say those three words, they still made me feel impossibly happy.

~This woman actually loves me. What more could I possibly want?~

“I love you,” I replied, my lips caressing hers with every word before I pressed them firmly against hers and stepped back so she could open her gift.

“A clutch,” she said excitedly, lifting it out of the tissue paper. “Thank you, baby.”

“Anything for you,” I replied. “Let’s get going before we’re really late.”

“Yes, sir,” she replied with a salute.

***

“I’ve been wanting to come here,” she squealed, barely containing her delight as we walked through the doors of the restaurant.

Letting out a small laugh, I spun her around to face me. “I know. Now, I need you to close your eyes for me, okay?”

“Oh, sounds exciting. Are you going to finally propose?” she teased.

I laughed. Between her and Killian, I’d been asked a million times about when I was going to pop the question. I didn’t tell either of them that I already had the ring.

“Not yet,” I replied, turning her and covering her eyes with my hands just to be sure she couldn’t see.

I guided her through the restaurant, carefully helping her into the elevator to the top floor. We stepped out and into a large dining room, the view of the city stretching out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. We neared a table filled with people, all trying to stay quiet behind their large smiles.

“Are you ready?” I gently whispered in Annabelle’s ear, my lips just brushing her skin.

Her body shivered as she nodded.

“Surprise!!” everyone shouted as I moved my hands away.

I stepped to the side and watched as Annabelle’s eyes went wide, surprise all over her face as she gasped.

“Happy birthday, sweetheart!” shouted her parents.

“Happy birthday, missy,” said Killian.

“Happy birthday, Annabelle,” cheered Aleah and her fiancé, Aiden.

“Mom, Dad,” she said, flinging her arms around her parents. “So this is what you meant when you said you’d see me later?”

“Almost ruined the surprise,” Mrs. Clark responded with a chuckle of amusement as she winked in my direction.

“And Killian, I thought you had an emergency surgery or something to attend today,” Annabelle said, pointing her finger accusingly at him as he laughed in reply.

“Nothing would keep me from celebrating your birthday with you, missy,” he said, pulling Annabelle into a bear hug before letting her go.

“Aleah! Aiden! It’s so good to see you,” she said, hugging them both.

“We wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Aleah said, her eyes full of excitement as she almost squeezed the life out of Annabelle.

On the day that I finally met up with Aleah, joyful tears had freely streamed down her face, breaking me entirely when she pulled me into a fierce hug. We had stayed in each other’s embrace for a while before I introduced her to Annabelle, my girlfriend.

I still remembered the shocked looks on both their faces. They’d quickly become friends.

We settled on our seats, the happy banter surrounding the table as we enjoyed our meal.

“So, everyone,” Mrs. Clark said, clapping her hands together, her eyes alight with excitement. “I was thinking of planning a small family vacation, just to get some fresh air and get away for a bit. What do you all think?”

“Sounds like a plan,” chorused everyone around the table.

“I know of a cabin we could use,” I added with a sly grin.

Killian and Annabelle groaned. Laughs echoed throughout the dining room as everyone caught on to the place that I was referring to.

My eyes drifted from one person to another as I looked at my new family, the one I’d managed to find all on my own. It still stung to think of my father behind bars, and my mother who’d disappeared after his trial, but life was better now.

I’d even started my own firm. Stone Asset Management was thriving, with several former Stone Financial clients showing their confidence and support for me by backing my new venture.

My gaze came to rest on Annabelle. The woman who’d given a stranger so much love that it had been impossible for him not to fall for her. The woman who’d had enough faith in me to know I’d been innocent from the start.

I sighed. I was a truly lucky man. A warm hand encompassed mine, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“Hey,” Annabelle whispered, eyes full of worry. “Are you okay?”

I nodded as I leaned my forehead against hers and took in a deep breath. “I love you.”

Annabelle’s eyes softened as she replied, “I love you even more.”

“My hard work paid off then,” Killian said with a satisfied chuckle. “Come on, lovebirds. Everyone’s waiting for you to cut the cake. Good practice for another time when a couple cuts the cake together, don’t you think?” he added suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows before he joined the others.

They were all patiently waiting by a table where a beautiful, burgundy-and-white birthday cake sat, the number twenty-four written in gold icing across the top. I reached in my pocket, fingers closing around a small velvet box.

“What do you say?” Annabelle asked.

I rose from my seat and took her hand.

“Through sunshine and stormy weather.”

“Always,” she said as we walked over to join our family.

End of Book