Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
“Toren.” His hands come up, framing my face, and then he’s kissing me. Right here, in the middle of chaos. I gasp, gripping his firm chest as the world tilts.
“I’ll never get use to the way you say my name, cherry.” He pulls back, lips wet from our mouths taking one another’s.
“What are you doing?” I ask, when he drops to one knee. The room goes quiet, or maybe it does because my sole focus is on him.
“I had a speech, a good one, but you know as well as me that I’m a man of action,” he says with a hint of a rasp to his tone. My throat tightens, my eyes water, and my breathing quickens. “I don’t make anything that matters without thinking about you. Every piece of art in this room, you’re in it. Even if it’s not meant for you.” My vision starts to blur. “Indy, will you marry me?” He pulls out a ring. I’m not even sure what it looks like, nor do I care.
“Yes, of course.” The moment I sink to my knees, his arm bands around my back, pulling me in.
“I don’t want a life where you’re not in it. I want you, the good, the mess, the everything.” His words wreck me.
“Tor.” The room erupts around us when he slides the ring onto my finger before he’s kissing me like nothing else exists. This is real, this is forever, and I don’t ever want this to end.
“Alright, alright, no funny business in the gallery,” Colt says in a jovial tone.
“Hush, Colt. This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” Sable shushes him in a watery voice.
“Damn,” Toren says, “guess I should have thought about where I’d do this. We gotta deal with our friends now when all I want to do is be with you. Alone.” I laugh. While I’d love nothing more, it’s also nice to have our friends here with us.
“Later.” He gets us to our feet, keeping one possessive arm around my back, thumb sliding along my bare skin.
“You couldn’t give me a heads-up?” Jett greets us. “I would’ve prepared something, confetti or, you know, emotional support.”
“You’re a menace,” Toren replies.
“You love me, regardless.” She moves away, allowing others to merge in after giving us a hug. One after the other—Locke and Jade, Dean and Kara, and then Jace.
“Congratulations,” he says genuinely.
“Thanks, brother.” Toren grips his shoulder. They give each other a man hug.
“Men are so weird.” Willow kisses my cheek, wrapping an arm around me; her other is occupied with a glass of champagne.
“You’ve got that right.” We chat for a few more moments. I look down at my ring, loving the diamond oval engagement ring It’s elegant and classic, and I had not one single hand in picking it out.
“Tried to get Alex here in time. She texted and said her boss gave her some bullshit assignment at the last minute but to call her right away.” My eyes close. This man knows me, truly, and it seems Alex and I both need to re-evaluate our working environment, because damn. This shit is getting to be too much.
“I love you.” My hand goes to his chest, my ring sparkling on my finger. His hand covers mine.
“I love you, cherry.”
Epilogue
INDY
Two Years Later
Istep out of the shower. The steam clings to the tile, walls, and mirror. The heat from the water mixed with the Florida humidity that clings to your house nearly overstimulated me. An everything shower where you have to wash your hair, exfoliate your skin, and shave will do that to you. I don’t know why I’ve yet to learn my lesson and split the process up. I wrap the towel around my naked body before doing the same for my hair.
We’ve adjusted well to going back and forth between Florida and Seattle, spending six months at a time each at both places. I guess you can call us snowbirds. We spend a good bulk of late spring and all of summer in Seattle, preferring the cooler temperatures and the occasional heatwave. Then we spend the rest of the time in Florida, and our time here is now. I’ve also stepped back from Miranda and The Ellery House of Art. I never could grasp her need to micromanage, sling passive-aggressive statements, and expect me to drop everything I’m doing to cater to her every whim.
Toren had enough of me crawling out of bed in the middle of the night. I’d be even grumpier when it came to waking up the next morning, and honestly, I didn’t want to be around myself a lot of the days of the week. I parted ways and never looked back. Now I freelance at a few different galleries when they have events. It’s the best of both worlds. My salary is the same, sometimes more, and I’m able to be with my husband.