"What are your plans when you get to Los Angeles?"
"Work."
"I know." Lila wanted to shout the words. Instead, she kept her tone light and friendly. "Is there anything specific? We haven't talked about your next project. Is it a movie?"
"Does it matter?"
"Sam. Any second now, I'm going to hit you over the head with the nearest heavy object. Not only will that delay your trip, but I'll be left with a huge mess. Do you know how hard it will be to get blood out of the rug you're standing on?"
When he didn't answer, Lila temper blew.
"Fine. At least do me a favor and move to the right. The kitchen tile is easier to clean."
Lila spun away, tears welling in her eyes. Stupid, stupid man.
"Marry me, Lila."
Sam heard her gasp. She didn't speak or turn. He couldn't see the expression on her face. He was flying blind. After the way he'd acted all morning, it was probably what he deserved.
Neither he nor Lila had a second of sleep the night before. They made the most of every moment. If they weren't making love, they were holding on, pretending the seconds weren't ticking away.
They took one last shower. Came together one more time. Then Sam's brain started working overtime. He heard Lila. He knew she was trying to keep things light. All the time, he was having an argument with himself.
Why couldn't he have Lila? He knew she loved him. She might not see her brother every day, but they could visit. The rest could be worked out later. They belonged together. That was all that mattered.
Blurting out a marriage proposal wasn't the smoothest move he'd ever made, but there it was. As the seconds ticked by, he began to wonder if he'd made a huge miscalculation. Maybe this wasn't what Lila wanted.
"Lila, I know this seems sudden."
"No."
Sam frowned. "No, this isn't sudden?"
"No, I won't marry you."
Sam watched as she turned, stunned to see a huge smile on her face. His world was crumbling around him and she was smiling?
"I see," Sam said stiffly.
"We can't get married, or engaged. Not after a week. When we know each other better, ask me again." She thought for a moment. "On Valentine's day. I'll say yes."
Sam swooped Lila into his arms, twirling her around and around until they were both laughing and breathless.
"Wait." Sam pulled back before he could seal it with a kiss. "I have to leave, Lila. There are meetings — business I can't postpone. How are we supposed to get to know each other when we aren't in the same zip code?"
"Tell me you love me."
"Lila."
"Say it, and then I will answer your question."
Sam put his hand under her chin, gently lifting until her eyes met his. His clear blue eyes told her everything. But she still wanted the words.
"I love you, Lila. I know it's been fast, but that doesn't make it any less true. If you'll give me the chance, I will spend every day, for the rest of my life, showing you."
"I swore if the man of my dreams ever told me he loved me, I wouldn't cry." She wiped at the tears on her cheeks. "Just goes to show, you can't plan these things."
"Hey," Sam said, kissing her lightly. "Isn't there something you need to tell me?"
"Right. About our logistics problem."
"Lila."
She loved the way he said her name when he was exasperated. Or when he was happy, or making love with her. She loved everything about him.
"I love you, Sam. A long-distance relationship doesn't cut it for me. So, like it or not, Cooper and I are going with you. Today."
Sam wasn't going to argue. It was exactly what he wanted. He did have a few pertinent questions.
"The shop? Are you okay with leaving Peony? Trusting someone else to run your baby?"
"Peony has kept me busy, but it isn't my passion or my dream. I want to be a writer, Sam. I want my story published. If your contacts think it's good enough."
"I promise to leave the decision in their hands."
What he didn't tell her was his certainty the book would be published. Without any push from him. It was that good. He'd bet anything there would be a bidding war. The sky was the limit. That was something Lila would have the pleasure of finding out when the time came. He wasn't going to spoil the surprise.
"And your brother? Your friends?"
"I will miss seeing them all the time." Lila relaxed in his arms. "Alex will understand. Everyone else will be happy for me. For us."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Sam pushed Lila towards her closet. "Pack your bags, my love. We have a dog to pick up."
EPILOGUE
LILA'S EYES FLEW open. Eight o'clock? Why was she still in bed on the most important day of her life? Then she remembered. On the night before the most important day of her life, Sam did some very creative things with his mouth and a feather duster.
Lila sighed. She floated on a happiness high. One that started on New Year's Day and hadn't waned. Six weeks. A private jet to Los Angeles. Sam's meetings kept them there for several days. Then New York. Broadway, late night suppers. Exclusive designer boutiques — with the actual designer present. Finally, Paris. Home.
Lila threw back the covers. A shower in the luxurious bathroom was what she needed. She slipped from the bed, pausing at the window. The neighborhood was one of the most exclusive in Paris. They were somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean when Sam mentioned the location of his apartment. Saint Germain-des-Prés. Lila quickly looked it up. Holy crap.
"Sam?" Lila asked in a hushed tone.
"Yes?"
Sam, reclining in one of the plane's cushy chairs, put the script he was reading on a pile of six or seven others. Potential future projects. Though nothing was catching his interest.
Lila's eyes were as wide as saucers. Through this entire whirlwind, she tried to maintain an even keel. Impressed, but not gushing. She didn't want Sam to think he'd saddled himself with an unsophisticated twit. This was too much. How could you maintain a blasé attitude when your future home was not only in Paris but on the Seine?
"Do you know where you live?"
"Where we live," Sam corrected. "And yes, I'm acquainted with the area."
"Oscar Wilde and Cole Porter lived there." Lila bounced up, bursting with excitement. "Paris, Sam. I'm in love and going to live in Paris."
"Finally." Sam snagged Lila around the waist, pulling her onto his lap. "I was wondering what it would take to strip away that ridiculous veneer of sophistication you put up."
"You knew I was faking?" Lila frowned. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Honey." Sam kissed her cheek. "Everything happened so fast. If you needed to put on a temporary mask out in public while you adjusted, I was fine with that. As long as you were you in private, I had no complaints."
"I was afraid if I ran around all wide-eyed, asking questions. Pointing at one thing after another, you might dump me back in Harper Falls and find yourself a woman less inclined to gawk."
"Never again," Sam said sternly. "Don't hide yourself from me, Lila. I love your enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to showing you Paris. I want to see it again for the first time with you — through your eyes."
"Be careful what you ask for," Lila warned. She relaxed, perhaps for the first time since leaving Harper Falls. "I want to see everything."
And that's what she did. When Sam wasn't working, he walked with her. The rest of the time, Lila was happy to wander Paris on her own. It would take years, decades, to see it all. She could hardly wait.
After a quick shower, Lila threw on a pair of jeans, a burgundy sweater, and thick socks. Paris in February was damp and chilly. Then she went looking for her men.
"Sam? Cooper?"
No response. Maybe they were out for their morning run. Cooper was adjusting to his new lifestyle beautifully. You would think he was born to city life. Maybe he was? They didn't know. But he belonged to them now, and they
belonged to him. She, Sam, and Cooper. A very happy family.
Smelling coffee, Lila walked to the kitchen. Sam enlarged the area before he moved in. He managed to keep the Parisian feel while updating it to fit his modern tastes. She reached for a mug when she heard the front door open.
"Hey," she called out. "I was wondering where you were."
Lila looked in the living room, a smile of greeting on her face. Cooper sat alone in the middle of the room, smiling back.
"I know you're talented, but you did not come in by yourself."
Lila knelt, patting Cooper's head. Suddenly, she noticed the red, silk ribbon tied around his neck.
"What's this?"
Making a closer examination, Lila ran her hand over the ribbon. She froze when she felt the circle of metal. A ring.
"It's Valentine's Day."
"That's what the calendar says."
Sam. Lila's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe he was hers. Gorgeous, sexy. Blue eyes to die for. Kind. Not perfect, but perfect for her.
Sam took the ribbon, letting the ring fall into his hand.
"I know you better than I did six weeks ago," he began. "I hope to spend the rest of my life growing with you, changing. Doing my best to make you happy. Loving you. Marry me, Lila. Please?"
Sam Laughton. The man helped her make her dreams come true. What else could she say?
"Yes."
Need more Harper Falls? Get the first three books in the emotional, sexy series now.
IF I LOVED YOU: mybook.to/HarperFalls1
IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES: mybook.to/HarperFalls2
IF YOU ONLY KNEW: mybook.to/HarperFalls3
FIVE⁕MORE⁕MINUTES Page 18
