This time, the applause is almost deafening, a testament to how much Christina is revered in this wealthy community for her charitable efforts. She stands and waves, the spotlight briefly swinging to her.
It’s touching when her father stands as well, overtly clapping for her like he’s her biggest champion. His wife, Mandy, is beside him, also giving praise to Christina with her own effusive applause.
Carlton and Mandy have been a pleasant twist to Asher’s life this past year. When his father married Mandy, thirty-two years his junior, he became a changed man. She’s a lovely woman who genuinely loves Carlton. He rarely comes into the offices to look over Asher’s shoulder anymore, content to concede the entire business to his son. He and Mandy instead travel the world. When they’re in Vegas, they are very present in his kids’ lives. I think he might have some making up to do, but I’ve enjoyed getting to know them. Best of all, they spoil Hope as if she were actually their grandchild, so they’re fairly esteemed in my book.
The applause dies down and the spotlight swings from Christina back to Asher on stage. God, he’s so handsome. And just such a good man. I’m very aware of how blessed I am that he decided to take a chance on me and on love. Since I returned with him to Vegas after Thanksgiving last year, I have not regretted a single second I’ve spent with him.
My life has become almost magical. I’m in love with the best man I’ve ever known. I work part time for his company, still in the secretarial pool since it’s all I’m really qualified for, but I also go to school part time where I’m working toward a general business degree. Asher wanted to pay my tuition so I could go full time and be done faster, but I think I finally made him understand there are some things I just need to do for myself.
I don’t always need my Knight rushing in to save me.
I still live in my apartment with Hope, much to Asher’s consternation, although he will stay some nights with us. At least once a day, he tries to talk me into us moving in with him. He’s resorted to begging, but I’ve held out. While we’re dating, I would like us to have separate residences. It’s not really part of a moral compass I’d like to instill in my daughter so much as I want to show her that it’s cool to be an independent woman.
Of course, no telling how long having our own residences will last. Since coming back to Vegas last year with Asher, there’s been no proposal or talk of marriage, but that was at my insistence. Even though he made it clear he wanted to marry me and would have gladly taken me to a justice of the peace back in South Carolina, I asked if we could take it a bit slow.
Not that I had any doubts about us, but because I wanted to show Hope it’s always good to take things slowly—to make sure that all of our dreams are being reached in the right way. While I’d kill to sleep by my man every night, I also know that our growth together has become so solid I won’t hesitate when he finally pops the question.
Admittedly, there’s a part of me that was a little hesitant early on. I take great care to give validation to the fears Asher has about me dying. While I’m at peace with my diagnosis and prognosis, he still struggles. This is emphasized if I get sick. He doesn’t necessarily freak out, but he goes way overboard in his zeal to take care of me. The last time I got a sniffle, he ran to the drugstore and brought back thirteen different over-the-counter medicines for me to try.
God, I love him for it, too.
And I know he’s the only one for me. Next to Hope, he’s the greatest love of my life. As my love for him deepened over this year, I had more of an appreciation of how Asher freaked out at the thought of my cancer recurring. When I reversed roles, the thought of me ever losing him is so painful I do question how I would have the strength to go on. Of course I would… for Hope. But I sure as hell have a greater appreciation for his fears about me.
“There is one more thing I’d like to say before we call it a night,” Asher says into the microphone. The room goes completely silent. “I want to speak directly to my love, Hannah Madigan.”
The spotlight swings to me. I feel like the proverbial deer frozen in place as I stare up at Asher. He smiles casually back at me. From my right, Hope giggles. I tear my eyes from him to my daughter to mouth, “What’s going on?”
Hope grins and shrugs.
Slowly turning my attention back to Asher, I almost pass out as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black velvet box.
There are oohs and ahhs, along with a smattering of applause. He holds it up high for everyone to see. “That’s right, folks. This is exactly what you think it is.”
There’s more clapping and one person hollers out, “Say yes. You know that rock has to be massive.”
There’s laughter everywhere, and Asher gestures with his hand for people to settle down. His eyes come back to me and while he’s speaking to the crowd, it feels like he’s only talking to me. “My woman is cautious and wanted to take our relationship slow. I agreed to it because there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give this amazing lady.”
My heart starts beating so hard I’m afraid I’m going to pass out. If that doesn’t happen, I’m getting so melty-swoony from the way he’s speaking to me that I might just flop out of my chair.
I hold my breath as he continues. “Hannah… I’ve respected that you wanted to move slowly but we’ve been together over a year, and Hope and I have been talking.”
At that, my breath comes rushing out and I snap my attention to my daughter once again, who is still giggling like a damn fool.
“Hope is Hannah’s beautiful daughter,” he tells the crowd as the spotlight illuminates us both. “And like I said… we’ve been talking. And we think it’s way past time that we move this to the next level.”
I can’t help but smile, shaking my head in both embarrassment and total awe that Asher’s making such a spectacle of himself. I guess he figures if he puts a spotlight on me, I can’t say no.
“Hope,” Asher booms into the microphone. “Grab your mom and get her up here for me.”
People start cheering. There are whistles as my daughter grabs my hand and pulls me from my seat. I pick up my dress so I don’t trip on the hem, then follow my daughter as she leads me onto the stage with Asher.
When I reach him, I give him a look that says I’m going to kill him later for doing this to me in public. In reality, though, I’m going to show him my love and appreciation—probably with my mouth on his cock.
Asher grins at me, opens the box, and holds the ring out for me to inspect. It’s exquisite and monstrous, and it’s going to totally weigh my hand down.
“Hope helped me pick it out so it’s totally kid approved,” Asher leans toward the microphone to tell the crowd. They roar with approval.
But then Asher steps away from the podium and goes to one knee before me. After giving a quick wink to Hope, he pulls the ring from the box and slides it onto my finger. He then holds my hand tight to his chest.
Looking up at me, he says, “Hannah… I love you. You are my everything. You are woven so deeply into the fabric of my soul that I don’t know where I end and you start. I don’t want to know, either. I like the way you make me feel alive and whole and so very much loved. I’ll give the same back to you all the days of your life if you’ll have me. I want you and Hope by my side, so please stop torturing me and agree to be my wife.”
My head is bobbing up and down, a resounding yes before he even finishes, and the crowd stands and starts clapping for our engagement.
I crook the finger on my other hand, gesturing for Asher to stand. He needs to make it fast because I demand to be kissed.
My man does not disappoint, giving me a searing kiss that makes me dizzy. He then turns to the microphone and says, “Thank you, everyone, for attending and for your generous donations. Goodnight.”
With that, Asher takes both mine and Hope’s hands and leads us off the stage. He pulls us into the corner and puts his back to the rest of the room, a clear sign he wants some privacy with us.
I’m stunned
when he pulls another box from inside his jacket. It’s another ring box.
Asher then kneels in front of Hope, opening the box for her to see inside. “Hope… I got a promise ring for you, and it is to show my commitment to love you just as much as I love your mother. I want you to know that my place is never between you and your mom, but rather to be near you both to catch you if you stumble.”
It’s at this point I lose it. Tears start to spill down my cheeks. Hope looks at Asher so solemnly that it’s clear he holds a big part of her heart. He takes the ring, a delicate band of platinum set with pink stones that I would hazard to guess are diamonds. It’s a ridiculously pricey piece of jewelry for a six-year-old, yet I wouldn’t expect anything else of Asher.
Hope gives him a big hug, and I wipe my tears before I turn into a raccoon.
Christina comes up and grabs my hand, quickly oohs and aahs over my diamond, and then drops it. “Okay… you guys have to leave. You’re running late. Limo is in front of the hotel.”
“Limo?” I ask curiously, and she just shrugs before giving me a quick hug and dashing off. I turn to Asher. “Limo?”
He stands up, still holding Hope’s hand in his. “Oh, yeah… one more surprise for you ladies. We’re getting in a limo right now and heading straight to the airport, where we’ll take a private jet t-o-o-o….”
He glances at Hope, pausing an evilly long time before declaring, “Disney World!”
Hope shrieks, throwing herself at Asher so hard he almost falls over. She hugs his legs tightly with her eyes screwed up. It’s been her dream to go there. Of course, Asher’s taken us both to Disneyland twice this year for weekend trips, but her dream trip is to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Asher continues like a game show announcer in his enthusiasm. He claps his hands together and rubs them. “That’s right, ladies. Six wonderful nights at the Grand Floridian Hotel, where we’ll enjoy fine dining at night while we explore all the parks there by day.”
“Oh my God,” Hope exclaims as she jumps up and down. “Let’s go. Let’s go.”
Asher laughs and takes her hand, offering his other to me. We start to stroll out of the ballroom.
I lean over and whisper, “You don’t have to buy her love, you know. She loves you just as you are.”
“Oh, I know,” he says with a sly twinkle in his eye. “This isn’t about buying her love. It’s about putting our wedding together. Your mom and brothers will meet us there. I’ve got a pastor on tap to marry us. Even hired a horse and carriage to bring my Cinderella to me. So really, this is our honeymoon, Hannah. Your mom and brothers can take Hope hopping around all the parks while you and I consummate our marriage all day, every day.”
I stare at him, completely agog over his foresight.
Doubt flits across his face. “Unless this is moving too fast. We can do the wedding when you’re ready.”
Furiously shaking my head, I smile. “No. It’s perfect. You’re perfect. I’m so ready to be your wife, Asher. Let’s do it.”
“Let’s do it,” he agrees. And then he leads his girls away to the start of our new future together as a family.
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About the Author
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or even better, both.
Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.
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