The Only One

by Melissa Ellen

  “I don’t know,” I shrugged. “What would you like to do?”

  He grinned his devilishly smile as his eyebrows danced up and down.

  “Other than that,” I laughed.

  “I want to do whatever you want to.”

  “You aren’t helping me out here, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  “Okay…fine. I want you to show me your favorite things to do in the Hamptons.”

  He contemplated this, “I hope you brought your sailing clothes then.”

  “You sail?”

  “I do.”

  “Impressive.”

  He laughed, “Wait until you see my boat.”

  “Is it big?”

  “Huge,” he winked, smiling naughtily at me.

  I shook my head, laughing at his innuendo. He wasn’t lying. I knew that for a fact.

  We spent the whole day Friday on his sail boat. It was impressive, but I had no doubt it would be. Watching Rhett sail through the waters of the Hampton back bays had me in even more awe of him. When I thought he couldn’t be any sexier, he proved me wrong.

  The whole experience was exhilarating. Especially, when he taught me how to steer the boat. As much fun as it was cutting through the waters, when we stopped and anchored, I was glad. I was having a hard time controlling my urge to jump him the whole time he navigated the waters like a pro. Once anchored, we spent a good portion of our day below deck tangled in the sheets.

  As the sun set, he sailed us back to the marina. I squeezed between him and the helm, letting his arms trap me in place as he steered us home. He leaned into me, planting a small kiss on my neck, dropping one hand from the wheel to wrap around my waist.

  “Can we have dinner on the deck, once we dock?” I asked not ready for our time to end on the boat.

  “Anything you want, beautiful,” he smiled.

  When we got back to the marina, Rhett left to grab us some food to eat on the deck. I showered in the cabin of the boat, wanting to freshen up and fix my windblown hair. I put on a flowy, white dress and brown sandals, leaving my hair down and make-up light.

  I gave myself the once over and then headed up the stairs to sit on the deck and wait for Rhett’s return. I stepped back outside to find Rhett already waiting for me. He had a table setup with small votive candles lit and our dinner already set out.

  “Wow,” I smiled at the romantic man standing in front of me, “you work fast.”

  “Only on some things,” he sauntered towards me, “but there are some things I like to take my time on.” His fingers skirted down my bare shoulder sending chills down my body.

  His head dipped as he brought his yummy lips to mine. I tasted him. His mouth only intensifying my body’s craving. My fingers weaved through his hair as I pressed my body to his. Suddenly I was only hungry for one thing and it wasn’t food.

  He pulled back barely, trying to break our kiss but with little determination. I could feel his grin through our kiss. “Babe,” he tried ineffectively. “We should eat,” he brushed his lips against my neck.

  “Not hungry,” I panted.

  He chuckled. “You need food.”

  “I need you,” I countered through our fevered kissing.

  My hands found their way to the button of his pants.

  His hands instantly stopped mine as he broke us apart.

  “Food,” he said firmly, his own breathing heavy. “Then I promise to take care of you.”

  I could tell he was fighting to control himself. If I pushed him, he would give in, letting me have my way….but then my stomach betrayed me with a growl. There went my argument of not being hungry.

  “Damn it,” I complained.

  “Mouth, beautiful,” he warned with a smile.

  “Fine. Food first,” I pouted.

  He took my hand, leading me towards the table where he had the food laid out and a bottle of champagne iced.

  “This is some fancy take-out,” I goaded him, looking at the spread before me. He had raw oysters, lobster and steamed veggies waiting for us. He released my hand, giving me a smack on the butt.

  “Sit. Eat.”

  I did as I was told.

  Initially, I had planned to scarf the food down, but it was so good, it had me savoring it instead. We ate and drank under the stars - the champagne giving me a light buzz by the end of the meal. I lay back in Rhett’s arms as we stared up at the dark sky after dinner, the boat’s steady rocking lolling me into a relaxed state.

  “I wish every day could be like today,” I said dreamily.

  He kissed my temple, “We can have as many days like this as you want, beautiful.”

  “If only that were true. There’s this obligation I have…it’s called a job.”

  “You don’t have to work.”

  “Yes, I do.” Technically I didn’t. Now that I was moving in with Rhett. With my car and student loans paid off, I didn’t really need the money. I also had an inheritance that my Dad left for me. I never touched it, though. For the longest time I resented the thought of the money….as if it could really replace the loss of my father.

  “I can provide for you, Ava. You can have anything you want.” That was an understatement.

  “I know. But that’s not what I want.” His body tensed. I looked back at him, “Don’t take that the wrong way. I just mean my job is important to me. It’s not just about money.”

  He smiled down at me, “I understand. But just know, if that ever changes, and you decide you want something else, you have that option.”

  I lifted, giving him a peck on the lips. “Thank you.”

  His eyes locked with mine, telling me everything he was feeling. Our heads moved slowly together, our lips brushing lightly. Each kiss becoming more intense.

  He moved our bodies forward, standing to lift me in his arms. I locked my arms around his neck as he carried us to the bed below the deck. He made good on his promise for the rest of the night.

  CHAPTER 20

  We had a leisurely morning on the boat when we awoke Saturday. Neither one of us in a rush to get out of bed. By mid-morning, Rhett finally deemed it was important that we eat, so we cooked breakfast together in the tiny kitchen on the boat.

  “What are the plans today?” I asked him as we sat down to eat.

  “Do you want to sail again? Or we could visit some of the shops or vineyards in the area?

  I contemplated the options as I ate, “I wouldn’t mind seeing the shops. The last time I was here, it was off-season and most of them were closed.”

  “Shopping it is, then.”

  “Window shopping,” I clarified.

  “Whatever you say, babe,” he chuckled as he shook his head.

  After breakfast, we disembarked from the boat and set out on our window shopping excursion. We strolled around some different boutiques until we both got hungry for lunch. Rhett took me to one of his favorite restaurants where we ate on their patio, taking advantage of the last of the warm weather months on the East coast.

  We headed back to the estate after we ate, wanting to spend the rest of the day splashing around and soaking up the sun on the beach. When night fell, we traded in our swimsuits for warmer clothes, while Rhett’s staff setup a bonfire for us on the beach.

  “Something on your mind?” I asked as we cuddled in front of the fire listening to the waves. Rhett had been unusually somber and quiet, since we came back down to the beach.

  “Only you,” he spoke softly.

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “I keep thinking about how long I’ve waited to have you in my arms, here on this beach. Just like this.”

  “How long?”

  “Since the night I saw another man’s arms holding you.”

  My breath caught.

  “That night…,” he continued, “it was one of the first times I felt myself losing complete control. Seeing you and him. I’d never felt so jealous in my life. It took everything I had in me to not go after you anyways…of course, I had no
idea at the time you weren’t with him.”

  “I wish you had…came after me, anyways.”

  “Knowing what I know now, I wish I had too.”

  “Why didn’t you? What held you back?”

  “You. You looked so comfortable and content. No matter how much I wanted you, I didn’t want to be the one to make things difficult for you. All that mattered to me in that moment was knowing you were happy.

  “I spent weeks trying to purge you from my mind. Nothing worked. And as if things couldn’t get worse for me, you showed up in my club looking sexy as hell and determined to drive me insane,” he smirked.

  “Your club?” I asked confused. I had no idea.

  “Yes. It was one of the reasons I’d been staying in Boston.”

  “You never told me that. When you took me to that room, I just thought it was an extra special VIP room.”

  He laughed, “No.”

  “Stephen was with me that night, though. You still came to get me, anyways.”

  “I did,” he smiled. “I tried to stay away, but I couldn’t. I had to have you. It was the first time I believed in fate. After the number of times our paths crossed, I wasn’t going to walk away again without at least trying to talk to you.

  “Plus, you were making it fucking impossible to stay away. I can still see you in that dress, dancing around. I didn’t want another man laying his hands on you.”

  “It seems so crazy - how many times simple misunderstandings have stood in our way or deterred us from each other. Yet, somehow we always find our way back to each other. Why do think that is?” I asked.

  “Simple. Because we belong together, Ava. You’re the only one for me. You always have been and you always will be.”

  I turned to face him, needing to see his eyes. I loved his eyes. They told me everything between us was pure and true. He could disguise his face to hide his feelings, but his eyes always gave him away to me.

  “I love you, Rhett Blackwood. More than anything in this world.”

  He kissed me. It was a simple kiss. But as simple as it was, it held so much meaning in it. It was more powerful than any kiss he ever gave me.

  “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked not quite ready to leave our moment on the beach.

  He stood, offering his hand out to me. “Don’t argue, Ava. Just come with me.”

  There was so much hope and love in his eyes, there was no way I could deny his request. I would follow this man anywhere. I gave him my hand, and he pulled me up from my sitting position on the ground. He linked our hands together, and we walked back towards the house.

  Neither of us said anything. Our silence was always comfortable. Once we made it inside, he took us to the room we were staying in. The door was closed. He cracked it open and then stepped aside, letting me go in first. I looked at him curiously as he nodded towards the cracked door with an encouraging smile.

  I pushed it open, suddenly forgetting how to breathe. The room was covered in candles and white roses. Even the bed had white rose pedals sprinkled across it. I stepped slowly in the room, taking it all in.

  When I spun slowly to look at him. Rhett was no longer standing, but down on one knee. I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth. My heart skipping a beat as tears welled in my eyes.

  “Ava Conner, from the moment you crashed into me-”

  I snort laughed as I shook my head in shock, tears already streaming down my cheeks.

  “I knew you were the only one for me. I had never been so sure of anything in my life. You saved me that day, beautiful. Saved me from myself and the dark path I was on. Saved me from a guilt I had lived with for so long. You made everything dark in my world bright again. I love you, Ava Conner. Marry me.”

  “Are you asking me or commanding me?” I smirked through my tears.

  He grinned, “Both.”

  I laughed.

  “Well, for the record…my answer is yes.” I grinned ear to ear. No matter how infuriating and arrogant he could be, I loved him. He was mine. Forever.

  “You know what this means, don’t you?” he stood, his own sexy grin stretching across his face.

  “What?” I arched an eye brow. What was he up to now?

  “I get to buy you whatever the hell I want. And you have to accept it without argument….including this,” he pulled a ring out of his pocket as he took my left hand in his.

  He slipped a beautiful vintage style, white gold band over the tip of my finger. The diamond was a massive European cut diamond that glittered in a compass point setting. The center diamond was flanked by two blue sapphires.

  My hand trembled, as he slid the expensive piece of jewelry in place on my left ring finger. I looked at him, filled with more love than I knew I was capable of. I linked my hands around his neck, pressing my body into his.

  “I love you, Rhett Blackwood.”

  “I love you, future Mrs. Blackwood.”

  I smiled, “I like the sound of that.”

  “You better,” he smirked, lifting me in his arms.

  I squealed with giddiness.

  He carried me to the bed, setting me down on my feet beside it. The palm of his hand moved to my cheek, as he caressed it with his thumb. “Ava, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. Inside and out. I don’t think I’ll ever fully believe you’re mine. It all seems too good to be true.”

  “I’m yours. Always. It has never even been a question,” I raised my own hands to cup his face. “I knew it from the moment we touched. Sparks flew through every nerve ending in my body, and I knew that I would never feel that with anyone else. Ever.”

  His lips pressed against mine, as his hands lifted my shirt. He broke our kiss, pulling it over my head. I reached behind my back, unclasping my bra as he removed his own shirt. I sat back on the bed as he slowly stripped me of the rest of my clothes before removing his own.

  I slid back laying my head on the pillow as he moved over me, keeping his eyes locked with mine the whole time. He pushed my hair aside before placing a delicate kiss on my lips and then traced a trail from behind my ear down my body.

  With every inch his lips touched, my body ignited with more need. He took his time though, no matter how impatient and needy I became. He made his way down one side of my body, resting at my core, manipulating me into a frenzied state, and then moved back up the other side. I was milliseconds away from pushing him on his back and taking control. My body and mind tortured to the edge of madness.

  “Eyes, beautiful,” he quietly demanded. I hadn’t even realized I closed them. I fluttered them open, looking into his beautiful sapphires that now reminded me of the ring residing on my finger. I caressed his face as he moved inside me.

  The satisfaction of finally having him, had me instinctively closing my eyes as my back arched with pleasure. “I need to see you, beautiful,” he whispered his reminder.

  I opened them, staring back at my frustrating man that I loved so much. I held onto his shoulders as he expertly controlled our bodies.

  He controlled every part of me. My body, my heart, my soul.

  To say our families and friends were excited about our engagement was the understatement of the century. I am pretty sure I temporarily lost my hearing when I told Lizzie and my sister. The screaming wasn’t any less subdued when we told Valerie. My Mom was overjoyed. Nana was a blubbering mess. I just hoped they were tears of happiness for me and not because she felt like she no longer had even a sliver of a chance with Rhett. Maybe it was a little of both. By the time we got finished announcing our engagement to everyone. I was exhausted.

  I relaxed in a lounger on the patio beside the pool of our new Malibu home. It was our first night in the house, but amazingly, it looked like we had lived here for months. The house had already been furnished with the belongings we had purchased and moved from my apartment. The only boxes that remained unpacked and needing put away were the ones we had shipped from Litchfield.

  I looked back toward
s the house, watching Rhett pace inside as he talked on the phone. Being out of touch for four days meant he had a lot to follow-up on after we finished all the engagement announcement calls.

  Seeing him in this house and knowing that both belonged to me, seemed unreal. The day I collided with Rhett my whole world changed. No matter how much I fought against it, I was never going to win. Rhett was right. I had never been a big believer in fate or destiny, but there was no other way to explain it.

  Of course, I know that Rhett’s determination had something to do with it. But he had that determination for a reason. He never gave up on us and that alone meant more to me than anything. I knew the road ahead of us would not always be smooth. But knowing I had him as a partner to navigate with, someone so dedicated to me - to us - I no longer feared those challenges.

  I smiled feeling stronger and having more faith in us than ever.

  “What has you smiling so big, beautiful?” Rhett walked out on the patio to join me.

  “You.”

  He kissed my head, sliding in behind me.

  “Are you done with making all your calls for the night?” I asked.

  “Yes. How about you? Are you done with letting everyone know?”

  “Yes. Well….everyone but one….” I trailed off, thinking of my father.

  “Who’s that? Do you want to call them really quick?”

  “It’s not someone I can call.”

  He looked at me quizzically.

  “I was referring to my father….it’s moments like these I miss him the most. Not being able to share this with him is hard.”

  “I see….,” he paused. “Ava. He knows.”

  “I know, I know… he’s watching from above. I get that, but it’s not the same thing.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I meant he knew.”

  I turned to look at him, “What do you mean?”

  “I asked him for your hand in marriage.”

  “What? When?”

  “The day of your graduation.”

  My heart stopped momentarily as the tears brimmed in my eyes. I shook my head in disbelief. “You?”

  “Yes. I told you. I knew from the day I laid eyes on you for the first time. I had no doubt in my mind, so I wanted to make sure your father knew that. Knew my intentions. Knew I would be protecting and looking after you for the rest of my life.”