by Amanda Aksel
Of course they did. I’m getting really sick of hauling my ass around town for these people. “So I guess you’re done for the day.”
“Absolutely not!” Mrs. Delure says. “We loved it. We’d like to go back to your office and make an offer right now.”
I blink incredulously. “Seriously? An offer to buy this house?”
“That is how this works, isn’t it? Come on, Natalie, this is your job, right?” Mr. Delure says.
“Yeah, I know, it’s just—” I wave my hand. “Never mind. Let’s go back to my office.”
The couple follows behind me in their glossy white Porsche. Two miles in, I’m positive they’re going to turn off the road at any moment. But to my surprise, the three of us make it back to my office. And can you believe it? They actually make an offer! Signatures and everything. I haven’t been this excited about a contract in years, and all I want to do is tell someone. I know exactly who that someone is.
***
“Hey,” Kyle’s eyes widen in surprise as he answers our front door.
I give a hesitant smile. “Hi. How are you?”
“I’ve been better.” He squares his chest almost like he’s bracing himself for something bad.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure,” he says and moves out of the doorway.
I haven’t been home in two days, but it feels like forever. “I wanted to tell you the good news.”
“What’s that?”
“The Delures submitted a contract on a house. You were right about me hanging in there.”
He smiles. “That’s great. I know what that means for you.”
“Yeah, it is. And it made me realize that the really good stuff is worth holding out for. And I think what you and I have is really good. It’s great, actually. So, I don’t want to give up on us. But I meant what I said. I need time away to process and grieve my losses the right way so I’m not dragging a bunch of unnecessary baggage into our marriage.” I walk over and take his hand. “I want to be all in with you, because you deserve that. I think I just need a little time to get there.”
He squeezes my hand in his. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I think some time away would do us both good.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I love you, Natalie. I want to be all in with you too. So, if we need to take a step back to take two steps forward, then we should do it.”
I exhale, tears prickling my eyes. “You really are the best husband a girl could ask for. You know that?”
“Come here.” He smiles and pulls me into his arms. His heartbeat reverberates like a steady drum. It’s like for the first time in a long time, we’re in the same place.
I t’s done. The papers are signed.
I walk out of the attorney’s office and find Kyle standing next to my car with an elaborate bouquet of flowers.
“So?” he asks with a bright smile.
“I did it!”
My heart begins to pound the moment the words leave my mouth. The commission I just earned on this closing is a huge step toward having my own real estate firm.
Kyle hands me the flowers, and I inhale the strong scent of the deeply red roses. “How do you feel?”
“I feel freaking amazing! Thank you so much for introducing us. This wouldn’t have been possible without you.” As a stockbroker, Kyle has access to a lot of wealthy people, and the referrals are incredible.
“I’m happy to help,” he says and leans in to kiss me like it’s the end of our third date.
It’s not our third date, but it is the third month we’ve been officially dating. As soon as my divorce was final. It was one of those things that felt like it just happened. But when I look back, it was definitely inevitable. Kyle would just show up at my door and help me with things around the house, just like when Jake was in Vegas, only this time we would commiserate about Jake’s issues together. It was like the worse Jake got, the closer Kyle and I became.
Finally, after an emotional intervention, Jake agreed to go to rehab. While he was in there, it was like a heaviness had lifted. I felt lighter, freer, despite the mess he’d left for me. Maybe it was because I missed being with a man. Or being with a man who is actually considerate and kind. But I think it was much more than that, because there was one night where Kyle and I practically attacked each other at the mouth and made love for hours. Months, or even years, of sexual tension finally released. It was absolutely amazing. And just what I needed.
After that, it was too difficult to keep away from each other, and I could feel myself falling for him every second. It was the first time since my separation that I actually felt hopeful. That my life wasn’t completely ruined.
About three weeks into our relationship, we confessed the “L” word. He said it first, and I’m sure he felt it first. But I felt it too. I’ve had to keep it pretty quiet from my friends and family. Even though they’ve blacklisted Jake, they’re not too keen on me dating his friend either. But I just ignore them. It’s my life after all.
“Let’s go celebrate,” Kyle suggests grinning.
He takes me to this fun little tiki bar on the oceanfront. We sip on piña coladas, eat shrimp tacos, and lie on a double lounge chair on the sand beneath a palm tree as the sun begins to set. It’s the perfect end to a perfect transaction.
“C’mon let’s go for a walk.” He takes my drink.
“I’ve had a couple of those, so this walk might be more of a stumble,” I say.
He smiles, taking my hand, and I feel steady again. We walk right along the shoreline, the warm ocean water sliding up over our feet while our toes sink into the soft sand. The sky resembles a mai tai with its mix of orange and yellow hues. We talk about everything and nothing at all while the ocean breeze hits our cheeks.
“Are you happy with me?” he asks.
I look at him, a slightly buzzed grin spreads across my face. “Of course. You make me very happy.”
“Good, because you make me happy too.”
I slide my arm around his waist, burying my face into the side of his chest as we stroll along. His heart thumps loudly against his rib cage, and his T-shirt does little to muffle it. I look up at him, noticing his uneasy expression.
He stops, taking my hand in his. “I want to tell you something.” His eyes penetrate mine like he’s staring into my soul. “I love you, Natalie. I’ve loved you for a long time. And I think . . . no, I know we belong together.” He kneels down onto the wet sand.
What’s happening?
I glance around, half expecting a crowd of people to surround us and shout, “Gotcha!”
But there is no one else. There’s only me, him, and . . . a two-carat, round-cut diamond ring!
Oh my god. He’s going to—
“Natalie Quinn, will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”
I try to breathe in, but I can’t. It’s like the air is caught in my throat. My heart and mind race at lightning speed. There are no words. Literally, I’ve forgotten English! My eyes shift back and forth between his brilliant blue eyes and the glistening diamond. I do love Kyle. But would I be crazy to marry again? Marry my ex-husband’s best friend? Of course I would! But love is crazy. It makes you do crazy things. He’s a good man. I know we’ll have a good life together. And when a man like Kyle gets down on one knee and asks you to marry him, you say . . .“Yes.”
He lights up. “Yes?”
I nod with happy tears in my eyes. “Yes! I’ll marry you.”
I t’s been six weeks since the last time I saw Kyle at our house after the cruise. And I’ve done a lot of soul searching in that time. I’m just so grateful for Sloan and all the evenings she heard me out over glasses of chardonnay. Because some of the things I talked about were not always easy. It wasn’t just Sloan I leaned on. I got myself a therapist too. That was a hard pill to swallow. But that’s how serious I’ve been about getting my shit together.
Now I know exactly what I want.
I walk out of the attorn
ey’s office, and it’s done. The papers are signed.
My man is standing next to my car with an elaborate bouquet of flowers.
“So, did you do it?” he asks with a bright smile.
“I did! The Delures are the proud owners of a ten-million dollar property.” My heart begins to pound the moment the words leave my mouth. That’s right, three percent commission of ten-million. You do the math.
Okay, let me do it for you. It means I can finally start my own firm!
“How do you feel?” My husband, Kyle, hands me the flowers, and I inhale the strong scent of sweet, yellow roses.
“Amazing! I feel like I finally have a chance at the life I’ve always wanted. And I get to do it with you.”
Kyle leans in and kisses me like he hasn’t seen me in ages. “Come on. Let’s go celebrate.”
And finally it’s just me and my one and only husband.
Hello Reader!
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XXO- Amanda
Also by Amanda Aksel
The Marin Test Series
The Man Test
The Commitment Test
The Pregnancy Test- Coming soon!
The Londonaire Brothers Series
Lingerie on the Floor
Lose Your Shirt
Beside Manor
Amanda Aksel loves anything that’s smart, sexy, and funny. She’s the author of The Marin Test Series and The Londonaire Brothers Series. You’ll often find her writing novels with an adorable maltipoo on her lap, pretending to be Sara Bareilles at the piano, watching reruns of Sex and the City, or sprinkling a little too much feta on her salad.
Visit at www.amandaaksel.com
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