“Then I went and fucked it up.”
“Yes, you did.” I laughed as he pulled me into a hug. “You fucked everything up.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything I said and did that day.” He tilted my face up to look at him. “I thought I was making it better by fixing the Seattle situation.”
“You were,” I said. “I’m not sure I would have known you were serious before then. That you really wanted this.”
“Of course, I want this to work. I’d do anything for you, Annie. I’m in love with you.”
“You’re…in love with me?” I whispered.
He nodded, drawing me a little closer and brushing a strand of my red hair off of my face. “Unequivocally.”
And I saw it for the truth. Jordan Wright loved me. He’d gone above and beyond to fix my future…our future. I said that I’d hear him out, listen to what he had to say. This didn’t sound like a man still in a temper. This sounded like the man who took care of me and adored all of my eccentricities and loved me…unequivocally.
And my own feelings were so clear in that moment.
So real and so raw.
Jordan Wright was the only person who had made me feel complete. If I didn’t hide from myself, I knew that he was the only person I wanted. The only person that I could imagine spending my life with. I’d run from him long enough. No more excuses.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he said carefully. “But this week has been torture without you.”
I laughed softly. “You could have come in person instead of sending gifts.”
“What would have been the fun in that?” he asked. “I think I won your friends over before you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Was that planned?”
“It wasn’t. Just a bonus. My only concern was you.” He cupped my jaw. “I love you, Annie. I love you and I missed you and I want to be with you. What do you want?”
I smacked his arm as I tried to keep from crying. “I want to be with you, Jordan. Of course, I do. I just…I don’t want what happened Saturday to be my life.”
“Never,” he insisted. “I can’t promise that I won’t get mad again, but I would never risk losing you. I’m not going to shut you out. You get all of me.”
“I like that,” I admitted.
“Can you forgive me?”
“If you keep sending cupcakes,” I joked.
He laughed, bringing his lips down, almost hesitantly onto mine. “All the cupcakes you want.”
“I’m holding you to that, Wright.”
“Everything I am is yours.” The kiss deepened as he drew my mouth open, brushing his tongue against mine.
“I love you,” I whispered against his mouth.
“I love you, too.” He kissed me again, harder, full of promise.
And when he pulled back, he removed my ring from his coat pocket and held it out to me.
“Can I get back to guarding your heart?”
The tears came for real this time, and I nodded emphatically as he slid the ring into place on my hand. Where I never intended to remove it again.
Epilogue
The grand opening for Wright Vineyard was finally here. Everyone had been working day and night to get it up to tip-top shape. The new harvest of grapes wouldn’t be in yet, but the barn, cellars, and grounds were officially ready. Tours would be happening. Cosmere had one free weekend to come to Lubbock to perform. And the town was buzzing about the new venture.
Not to mention, Jordan’s attorney had made it perfectly clear to the Sinclairs what would happen if they did anything to mess with this opening. So, it was unlikely that the ghost of the vineyard would rear its head.
The front entrance was teeming with people for the exclusive Cosmere show. Apparently, people had started lining up hours ago. It was madness. I guessed the last show getting broken up by the police had really made everyone want to come.
They’d actually hired security this time. I flashed my staff lanyard and bypassed the line and went into the barn. The barn had gone fully minimalist to account for all the people. Jordan had gotten expanded capacity approved for the concert. Another precaution against the Sinclairs.
“Hey, Nora!” I called as I jogged up to her. “Seen my boyfriend?”
She graduated two weeks ago and had fully nose-dived into the vineyard. I could already see her touch everywhere.
“I think he’s backstage.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey,” she said, tapping my tank top. “Do you see that?”
I glanced over to where she nodded her head to find Jennifer with her camera around her neck and Julian standing in front of her. They were both laughing at whatever he was saying.
“Oh,” I said softly with a wide smile.
“Yeah. He went right over to her when she showed up.”
“Really?”
“Will report back on the adorable flirting.”
“Definitely. Let me know. I thought Jennifer was on her ninety days no guys kick.”