“Yes!” she squeals. “And not only that, but his daughter Alyssa is my roommate!”
“So you’re also stepsisters,” I add slowly, the wheels in my head spinning. “Or at least, ex-stepsisters.”
“Right!” Josie confides with a naughty look. “Well, it’ll never go anywhere because Cyrus is way out of my league, he’s so handsome and rich. Not to mention our familial ties make things a teeny bit complicated.”
But I shake my head.
“OMG girl. I know you’ll find a way because Josie Stills is unstoppable when it comes to men!”
She smacks my shoulder lightly and we both giggle.
“Speaking of which, have you heard anything about Ronald?” my buddy asks, changing the subject. “I’m so glad he’s not at Ligne anymore. That guy was rotten to the core.”
I sigh.
“Not just rotten, he was messed up in the head. I mean, I have no problem with anything that people want to do in private, but there’s no need to spam porn to your ex-girlfriend as part of some crazy revenge scheme. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the image of him being fisted up the back end out of my brain.”
Josie shudders and then giggles.
“Oh my god. Still, it’s great that your boyfriend’s in such a position of power, right? It must have been so nice that Malcolm fired him immediately.”
I nod.
“Yeah, but I never wanted things to come to that. I mean, I wanted Ronald to be terminated for his terrible performance at work definitely, don’t get me wrong. But Malcolm said Ronald had been on his way to pink slip territory well before the first nude photo fiasco, and the latest snaps were just the final straw.”
“Well, it’s been nice not dealing with his lazy ass at work,” Josie yawns while stretching her arms over her head. “It’s hard to believe, but he was trying to take credit for my project this time! Good thing he’s out on his ass now.”
We both shake our heads.
“Wow. To think,” I say.
“He brought that bad karma on himself,” Josie adds airily. “But enough about Ronald. I miss you at Ligne, girlfriend! It’s so awful without you!”
I smile at her. “I know, but I’ll be back soon enough after the baby’s born.”
“Right,” she nods. “But aren’t you getting married first?”
I giggle but then frown.
“I don’t know. I mean, Malcolm and I live together and we’re totally devoted to one another, but he’s just my boyfriend, for now at least.”
Josie’s mouth tilts into a small smile. “Oh, hon, I wouldn’t worry about that. That man’s crazy about you, and I know it for a fact,” she winks.
Something about the way Josie speaks makes me wonder if she has some secret knowledge, but then a key snicks in the door and sure enough, it’s my gorgeous man. Malcolm looks as handsome as ever in a dark suit which emphasizes his broad form, with his black hair swept back and those blue eyes like sapphires.
“Hey baby,” Malcolm growls, walking over. He leans down and gives me a lingering kiss before bending over my belly and whispering, “And hello little one,” he says before placing a soft kiss to my curved stomach.
Josie uses the opportunity to stand up and wave goodbye. “Well, I’m going to let the soon-to-be mama rest, seeing that you’re home now, Malcolm,” she sings. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Les?”
“Sure thing,” I nod, and then is it in my imagination, or does my friend wink at my boyfriend before she leaves the apartment? I figure it must be my imagination as the door shuts and Malcolm turns to look at me.
“How was your day?” I ask before grabbing his tie and pulling him down for another kiss. “I’ve been needing you for hours now,” I add in a whisper. “So bad.”
His blue eyes gleam and a smile crosses his face.
“It’s the pregnancy hormones, isn’t it?”
“It is,” I pout breathily. “I swear Malcolm, I’ve been thinking of you non-stop. Touching me. Stroking me. Everywhere.”
Hunger flares in his eyes, but instead of taking things to the next level, he pulls back and looks in my eyes with an intensity to his gaze that I’ve never seen before. My heart skips a beat and I cock my head at him.
“Malcolm?”
He smiles.
“I love you so much, baby, you know that, right?” he says.
I smile. “Of course I do. I love you, too.”
He nods, suddenly solemn. “I never thought I could be this happy, but here you are.” He places a hand on my tummy. “Both of you, and I’m utterly ecstatic. In fact, I want you in my life forever, Leslie, and not just as my girlfriend or my partner, but as my wife. Will you, honey? Will you make me an honest man?”
I gasp then as the powerful CEO drops down to one knee. Sure enough, he reaches into his jacket and pulls out a black velvet box before popping it open. I gasp because a beautiful diamond ring glimmers in the light as tears come to my eyes.