My heart swells in my chest. I’m about to lean down to kiss her again when she stops me. “But are you sure? You married me because G wanted you to. Are you staying with me because–”
I stroke my hands down her back and bring her flush against my chest. “I’m staying with you because my granny was right. She told me, time and time again, that I need to be open to love, and when I found it, I needed to hold on to it.”
She looks at the bear on the nightstand. “You heard it!”
I nod and lean my forehead against hers. “I heard it. That’s the best gift I’ve ever received, Bella.”
She sniffs and nods her head.
“And G’s right. I’ve found you now, and I’m never letting you go.”
I kiss her with everything inside me. I never thought I’d let myself fall in love, but with Bella, how could I not?
I pull back, cupping her face in my hands. “You know I love you. Right?”
Her hands are at my waist, and there’s a challenge on her face. “Prove it.”
She could ask me for anything at this point, and I’d give it to her. “Anything.”
She reaches for the button of my jeans and flicks them open. I grab her hands to stop her. “Bella.”
She smiles at me. “Love me, Lucas. Make me feel good.”
I lean my forehead against hers. “Baby.... I can’t resist you.”
She pushes my hands away and pushes my jeans to my thighs. Her hand dips into my shorts, and she wraps it around me. “Good to know.”
I lift her into my arms and turn around to lay her on the bed. I lean in and kiss her neck and whisper in her ear, “Lie back, Bella. Let me love you.”
Epilogue
Isabella
Three Months Later
I walk into the office of Blaze Whiskey with a smile on my face. I’m trying to tone it down a little and not be so obvious, but I know I’m failing.
I stop at the desk outside my husband’s office, practically bouncing on my feet. “Hey, Lilian! How’s it going?”
The other woman sighs in frustration, and it catches me off guard. I’ve never, not once, seen Lilian not completely in control of the situation. “What’s wrong? Is Lucas working you too hard? I know he’s trying to find a replacement for you know who.”
Yeah, I still refuse to say that woman’s name.
Lilian shakes her head. “No, Lucas is fine. It’s Ford that is driving me crazy. I’m thinking about seeing if I can just move over to work for Lucas and let Ford find himself a new assistant.”
She’s not joking. I wait for her to laugh, but she doesn’t. I’m about to reassure her when Ford sticks his head out his office door. “I heard that, Lilian, and you can forget that happening. You’re mine.”
My eyes almost pop out of my head because I’ve never seen this side of Ford before. He’s Mr. Calm, Cool, and Collected. Not a man that barks ownership in the office.
Lilian doesn’t seem fazed that Ford heard her confession or at his raised voice. She just rolls her eyes. “Sure, ‘cause you’re the boss of me...”
Ford stands to his full height. “I am your boss.”
My head volleys between them as they go back and forth. There’s definitely a sizzle in the air between them that I’ve never noticed before. “Lilian, can I see you in my office please?”
Lilian acts as if she doesn’t hear him, and he says it again. “Lilian. In my office... please.”
She huffs a breath, puts her hands on the desk, and pushes herself up. “Sure, BOSS. I’ll be right there.”
Lilian looks at me. “You here to see Lucas? He’s on a phone call, but you know he’s told me to never make you wait. You can go on in.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, still in shock over what’s happening with her and Ford.
Ford holds the door open for Lilian, and when she passes by him, he grits his teeth and shuts the door behind him. I swear I hear what sounds like the door locking.
I stare at the door open-mouthed before finally getting myself together and walking into my husband’s office. He’s just hanging up the phone as I walk in. Without even saying hi, I point my thumb to the outer office. “Uh, what’s going on with Ford and Lilian?”
His forehead creases like he doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about. “Beats me. What happened?”
Surely he’s noticed something, but as soon as the thought comes, I shake my head. Nope, he hasn’t. If he did, he would have told me.
I’m about to tell him the good news when he comes around his desk and grabs my hands, pulling me to the couch in his office. He sits down first, and I go to sit next to him, but he pulls me into his lap instead. “I have an idea.”