“So I’m assuming we shouldn’t leave them alone for too long, or the kitty will… purr even more?”
I smiled as I leaned up and placed a kiss on his lips.
“Sure, babe.”
He hummed, pulling my body closer to him as the kiss remained tender and passionate.
A Few Weeks Later
Hugging Vincent as he finished the loving toast to me and Beckham, I wiped away my tears as the crowd awed at our embrace. Feeling Beckham’s hand against my lower back, I dabbed away my tears lightly, attempting not to mess up the makeup Kira had fussed over for over an hour this morning.
At one of the family tables, my mother dabbed away her tears as she clapped. Kira, sitting beside Quentin, the kitty tamer, clapped proudly, her eyes holding only love and affection. At a table nearby, I could only smile at Helen and her husband, Sam, who seemed to be looking better day by day.
Pulling away from my soon-to-be father-in-law, the party continued as Beckham and I made our rounds to each table, happily thanking Vincent’s billionaire posse for their rather hefty engagement gifts.
And while I was grateful for the presents and the contributions, part of me was content enough without them. In the past, Kira and I had to hustle to get everything we wanted. It was just the both of us, pining after artists to bring in more revenue and praying that the grants we signed up for would one day send us a congratulatory check instead of a rejection letter.
It may have taken a few years, but with the help of my new fiancé and a few threats to Vincent’s staff on Kira’s behalf, my focus wasn’t solely on paying back my loans or proving to my father, ex-husband, and ex-in-laws that I was capable of succeeding.
Now, my focus was to empower artists and get their names and creativity out in the world, all while using my access to Beckham’s art warehouses filled with all of his passions and imagination painted onto canvases or sculpted into masterpieces. Before, I was living in an absolute nightmare. Today, holding hands with the man I would soon vow to spend my life with, I felt like I was living the dream.
Feeling a small kiss on my forehead, I looked up to see Beckham watching me, a hint of concern in his eyes. He always knew how to bring me out of my own thoughts and how to ground me, and I loved him more and more each day for that.
“You promised me you wouldn’t get lost in your thoughts and spiral today, my little flower.”
“And you promised it would only be one session when we first met.” I giggled, and he narrowed his eyes playfully at me as I placed a small kiss on his lips. “In all honesty, I’m fine; just thinking.”
“About how much you love me?” he asked cockily.
I hit his shoulder, annoyed. “That and, well… how much happier I am, not having to worry about paying my next bill or having to push aside amateur artists because I was afraid my business would collapse in on itself if we didn’t bring in enough profits.”
“You carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, Flower… I always want you to let me be the one to lift it off of them. It’s the least I could do to show you how much I love and appreciate you and all that you wish to give and achieve.”
Feeling his hand travel down my back, I shook my head. “I think you’ve shown how much you love me to almost everyone in this room, Mr. Garcia… You’re not very discreet, you know?” I smiled, and another giggle surfaced from me as he pulled me in closer, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Unfortunately, discretion has never been my strong suit, Mrs. Garcia… especially when it comes to you.”
Four Years Later
“It was lovely to see you again, Mr. Howe; please enjoy the show.” I smiled, shaking his hand before I stepped away to continue greeting guests.
This was one of the largest exhibits we’d ever had, and I knew my accountant was going to have a busy few weeks ahead of him to balance the books. The turnout was bigger than ever, with local news outlets eager to interview Beckham and me; however, he and Vincent were doing all they could to hold them off.
At one of our other locations, Kira was hosting another exhibit, effectively handling the press all by herself with her broad-shouldered bodyguard of a partner willing to do anything and everything to see her happy.
Feeling someone’s hand on my lower back, I looked over to see my new assistant looking ever so concerned about the extensive amount of time I’d spent on my feet. I tried to soothe her nerves with a smile, but I could only wince as I felt Beckham Junior kick my bladder with all his force.Thank God I skipped out on the water being served earlier.
“Rosenna, please. You’ve been on your feet all day prancing around in these stilettos while looking like you’re about to give birth next week,” Cassandra pressed.
The upside of having a new assistant as Kira and I essentially began a partnership was that Cassie was just like Kira. The downside?She was just like Kira.
“Beckham said they make me look sexy,” I muttered, taking a seat, recalling his words as he watched me get dressed in our bedroom.
“The man also fantasizes about you digging said heels into his back while he goes feral on you. He’s obviously biased,” Cassandra said, rolling her eyes as she opened a water bottle for me.
I could only laugh as I took a small sip.Beckham Jr., do me a favor and keep the kicks to yourself for a minute.
Her phone rang in her back pocket, and she sighed as she picked it up. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere,” she ordered, and I watched, amused, as she walked off, squeezing her way past onlookers as they gazed at each work of art.
