It got me thinking about my own future, too. I didn’t cuddle professionally while in a relationship, so I needed to deactivate my Sunshine Cuddle Services profile for good. What was I supposed to do now?
I’d never really had ambitions in life. I’d always been so focused on clawing my way out of debt and keeping Whiskey healthy and just surviving that I’d forgotten to live.
But I knew what I didn’t want.
“I won’t be a trophy wife, if that’s what you’re expecting. I don’t have it in me,” I warned Cade. We needed to set the record straight before any expectations could form. “At best, I would be the participation trophy of trophy wives. You would hate it.Iwould hate it.”
His answering snort sounded like one of agreement.
“Trust me, I know,” he murmured. “I don’t expect you to be anything but yourself, Ellie. Which leads to my engagement present for you.”
He pulled away just long enough to reach over the edge of the cabana bed and rifle through his unicorn onesie to dig his phone out. Then he was right back cuddling against me.
Curiosity parted my lips as I nestled closer—way too intrigued for my own good—but I tried to hide it by keeping my tone casual. “You got me a present? But you didn’t know I’d say yes.”
His dark eyes gleamed. “Hopes and dreams, remember? I hoped you would.”
Oh, I was in trouble. Romantic Cade could turn me to putty with a single sentence.
Curse him.
While I melted into a puddle, he found what he wanted on his phone and passed it to me. He’d opened an app with a light blue background and big yellow logo—featuring a furry cat at its center.
“Sunshine Cuddle Cats,” I read slowly off the screen, before recognizing the grumpy face of the illustrated cat. My jaw threatened to hit the floor. “Hey, that’s Whiskey! Wait, why is he in a logo? What is this?”
“It’s your new cuddling app,” Cade answered, soundingverypleased with himself. “Well, an early mockup of the design. The artist will make whatever changes you want.”
My gaze flicked between the screen and Cade, before settling on him. “What is happening right now?”
A smug smile tugged at his lips. “It’s an app that’ll connect people with cats they can cuddle. I hired a dev team to build it, and I’ll provide the seed money. But it’s your company. You can do anything you want with it.”
Mycompany? I stared and stared, then stared some more, because this was the most bizarre and incredibly thoughtful gift I’d ever received.
“Sadie’s husband bought her a dog treat bakery for an engagement present,” I said slowly, finally grasping what was happening. I grinned so hard it hurt. “You got me a cat cuddling business?”
“The start of one,” he corrected lightly. “It’s not fleshed out yet. We’ll still need to figure out the logistics. It can be a similar setup to Sunshine Cuddle Services, where people hire out their cats for cuddling. But we can also lease a place in Westport if you’d like to hire your own cats and have a base for local clients.”
My entire body vibrated with happiness.
“I know the perfect place,” I blurted, then swallowed when a wave of shyness hit me. I hesitated before continuing. “With us getting married, we’ll probably live together…right?”
He raised a challenging brow. “You showed me how addicting cuddling can be, so I dare you to try sleeping anywhere without me right beside you again.”
A laugh burst out of me, making me shake against him.
“Then I won’t need my apartment over the café anymore.” I wet my lips, getting excited. “If Kitty’s all right with it, maybe Sunshine Cuddle Cats could lease it?”
Cade nodded along. “Once Kitty puts her new marketing budget to work, the café could be a built-in audience for your clientele. Already thinking like a business owner, Darling.”
I glowed brighter than a sky full of stars at the praise.
“The penthouse isn’t your style, so we don’t need to stay here,” he added, thinking aloud. “We can find a new place you like better.”
“Oh, no way. We’re definitely living here. It’s where we met! And got engaged. I’m never leaving.” I paused, then lowered my voice to a whisper. “Plus, Hughes and the boys treat me like royalty now. I like it a little too much.”
A smirk played at the corner of Cade’s lips, and he pulled me even closer so he could press a kiss to the top of my head. “It’s exactly how you should be treated.”
This grin was never leaving my face.
