Page 139 of Last First Date

Two months had passed since Waverly and I had found our way back to each other. Life had settled into a beautiful rhythm. Waverly and I had not only reconciled but had grown closer than ever. The uncertainties that once loomed over our relationship had given way to a deep and genuine connection. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

I finished dressing for the day, almost dreading leaving the house. I was not prepared for the heat in Utah. Anytime I mentioned the heat, people laughed at me and told me it wasn’t hot yet. Wait until July. I heard that probably a hundred times in the last week that had temps in the triple digits. I was rethinking my decision to put down roots at the gates of hell. No human should ever have to live in triple-digit heat. It wasn’t natural.

I had managed to maintain my more casual style of dress. No one said a thing about it. Today, I was wearing a lightweight polo and slacks that were so thin I could feel the air on my legs when I walked. I needed the airflow in the stifling heat. When I walked into the office, the new assistant I hired to replace Waverly was sitting at Waverly’s old desk. I was still getting used to that change.

Waverly had officially been promoted to the role of event assistant. I would have loved to work side by side with her every day, but we both agreed that would become an issue. She needed space to grow. We had agreed to work on the fall launch for the lingerie company together. I couldn’t wait to take her to New York during the holiday season and show her the beauty of frigid temperatures and snow.

She had found her stride in the company and was kicking ass as expected. The new position kept us occupied with our respective tasks, and while it meant we saw very little of each other during work hours, we made up for it after hours.

And I loved that she still took it upon herself to bring me coffee as often as she could. It always made me feel like she was thinking of me. Even if she was swamped with work, she made time for me—for us. Sometimes it was only a couple of minutes here and there, but it was enough.

I had been contemplating the next step in our relationship, and with each passing day, the decision became clearer. Waverly was not just a fleeting presence in my life. She was someone I couldn’t imagine being without.

The realization crystallized into a plan. I was going to ask her to move in with me.

That seemed like the logical next step. We were constantly together already. I was usually at her house, but now that I finally closed on my new house, it seemed time. I had yet to furnish the place. I wanted us to do it together.

As the day unfolded, I couldn’t shake the excitement that bubbled within me. The thought of sharing a home, waking up to her beautiful face every day, was a prospect that filled me with more happiness than I could process. I had spent the afternoon planning a special meal, envisioning the evening ahead where I would broach the topic of moving in together. I thought about a grand gesture but ultimately decided to just ask her outright.

Waverly had been out of the office most of the day working on a local event for a high school. At the end of the day, I practically ran out of the office. I was so anxious to see her. I had texted her earlier and asked her to come over for dinner, giving her the heads up that she might beat me there and I’d leave the door unlocked for her. I didn’t have time to cook, but I had ordered from her favorite restaurant. For her, I wanted to be prepared.

When I walked in the door, I realized Waverly had gotten there before me. The lights were dimmed, and the sweet scent of candles lingered in the air. In fact, the candles were arranged in two straight lines, creating a pathway to the living room. Looks like I wasn’t the only one pulling out some stops tonight.

I smiled, following the path until I found her standing in the center of the room wearing a long coat, which seemed pretty unusual given the heat outside. “Hi,” she said, smiling.

I grinned. “Hello. What’s all this?”

She twirled the sash that secured her coat around her waist and showed off her curves. “I wanted to do something special for you, since you’ve been working so hard lately.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And the coat?”

She blushed. “I have a surprise for you.”

My heart began to beat faster with anticipation. “Really?”

She nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She took hold of my shirtfront and guided me to the sofa. “Sit down,” she ordered.

I sat, waiting to see what was under that coat. She took a few steps back, her gaze holding mine. She dropped her coat, revealing a stunning black lingerie set underneath. It was a new piece from the body-positivity campaign she had embarked on. It emphasized the curves that made her uniquely beautiful.

She opted not to do any other runways for the campaign, but she did help to design some of the line and posed for some of the advertising photos. It was done on her terms and it was where she was comfortable.

“Sir, you are looking at the newest design from our upcoming winter line,” she said in an announcer voice as she slowly turned to give me a full view. “This particular piece was created for a special man in the designer’s life.”

As she moved gracefully, I watched in awe. Her confidence and the way she embraced her body resonated with the strength and beauty that had always drawn me to her. The personal runway show was just about the best welcome home a guy could ask for.

I couldn’t help but smile, my heart overflowing with love and admiration for this incredible woman in front of me. The fact that she had gone out of her way to create this moment, to make me feel special, made my heart swell with love.

As she finished her runway walk, Waverly stood in front of me and reached out her hand. “Would you like to see more?” she asked, her voice filled with mischief.

I chuckled, unable to resist her playful nature. “Of course,” I replied, taking her hand and pulling her toward me.

She ended up straddling me on the sofa, her ample breasts pressed against me. She leaned in, her lips meeting mine in a passionate kiss. In that moment, surrounded by the soft glow of candles and the scent of her perfume, the world outside ceased to exist.

“I’m madly in love with you,” she whispered against my lips, her eyes reflecting a happiness that mirrored my own. “I am bananas about you. Crazy in love. All the things.”

I couldn’t hold back the overwhelming surge of emotions. “Waverly, I feel the same way. More than I could put into words. I love you. In fact, I came home tonight planning on telling you how much I loved you.”

I lifted up just enough to reach into my pocket. I pulled out the small brown envelope and handed it to her. “I want you to have this.”