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“I love you!” he yelled.
As the words reached her, she stumbled over her own two feet and her heart started hammering in her chest. She bit her bottom lip, so torn and confused and finding it hard to believe that she wasn’t just dreaming this moment because it all felt so surreal.
“Please don’t go,” he hollered again, the desperation in his voice unmistakable. “I fucking love you and I don’t want to live the rest of my life without you in it!”
Her breath caught in her throat just as the crowd around her started clapping and hooting and hollering their encouragement, and the woman beside her said, “Damn, girl, if you don’t go claim him, I will.”
Oh, hell no. Leo was hers. She pushed her way back out of the security area, people happily moving out of her way as they watched her get through the line, then started making a run for Leo, who had a huge grin on his face and so much emotion in his eyes she knew that everything she’d heard was as real as it got.
Just as she reached him, she dropped her belongings, and he spread his arms wide so she could jump up onto him, which she didn’t hesitate to do, knowing he would be there to catch her. With her arms anchoring securely around his neck and legs wrapping around his waist, she hugged him tight as a happy sob found its way out of her chest.
“Leo,” she breathed along his neck, barely hearing the cheers around them as his big hands gripped her back to hold her against him. “You really came for me.”
“I did, Pixie,” he whispered in her ear, his own voice tight with emotion. “Because I love you, and I need you. And I’m so sorry I walked away from you last night and that I hurt you. I’m such an idiot. My feelings for you are so damn strong, and I didn’t know what else to do except what I thought was right and let you go.”
She pulled back to look at his gorgeous face and smiled. “Oh, you were so wrong.”
“I’m sure it won’t be the last time.” He released her and let her slide down his body until her feet were on the ground, but he didn’t sever contact with her. His hands framed her face, tipping her head back so that she looked directly into his eyes. “Please stay, Peyton. We’ll figure this out together. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it work . . . just don’t go.”
“I won’t,” she promised, and rose up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips.
He groaned against her mouth and reluctantly lifted his head. “So, was that gesture grand enough for you?”
She tipped her head and grinned. “That was pretty damn impressive and very persuasive.”
“Serena was right then.” When she gave him a curious look, he explained. “She’s the one who talked sense into me at breakfast this morning and made me realize that letting you leave would be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”
“She’s a very smart girl.” Peyton laughed, feeling giddy and hopeful and high as a kite on love. “Let’s get out of here, because you have some serious grand gestures to make once I get you alone, Honey Bear,” she drawled.
He chuckled and kissed her once more, looking just as happy as her. “It’s going to be my pleasure to do so.”
Epilogue
Life didn’t get much better than the one she was living, Peyton thought as she drove home after a dinner meeting with her new boss, Anna Grace, the owner of House of Grace Fashion and Designs. She had her fashion blogger cousin Candace to thank for setting up the meeting and interview with Anna, though Anna had assured Peyton that she’d hired her based solely on Peyton’s resume and her portfolio of the designs she’d created over the years. Peyton was excited to be a part of the company and contribute designs that fulfilled Anna’s vision.
She’d been so busy the past three months since that day Leo had professed his love in the airport. Moving back to San Diego to be with him was a no-brainer, but that meant packing up her things in New York and shipping everything back home—and saying goodbye to her friend and roommate, Gabby, which had been hard to do. The first few weeks she’d stayed in her parents’ guest house, but when she’d made the decision to find a place of her own, Leo had insisted that she move into his house with him, and, well, that meant sleeping with the hottest, sexiest guy in town every single night, and that had been too great of a temptation to pass up.
So, yes, life was good . . . and tonight was going to get even better because she had every intention of seducing her boyfriend when she got home.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the driveway, parked the car she’d recently bought, and made her way to the front porch, then unlocked the door and stepped inside. Even though she’d seen Leo’s Mustang out front, the living room light was off, and the house was dark, which struck her as odd, as did the floral scent that teased her nose. She passed her hand over the wall next to the door, found the light switch, and turned it on—and gasped in shock and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw what greeted her.
The entire living room was filled with vases of roses . . . dozens and dozens of them, everywhere, including rose petals on the floor and around where Leo was already down on one knee. Her surprise quickly ebbed into disbelief, which eased into oh my God, I can’t believe this is really happening.
She stepped into the room, closer to the man who had the most beautiful, confident smile on his face as he lifted a small velvet box and popped it open, revealing a stunning, sparkling engagement ring inside. Her heart raced out of control as the best moment of her life unfolded in front of her.
“I love you with everything I am, Peyton Marie Bishop,” he said, his voice deep and smooth as he gave her the grandest gesture of all. “Will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”
She let out an excited squeal and did a happy little shimmy dance that made Leo laugh. “Yes! A hundred times, yes!”
He took her hand, put the ring on her finger, and she wasted no time tackling him to the floor. She straddled his waist as she rained kisses all over his face, loving the sound of his chuckles and loving him even more.
