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She steps closer to me and to my surprise Brianna lifts her hand up to my cheek and feels it. Before I can even think, I cover her hand with mine. There’s nothing I want more in the world right now than to lean in and kiss her. Hell, I want to pick her up and carry her into my room and throw her on my bed, but I can’t.
10
Brianna
I can’t help but feel nervous as we’re walking through the airport. There’s no way to know what’s going to happen entirely, and I just hope my performance is good enough for Tate’s family. I also don’t want to disappoint him. Tate picked out a Dolce and Gabbana floral dress that hugs my body, and I can’t help but feel like I’ve become a total stranger to myself. I look like a model in a magazine, and with the way every man looks at me, it’s confirmed. Tate glances at me and smiles, and I can’t stop taking glances at him. He’s so unbelievably handsome, wearing a nice pair of slacks with a white button-up shirt, and I can’t believe this man has been hiding behind torn clothes and a beard for so long. Though I can’t deny I like both versions of him. He’s insanely gorgeous.
It almost seemed ridiculous riding to the airport in his pickup truck dressed like this. We look like we should’ve been dropped off by a limo and we both had a good laugh talking about it. We go through security with ease, and we take the special security line like we’re celebrities or something. I’ve never experienced privilege like this before. People look at us like we’re special and that’s when the imposter syndrome kicks in.
Once through security, we walk to our gate and Tate insists that we stop at a bar to enjoy a glass of champagne. Flying makes me nervous, so I jump at the chance to enjoy a bit of bubbly.
“How are you doing?” he asks.
“I’m okay. I just don’t know what to expect.”
“Expect the unexpected, and you’ll be just fine,” he says with a warm smile.
A wave of anxiety washes over me as I realize how crazy this whole thing is. Tate rolls his sleeves and drinks a whiskey on the rocks. He’s focused, precise, and much more internal than he’s been at the cabin. He’s no longer the mountain man whose primary objective was working the land. This is a businessman. This is a Williams. Powerful, intelligent, confident.
“Can we get refills, please?” Tate asks the bartender.
“Of course,” he replies, and within no time there’s a glass of champagne in front of me and another whiskey in front of him.
“I have something for you,” Tate finally says, moving his body closer to me.
“I think that you’ve given me enough.” I give him a wry smile.
Tate reaches for something in his pocket and pulls it out. It’s a little box, and looking at it makes my heart pound hard in my chest. I hold back my emotions because Tate isn’t actually proposing to me. It’s all for show, and I need to keep reminding myself of that.
Tate opens the little black box, and inside is something too beautiful for description. It’s a sapphire that much I can tell. And it’s encircled with diamonds.
“Try it on,” he says.
I reach over cautiously and take it out of the box. I’m afraid of breaking it or something. It’s so precious and beautiful that I can’t believe that I’m even holding it.
“Oh my God, Tate. It’s stunning.”
“I have to be honest with you. I wanted it to be Eden’s wedding ring.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I had it in a safety deposit box in Chicago, and when I showed her a photo of it, she said she hated it, so I went with plan B and got her a different ring.”
“I feel like I shouldn’t be wearing this,” I admit.
“Nonsense. It makes me feel happy that you’re the one who’ll wear it.”
I place the ring upon my finger, and amazingly enough, it actually fits.
“You see, it was meant to be.” Tate gives me a proud smile.
“Tate, this is so beautiful.” I can’t stop looking down at the ring and how the light reflects on the precious stones.
“I picked it out myself. I loved the blue.”
“I do too.”
As I look into his eyes, Tate leans in, slowly and tenderly, and he kisses me. His mouth and tongue are warm against mine, and I want more of him. Our tongues wrestle together, and by the time we pull apart, we’re both breathless. People are staring, but I don’t care. Heat covers my body, and I don’t want this moment to stop. I let out a nervous chuckle, and he does the same. The kiss was intense, breathtaking, and the amount of electricity that soared through me was lethal. It’s the most physical contact we’ve had, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t crave more. I want to feel his lips on mine again. I need him.
