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“I do.”
Hope’s beautiful form straightened.
“Did you use those pictures over three years ago, mid-February?”
“Yes. My publicist checked online, but there was nothing about you being in any relationship. Was that okay? I called you several times on Sunday, but you didn’t answer or return my call and my publicist was desperate for some good news. She posted on Monday. There had been a scandal on set with Jeremiah Jansen. As usual. The guy is such a snake.”
Chad studied Hope. He hadn’t answered Bermuda’s call because he’d been so invested and busy with Hope.
Hope stepped closer to the phone. “Hi, Bermuda. I’m Hope Radisson, a … friend of Chad’s.”
“Hi, Hope.”
“Are you saying you and Chad were not dating three years ago and you haven’t dated him or taken pictures with him for five years?”
Chad’s hand was slick on the phone, and he prayed Hope would see the truth. Five years ago, two years before he even met Hope, he’d never imagined those photos would matter to him. He hadn’t found anyone he was serious enough about to take on more than one date.
“Yes, Hope. I haven’t been on a date with Chad, or even seen him in person, since that photo shoot five years ago.”
Hope’s eyes lit up, and her chest heaved.
“I’m very sorry if those photos hurt or confused you.”
“Thank you,” Hope said with a chuckle that was full of both relief and regret. “We’re going to have to hang up now.”
Bermuda laughed at that.
Hope grabbed Chad’s phone, hit the end button, and dropped it to the carpet. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I wasted over three years thinking you’d cheated on me after I fell so hard for you.” Her eyes were full of trust in him. He’d never seen anything more beautiful than that trust and love shining from her blue eyes.
“Hope. I also fell for you that first weekend we met. I didn’t say anything, afraid I’d scare you away by moving too fast and thinking we’d have the opportunity to develop a solid relationship. Thankfully, Faith helped me slowly develop a friendship with you. I promise I have never felt like this about anyone else.” His words weren’t nearly charming enough, but the light in her blue eyes convinced him to keep going, “You are the love of my life, the woman for me, the woman I want to pledge?—”
She cut him off by pressing her lips to his. Chad didn’t mind that response at all. He pinned her against the wall, framed her face with his hands, and proceeded to show her exactly how he felt about her. From the way she kissed him, he was certain she felt the same way about him.
Epilogue
Hope’s stomach pitched as Chad opened her door and escorted her out of the Range Rover. She was ecstatic to be with him and also full of nerves to be meeting his mum again at his gorgeous cabin in the Augustine mountains.
This time she was meeting Madeline Prescott as Chad’s girlfriend. His mum had been very friendly at Prince Malik and Princess Sophie’s wedding. She was an accomplished and classy lady, but also warm and nurturing. Hope had lofty dreams of a close relationship with Madeline. Unless she was going insane, Chad would propose soon.
He held her hand in his and gave her his charming smile—the smile women all over the world had swooned over, but Chad only wanted her to swoon for him and her alone. The former playboy was one hundred percent committed to her, and Hope returned that commitment with her whole heart.
“Have I informed you today how exquisitely gorgeous you are?” he asked in his silky accent that made her blood fill with warm tingles.
“Only twice.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. She felt beautiful in an emerald wrap dress that matched his eyes, but she should’ve worn a coat. It was freezing in the mountains in mid-October, even though the sun was still up.
“Ah. A failure on my part. I will remedy that mistake promptly.” He looked her over. “Hope Radisson, you are the smartest, bravest, most accomplished, and most exquisitely beautiful woman in the universe.”
She grinned at his over-exaggerations. So Chad. So her charming major that she adored. His accent, his magnetism, his confidence, his strength, his devotion to her, everything combined was perfect. He also looked exquisitely handsome in a button-down gray shirt and black slacks, his emerald eyes full of her.
Before she could return the compliment, he pulled her in and kissed her.
Cold? She’d never be cold again with Chad close, especially with his lips on hers.
“Okay, you two. Faith and I have been cooking all afternoon. You can kiss later. We need to eat before Faith’s delicious creations get cold.”
Hope whipped around to see Madeline standing on the porch in a sweater dress. Her cheeks heated at his mom catching them kissing.
Chad kept his arms around her and chuckled. “Don’t worry. Mum’s not upset we’re kissing.”
