AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before she could answer, Samuel hissed at them, “Stop gawking at each other, you two, and get up here. You’re on next.”
Olivia looked away from Deacon and realized that all the models had moved out onstage and Samuel was frantically motioning to the two of them. Deacon took her arm and helped her up the stairs, where Samuel fussed with her hair before giving her an air kiss on either cheek.
“You did it, love. You’ve knocked their socks off.” He held back the curtain and waited for her to step out onstage.
She turned to follow his directive, but then froze. The runway spilled out in front of her, lined with beautiful models all wearing her designs. Suddenly Olivia was terrified. She didn’t belong here amid all the lights and cameras. She took a step back and ran into Deacon.
He placed his hands on her waist and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “It’s okay, Livy. I’ll be right beside you.” He paused. “Forever.”
Before she could absorb his words, the announcer spoke. “And now I’d like to introduce to you the new CEO of French Kiss, Deacon Valentino Beaumont, and the designer of tonight’s entire collection, Olivia Harrington.”
Deacon moved next to her and took her hand, his warmth and strength giving her the courage she needed to take the first step. They walked down the runway together while cameras clicked and the audience rose to its feet in applause. The applause continued long after Olivia and Deacon reached the end.
“They love you,” he said as he smiled at the crowd. “Almost as much as I love you.”
“You love me?”
Uncaring of the camera on a hoist that moved in for a close-up, he turned and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “Completely. Now tell me you’ll marry me and be my woman for life.”
It was hard to keep from flying into his arms. But since it would be her job to keep this arrogant man in line, she shrugged. “Okay.”
His eyebrow quirked before he laughed. “I guess I deserved that. Now, shall we seal the deal?” Then right there in front of the audience and millions of television viewers, he kissed her. Not a quick kiss but a long, deep kiss that had the runway models sighing and the applause getting louder. When he pulled back, all she could do was beam with happiness.
“I love you, Deacon Valentino. Although it would’ve been nice if you’d asked me at the airport instead of in front of millions of people.”
He flashed a smile. “Haven’t I always told you that perfect timing is everything?”
There was a staccato of pops, and purple lip-shaped confetti filled the air. As it floated around them like a billion kisses, she had to agree.
