smirk that I’ve come to crave appears, and I know he’s not focused on the conversation right now. Shaking my head, I turn back to Bradford.
“I just don’t want to hide from her when I visit. I’m a grown woman, and she needs to accept me as I am. She raised me, gave me a home when I didn’t even know I needed one, but the hate between my mother and Marcia needs to come to an end. The past is in the past.”
Bradford nods. “I agree. And that’s why we would like you to come home for Christmas. Stay at the manor, so we can be a family.” He looks so pained when he says this. And I realize it must be difficult for him to put up with Marcia. She’s definitely hard work.
“We’ll come,” Damien answers his father, before reaching for my hand and lacing his fingers through mine.
“Good. Now let’s get some dinner, I’m starving.”
That was how we finally found our way back to the family we thought we had lost forever. That night, Bradford gave Damien the contract, which they signed at the dinner table.
When the office door opens, I glance up to see Damien saunter through. He’s taken off his tie, his light blue shirt has been tugged from his slacks, and the top three buttons are undone. He looks tired, but his smile is ever-present.
“I was thinking we should go out for dinner tonight,” he tells me, as he closes the distance between us. His lips capture mine for a sweet, chaste kiss before he straightens.
“Sure, where did you have in mind?”
“It’s a surprise, just get dressed, something… fancy, and I’ll shower and get ready.” With a wink, he turns and leaves me to finish up an email to my mother, Mallory.
Epilogue
Damien
Six Months Later
I’m nervous. I’m fucking shaking the moment I walk into the warmth of our apartment. It’s almost Christmas, and even though we were meant to fly out tonight, it’s Nesrin’s birthday, and I wanted to celebrate with a gift that I’m scared she won’t accept.
When I shut the door behind me, I take in the view from our living room, which looks out over the university where my girl is studying. The yellow, glittering lights shimmer in the distance from the student residences. Since we moved to England a year ago, things have changed considerably.
Nesrin is at school, studying for her psychology degree, while I travel to London to attend meetings twice a week. Other than that, I work from home, ensuring I can spend time with her. Even though I know she’s not walking away from me, there’s always a lingering fear that I’ll lose her. I don’t know why.
She’s beautiful, intelligent, and, at times, I wonder what the hell she sees in me. Besides my good looks, of course.
“You’re home,” she says, padding barefoot toward me. She’s wearing a pair of fluffy PJs, with roses all over them. The blue and pink buds look soft to the touch.
“I’ve missed you.” I grip her hips, pulling her toward me. She’s my anchor to happiness, and I am never letting her go. Pressing my lips to hers, I savor her flavor which, at the moment, is chocolate and coffee. “Did you finish all that candy I got you?”
Her guilty smile tells me she did. “Perhaps. But you’ve been gone for two days.” Her pout is cute. She’s right, though. With the company expanding into Europe, I’ve been away, but all I’ve thought about is being here with her.
“I have something for you.” I lace my fingers with hers. “Come, let’s sit.” We make our way to the living room, where the roaring fire dances behind the black grate.
I allow her to sit on the sofa, before I shrug off my coat, throwing it on the armchair, and then I reach into my pocket, my fingers wrap around the box, and my heart skips a million beats at the thought of finally doing this.
“What is it?” she asks, practically bouncing with excitement, as I stand so still, fear gripping me.
Inhaling a deep breath, I settle in beside her. Those golden eyes are locked on my hand, but she can’t see the small box yet.
“Look at me.” The order comes out firmly, and she lifts her gaze to mine. “I’ve thought about this for so long. The year with you has been nothing short of perfect. Being beside you, watching you flourish, seeing you blossom into a woman has been magical. I’m not