me in two weeks. I’ll see what I can do. Got your cell?”
Randy pulled it from his pocket and Rhett programmed in his office number. After his Rohypnol disaster, he’d made sure he knew his numbers now. All of them.
“Remember—two weeks. Not a second before or all bets are off.”
“Got it.” The wannabe screenwriter grinned and hurried down the aisle to deliver the note.
Cassie met him outside within minutes.
“What’s up, Corrigan? They’re about to announce Best Picture and we’re standing outside? Your note said we’re off to celebrate. I don’t think the after parties start until after the show’s over.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” Rhett grabbed Cassie’s hand and rushed her along the pavement.
“Corrigan, hold up.” Cassie stopped and pulled off her Manolos. “If you’re in that much of a hurry, I can keep up now. Unless we have time for me to stop and shop for running shoes. Then I might actually pull ahead of you,” she teased.
He led her a few blocks away to where Johnny stood outside their limo. The driver swept the door open.
“Congratulations on the big win, Mr. Corrigan. That little man looks made for your mantel.”
“Thank you, Johnny,” Rhett replied.
“And kudos for the Best Picture win,” the driver added.
“What?” Cassie cried out. “Did you say Best Picture win?”
Johnny grinned. “I’ve been watching the telecast on my iPad. They announced the winner just as you two turned the corner. I thought you’d want to know since apparently you left the ceremony early.”
Jubilation filled Rhett. He yanked Cassie to him for a searing kiss. One that he wished could go on and on—but they had places to be. He broke the kiss.
“What’s it like kissing an Oscar winner?” he teased.
She beamed at him. “It’s way better than kissing an Oscar loser,” she quipped and then threw her arms around him again, kissing him hard.
Rhett eased her away. “Get in the car, sweetheart. You, me, and Oscar here have places to be.”
Cassie plopped in the back seat of the limousine as Rhett sat beside her, tossing the golden statue in the seat across from them. “What gives, Corrigan? We might never be back here again. I wanted to meet Hugh Jackman and Bradley Cooper and Kate Winslet and—”
Rhett silenced her with a lingering kiss.
“Okay, I guess you’re better than Hugh Jackman but why the rush?”
“We’ve got a plane to catch.”
She looked baffled. “A plane? Where are we going? I haven’t packed anything.”
“I’ve taken care of everything. I packed for you. Anything I left out, we’ll buy when we get there.”
“Where’s there, Corrigan? If I’m going to miss out on Oscar night bashes then it better be good. Really, really good.”
“We’ve got a wedding to get to. It’s after nine now. We’re barely going to make our flight. To Hawaii, by the way.”
Rhett could see understanding dawn on Cassie’s face.
“Where in Hawaii?” she asked, snuggling up to him.
“Maui. We’ll get there in time for sunrise on the beach.” Rhett pulled two gold bands from his pocket. “We’ll need to give these to Breck and Jo. They should’ve left right after you. Breck had a cab waiting for them. We’ll meet up at LAX.”
He put the wedding bands back in his pocket. “I asked you this a long time ago but I thought I better do it again just in case.”
Rhett got down on one knee in the limo and took her hand in his.
“Will you marry me, Cassie Carroll?”
Cassie’s smile showered him with all the love in the world.
“Maui. At sunrise. On the beach.”
He nodded.
“You are the most romantic man on the planet, Corrigan. How did I ever get so lucky? I thought in the beginning you were nothing but a slick, Hollywood heartbreaker.”
Rhett climbed back onto the seat and pulled Cassie into his arms for a searing kiss.
“That seals the deal, sweetheart.” He poured them a glass of champagne. “Here’s to our future, Cassie Corrigan.”
Rhett knew it would be one filled with love.
About The Author
Alexa Aston
Award-winning and internationally bestselling author Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She’s a binge fiend (The Crown and Ozark are favorites) who enjoys travel, sports, and time with her family.
Her historical romances bring to life loveable rogues and dashing knights, while her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.
Alexa appreciates readers who take the time to leave a short, honest review of her books