don’t know why I was so scared to tell you.”
She twists her lips. “All I know is that tonight, you are going to look fab. And if I know Vance, he will treat you the way you deserve.”
She is the closest thing I have to family, so her support means everything to me. She must know that because within seconds, we’re both blinking back tears.
“He is gonna be here any second,” she says. “We need to finish these nails.”
I laugh. “How do you know when he is gonna be here?”
She giggles and I throw a pillow at her.
“Oh my God, you already knew about the date didn’t you?”
The doorbell rings and we laugh. I guess it’s time for me to do the damn thing.
Chapter Six
Vance
When I pick Val up, I’m at a loss for words. I have always thought she was gorgeous, but in this moment — it is more than that. I am looking at the woman who is going to be my wife.
Everything has changed.
And she will understand that soon enough.
“What is it?” she asks, walking toward me. A glass of champagne in her hand. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I run a hand over my jaw, stepping closer. “No, it’s just you, Val. You look so beautiful.”
Her cheeks turn red and she shakes her head. But I won’t let the compliment slip past her. I take her hand. “I mean it, Val. I’ve always thought you were the loveliest woman in the world.”
“Okay, okay, we get it. You have the hots for one another,” Georgie says, coming out of her bedroom with a laugh.
“Georgie!” Val shoots her best friend a look that mean shut up. Now.
“Sorry. Sorry,” Georgie says, lifting her hands in defense. “But you two lovebirds need to get out of here.”
Now it’s my turn to shoot my sister a look. She didn’t tell Val my plan, did she?
She must notice my paranoia. “It’s all good, big bro. The night is gonna be perfect.”
I wanted Georgie’s opinion on the ring — but I don’t want her to spoil the surprise.
I take Valerie’s hand and lead her out of the apartment. It feels right, having her hand in mine.
I don’t want to let it go. Ever.
Once we’re on the sidewalk, she asks where we are headed.
“A few places,” I tell her. “But first I need to do something.”
“What?” she asks, but I cut her off… pulling her mouth to mine. God, since we kissed this morning, it’s all I’ve wanted. Well, I want more — but I won’t rush my girl. For now, I just let this kiss speak for itself. My hands run through her long hair, her lips part and our tongues touch. Every inch of my body is filled with longing. I’ve been in love with Val for so damn long and now she is here, in my arms, and I swear I will never let her go.
She must feel it. This heat. This need. Because when we pull apart, she is left gasping, pressing her fingertips to her lips, searching my eyes the same way I just searched her mouth. With devotion, love and desire.
“I love you, Valerie,” I tell her.
Tears fill her eyes and I brush them from her cheeks with my thumbs, cupping her face in my hands.
“I love you too,” she whispers. And I’m more grateful than she knows for her words of affirmation.
“Good, because I’m about to show you what true love means.”
I lead her down a few blocks, turning on a familiar street. When I stop in front of the diner, now closed for the day, she frowns. “Oh. What are we doing here?”
I take the key from my pocket and hand it to her. “It’s yours.”
“What is this?” she asks, looking at the key.
“Just try it.” I guide her hand to the lock on the front door, my hand wrapped around hers as she turns the lock. It opens. We step inside.
“I’m confused.”
On the surface of every table are bouquets of pale pink roses. She spins around, trying to work it out.
“It’s yours, Val.”
“My what?”
“Your diner.”
“What do you mean, mine?”
I pull up the document on my phone, with her name on the lease. “It’s yours — I bought it from Linda this afternoon.”
Her eyes widen. “That’s why she left early?”
I smile, pulling her to me, wrapping my arms around her waist. “I know it’s a grand gesture,” I say. “But I didn’t want it to sell before I got the chance to show you what