ever describe the torrential flood rushing through me.
Happiness. Joy. Glee. Bliss. Nerves. Ecstasy.
Butterflies with teeth.
I don’t release my other hand over my mouth until I feel his lips brush my palm.
Lowering my hand, I press it against the rapid thud of my heart and try to remember how to speak.
“Yes!”
One simple word with more feeling than I’ve ever known.
Then his arms are wrapped around me, his lips attack mine, and my mind keeps shouting, yes, yes, yes until I can’t stop the joyful tears.
24
No Loose Ends (Ridge)
As I hold Grace in my arms, the most beautiful woman ever made, I feel like a volcano.
Even as I’m kissing her face off, there’s a growl in my blood, churning like magma.
Now, it’s with excitement.
Sweet relief.
A moment ago, it was fear. The thought that she might say no scared me worse than anything I’ve encountered in my life.
I think it’s the only thing that could’ve truly broken me.
This heart beats for her. She’s put the love back in it and given me every breath, every beat, every heartfelt word I found the courage to say.
All for a love I never knew I had in me.
I lift her up, twirling her around, and kiss her again. Then I pick up the microphone I’d dropped on the floor.
“Sorry for the mic drop,” I mutter into it. “But you heard what she said!”
The crowd cheers and I kiss her again before taking the microphone back to the band, with Grace at my side, right where she belongs, tonight and forever.
“Now, I can tell you the rest of the story,” I say, leading her to a quiet, somewhat secluded corner of the room.
Her eyes are so bright, so merry, even as she frowns. “The rest?”
I kiss the frown lines between her eyes. “I mentioned you traveling with me when it comes time to shoot those films. You’ll develop an awesome eye for design with the best of the best. Bebe thinks you could even work on the set someday, if you want. I know you’ll like it, and you’re so damn good at those things. It’s a Western, after all.”
“You what?”
I nod, grinning. “I almost told you in the truck, on the way to town, but I figured I’d wait until we were back home. Alone. Which is when I also planned on asking you to marry me, originally. For real.” I kiss her hand. “I couldn’t wait. So I had to improvise here, tonight. And Milah Holly was down to help after we struck up a conversation, so...”
“You know how to improvise like an eagle knows how to fly,” she says, leaning her head against my bicep.
“I’ll show you more later,” I say. “In a bed full of rose petals.”
“Rose petals?” She’s holding her breath.
“My bed should be covered in them by now. There’s a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice with our names on it.”
Her body shakes real sweet from laughter. “Don’t tell me you improvised that too. I won’t believe it. How long have you been planning this?”
“A little while.”
Only white lie I tell her tonight.
Truth be told, the idea of being married to her was in the back of my mind for weeks.
I just never let it hit with full intensity until I knew Grendal was on his way.
The thought of losing her hit so hard and strong. The day after I got over the poisoned scotch, I put a plan in place for asking her tonight. Very, very privately since everyone already thought we were engaged.
I knew I couldn’t do it until after Grendal’s entire ring was busted. That came together like lightning this week.
“Are you sure, Ridge?” she whispers. “We aren’t exactly cut from the same cloth.”
Shit.
That’s exactly why she would’ve never agreed.
Grace has this foolish belief she’s not worthy of me.
Every second I look at her, I know it’s the opposite.
I cup her face. “Thank God we aren’t. You’re cut from an angel’s robe, and mine’s more like the devil’s suit. I need you, woman. I’m going to keep needing you for the rest of my life. I love you like hell. Love you with everything I am, everything I’ll ever have, and every damn thing I’ll ever be.”
I love how she pauses and takes a sharp breath.
“I love you, too, Ridge. So much. But what if your friends find out about Clay? About my past? It could ruin your career.”
I laugh. “You kidding? I’m the only idiot who could ruin my career, and it doesn’t mean nearly