Always Have: A Bad Boy Romance(62)

Braxton. My Braxton.

After long moments, he pulls away. The loud bang of fireworks continues, the crowd cheering with every explosion.

I finally find my voice again. “What are you doing here?”

“I had to come see you,” he says. “I couldn’t wait.”

Reality coalesces in my mind, the truth of what I’m seeing: Braxton, standing here, in London, in the middle of the night.

“How long have you been here?”

“We got in earlier today,” he says. “We’ve been trying to find you for hours.”

“We?”

“Yeah, Selene’s watching the hotel lobby in case you come back.”

I gape at him, astounded. “Selene’s here?”

He nods. “Of course she is. She wanted to help.”

“Help? I don’t understand.”

“Kylie, I made such a mistake. Leaving you was the stupidest f*cking thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my life.” He puts a hand on my cheek. “I didn’t mean a word I said that night. I thought I had to do it. I thought I had to choose between you and my sister, and I didn’t know what else to do. But I was wrong. I was so wrong, and I’ll do anything to make it right.”

I take a breath, my body shivering. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“It took me too long to figure out where you’d be,” he says. “I almost didn’t make it.”

“Braxton, you flew halfway across the world for this?”

“Yeah,” he says, and the groove forms between his eyes again, his expression intensifying. “I did. I had to. I have something to ask you, and it couldn’t wait. It had to be tonight.”

He touches my face, his eyes sweeping over me like they did the first night he told me he wanted me. The night everything changed.

My breath quickens again.

“Kylie,” he says, his voice gravelly. Before I know what’s happening, he takes my hands in his and sinks down onto one knee.

My eyes widen and my mouth drops open, my breath catching in my throat. He can’t be— “I love you, baby girl. Always have. I’m yours, and I want you to be mine, forever.” He reaches into his inside pocket and pulls something out, pinched between his thumb and two fingers.

A ring.

I clamp my hand over my mouth.

He smiles—that brain-melting smile that makes me forget where I am, that sucks all the oxygen from the air. “What do you say, Ky? Will you marry me?”

I meet his eyes. He’s so open, so honest. Holding nothing back.

My eyes tear up again, but it’s laughter that escapes my lips.

“Yes,” I say, though I can hardly get the word out. I’m smiling and laughing and crying all at once.

He stands, wrapping his arms around me, and lifts me off my feet. My face is even with his, and he kisses me, his lips like silk. People around us clap and cheer, and I’m pretty sure I see the flash of a few cameras. He sets me down and takes my left hand. He meets my eyes while he slips the ring on my finger.

“There,” he says, his voice soft. “Now you’re mine forever.”





Selene plucks the glass of champagne from my hand. “You can’t get drunk before your wedding.”

I laugh. “I’m not getting drunk. I’ve had one glass.”

She smiles and goes back to putting on my eyeliner. “Well, you’re making it hard for me to do your makeup.”

I hold still, looking down while she smudges the eyeliner with her finger. I haven’t put on my dress yet, but my hair is done, falling in loose waves around my shoulders. I didn’t want anything too formal but the hairstylist was amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so beautiful.

Selene puts a coat of mascara on my eyelashes, then stops, inspecting her handiwork. She brushes something from beneath my eyes. “There. You look…” She trails off, and her expression changes. Her brow creases; her eyes fill with tears.

“Stop it,” I say, smacking her on the arm. “You have to quit crying or I’m going to mess up my makeup.”

She puts her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry, Kylie, I just can’t help it. You look so beautiful, and you’re marrying my brother, and that means…”

I pull her in for a hug. “We’ve always been sisters, babe,” I say quietly into her ear.

“I love you.”

I bite my lip so I won’t cry. “I love you, too.”

Selene takes a deep breath. “Okay, sorry. I’ll stop. Let’s get you dressed.”

She helps me into my gown. It’s strapless and sleek, with just enough beading on the bodice to give it a little sparkle. I move my hair aside so Selene can zip it up the back.

Ellen, the wedding coordinator, pokes her head in through the door. “Almost ready?”

“Yeah,” I say.

Selene smiles at me again. She looks fabulous in a silver off-the-shoulder floor-length gown. Her dark hair is pinned up, with a few loose tendrils hanging down.

“Great, we’re just waiting on the groom,” Ellen says and closes the door.

I look at Selene in alarm. “Waiting on the groom? He’s not here?”

“Don’t panic,” Selene says with a laugh. “He probably just left his tie at home or something.”