Boyfriend for Hire(47)

“More important?” I turn to him, confused, and see that he’s down on one knee holding a small black velvet box.

“Nic!” I gasp, not believing my eyes. This can’t be what I think it is.

“Elle,” he says, opening the box to reveal a beautifully simple diamond ring. “You’ve changed my life more than I ever expected. You’re the most beautiful, talented, smartest, funniest woman I’ve ever met. I’ve been happier since I met you than I have in my entire life, and I never want that to change. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I fall asleep, and the first thing I see every morning. Will you marry me?”

Instantly, tears spring to my eyes. I’m in total shock, but I feel myself breaking into a grin. “Nic . . .” I gasp again, grabbing his hands in mine. “Are you serious?”

I’m in full crying mode, and I don’t even try to wipe the tears from my eyes.

“I can’t believe it.” I sob, pulling Nic up and into a hug.

“Elle,” he says, pulling back. “You never said yes.”

We both laugh as I nod my head.

“Of course I want to marry you.”

Nic grins and slides the ring onto my finger. He pulls me against him and kisses me. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around him, feeling his hard chest press against me. I pull back to wipe my tears away, sure my makeup is completely ruined.

“I can’t stop crying,” I say, laughing.

“I came prepared.”

Nic smirks as he pulls a tissue out of his pocket and hands it to me, just like he did at the wedding. Remembering that moment when we barely knew each other only makes me cry harder.

“It’s so perfect,” I say after I pull myself together, holding up my hand to admire the ring. It’s a princess cut, and the white gold band fits perfectly on my finger. “How did you know to get this ring?” It’s the exact ring I’ve been picturing for years, and only a few people knew about it. Who could have told him?

“Well, I had a little help,” he says, pulling me close again and looking into my eyes. “I called Christine.”

My jaw drops. “You and Christine went ring shopping together?” I’m floored.

After I forgave Nic, I called Christine and we made up. I knew she only hired Nic to help me, and she had my best interests at heart.

But even after she and I were back to normal, she was still wary of Nic. I’ve been trying to get them in the same room for weeks so she can see how amazing he really is, but she kept making excuses not to show up. I’d been starting to wonder if she’d ever be able to move past him being an escort.

“She came around after we talked it through,” he says, wiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb.

“What did you tell her?” I’ve been friends with Christine a long time, and I know how stubborn she can be. I can only imagine what it must have taken to change her mind about Nic.

“The truth,” he says. “That from the moment I met you, I knew nothing in my life would ever be the same. And I can’t picture spending even one day apart from you. Once she realized this was for real, she was happy to help.”

My eyes fill with tears again. I’m so touched that Christine and Nic are able to be close, that I’m feeling emotional all over again. I could never marry someone my family wasn’t okay with, and Nic knows how much it means to me that everyone I love sees him the way that I do.

I throw my arms around Nic and jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and kissing him. “We’re getting married,” I say, pulling back for a moment. I can’t believe it’s all really happening.

“All right, waterworks, let’s get out of here,” he says, setting me on the floor.

I take his hand as we walk out the door. It’s one of the first warmer days of spring, and I inhale deeply, taking in the scents of the budding flowers.

I smile up at Nic. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs over the course of our relationship, but I’ve got a feeling we’re headed for a happy ending.





Epilogue


Elle



One year later


I roll over onto my stomach, the sun warming my back. When I glance up, I see Nic approaching with a round of drinks, and I smile. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him shirtless, his strong biceps flexing as he sets the frozen drinks down. I almost want to pinch myself, because it all feels like a dream.

“I can’t believe we had to come all the way to Bali just to get some alone time,” Nic says, sitting on the sand next to me.

“Can we stay here forever?” I ask, then take a sip of my strawberry margarita.

Between Nic getting his business started, me studying for the bar exam, and planning the wedding, it feels like we’ve barely seen each other lately. Now, with the wedding and the bar exam behind me, I’m officially an attorney now and have joined a great firm, and we’re finally relaxing on our honeymoon. It’s been better than I could have ever imagined. Not only did I marry the sexiest, kindest, most thoughtful man in the entire world, but the trip has been perfect so far.

We had the wedding at a beautiful outdoor venue in the country, with both of our families there. True to form, I couldn’t hold back my tears throughout the ceremony, but I was so happy, I didn’t care. It was absolute perfection, and I almost couldn’t believe it was real. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from being with Nic, it’s that not everything is too good to be true.