No Kissing Allowed (No Kissing Allowed #1)(62)

I had just started for the dessert table when a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back, and a deep voice whispered, “Dance with me.”

“I was looking for you,” I said, spinning in Aidan’s arms.

“I’m sorry. I’m waiting on a call from an investor.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful. Who is it?”

“I don’t know, actually. Which has me skeptical. Dorothy said he would be calling me today to discuss the terms.”

We danced until the song ended, and then Aidan flashed me a guilty look. “Is it okay if I step outside for a bit? The call should come in any second.”

I nodded. “Of course.”

I waited until Aidan was out of sight, then walked inside the banquet hall to the bride’s quarters and pulled out my cell phone from my purse. The time rolled over to 8:00 p.m., and I scrolled through until I found Aidan’s name, then clicked call. The phone rang once before he answered with an urgent, “Are you okay?”

“Mr. Truitt. My name is Cameron Lawson. I would like to discuss Truitt Advertising, and my interest in becoming a silent partner.”

I continued through the banquet hall, where we’d enjoyed most of the reception, and out onto the front porch, where Aidan stood, a look of shock on his face. “You’re the investor?”

Ending the call, I started for him, a smile stretching across my face at his expression. “I’ve spent the last two years trying to think of something worthwhile to do with Dad’s money, something that would make me happy, but make sense financially. This is that thing. The firm’s growing faster than our space can hold, and we need to invest in marketing efforts to better get our name out there. Let me help. I want to be a silent partner.”

“I can’t take your money.”

“You aren’t. I’m investing in the business. If it continues at the pace it’s at now, I’ll be able to replace the funds in no time.”

Aidan worked his lip between his teeth, his eyes on me. “You’ve thought through everything. You’re serious? I thought the call was Eric.”

“Eric? My Eric?”

Aidan nodded. “We had actually talked about it over Christmas, but at that point, the business was just an idea, nothing more. He liked my concepts, so when I made the leap, he called me. I wasn’t sure at first, so I thought he called back to try to convince me.”

“Wow.”

“I know.” He pulled me close. “We were actually talking about something else, too.”

“Oh?”

He lowered his head to my ear. “I asked him for permission to marry you.”

I jerked back, suddenly wide-awake.

“Before you freak out,” Aidan said with a laugh, “not today. Or tomorrow. Or even next year. I will wait as long as it takes for us to be ready. But I love you, Cameron. I love the way you refuse to sleep with your hair down. I love how you drink tea at night and coffee first thing in the morning. I love the soft sounds you make when you’re watching a movie you especially love. I love everything about you, and I want you to know that I’m here, yours, whenever you want me.”

I closed the distance between our lips and tightened my arms around his neck. “I love you. And I would love to marry you someday. Please let me do this for you. For us.”

He kissed me again. “Well, since you’d be a partner in the business, it only makes sense for you to spend more time at my place. You know, make sure I’m working around the clock to return those funds.”

I grinned up at him. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”

“I’m asking you to spend every moment with me, but I will settle for sleeping hours. I want to come home to you every day for the rest of my life.”

“I hate when you say things like that.”

“You love it when I say things like that.”

My smile spread across my face. “I do.” And then I pressed my lips to his once again.



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Acknowledgments


Thank you God for guiding me day after day.

None of my books would be possible without the support of my amazing agent, Nicole Resciniti. Thank you for always being there and talking me off the crazy ledge.

There were lots of hands on this book, and each person offered wonderful insight. The most influential, who understood the characters and gave this book her all, was my fantastic editor Kate Brauning. Thank you for your enthusiasm and advice and continued love of this story. It would not be half the story it is without you! And thank you to Liz Pelletier, Stacy Abrams, and Alycia Tornetta for offering early edits on the story and forcing me to push myself to make it better. I owe each of you lots of chocolate.

Behind every one of my books is the love and support of my family. Thank you to my husband, Jason, and my two girls for forever believing in me and for eating lots of takeout so I can do what I love. Thank you to my extended family, my parents, and my loved ones for making me feel accomplished even on my worst days.