“You made me a better man. You made me realize I wanted to be a better man. Before you, I didn’t realize the impact my resources could have—I didn’t realize the impact I could have, for good.”
“You were pretty good on the impact for speedboats though,” I teased, trying to cover up my blushing. I might have succeeded at that, but the tears of joy streaming down my face kind of ruined it.
Grant wiped them away as gently as if he were straightening the wings of a butterfly. “Lacey, I’m trying to say that I love you.”
And there, in that moment, all was right with the universe.
I kissed him back desperately, my nails digging into his arms, my teeth nipping at his lips as his stubble ground against my skin. It was happening, oh God, it was really happening: I had really told him how I felt and he wasn’t laughing at me, he was kissing me, and he loved me, he’d said he loved me, he really loved me. And I was never letting him go.
“I love you too,” I whispered, my heart so filled with joy that it might explode. Then I grinned and whooped. “I love you too!”
Grant squeezed me tight, and leaned in for another kiss—
My assistant Tina burst into the room, her face split in the biggest grin I had ever seen.
“We won! Oh my God, you guys, we won! It was a landslide! Portia’s packing her bags! We won, we won, we won!”
She did a little dance and then, squealing, ran off, presumably to spread the good tidings.
“We really did it,” Grant said, sinking onto the sofa, dazed.
“And Tina spoke an entire paragraph without ending a single sentence in a question mark,” I added. “Between that and the fact that you love me—” Lord, but I was never going to be tired of hearing those words—“today is looking like a day for miracles.”
“You have it the wrong way around,” Grant said, reaching for me and pulling me down beside him. “The miracle is that you love me.”
And before I could argue it further, he kissed me again.
Our kisses moments ago had been desperate and passionate, their ardor born of our startled joy, of our urgent need to confirm that the other loved us, wanted us, was truly there and not just a dream.
This kiss was slow and tender, a cherishing of each sensation we could give and receive, a promise of love and safety and security. Our lips met again and again, teasing and comforting, tantalizing and then soothing.
“You know what we should do next?” Grant murmured when we finally broke contact. “Celebrate.”
I smiled shyly. “I have a few ideas.”
“Naughty, naughty,” Grant said with raised eyebrows. “You’ll certainly have to share those ideas with me soon. You know I value your contributions.” He took me by the hand and smiled. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
? ? ?
“OMG, you guys!!” Kate threw her arms around us and embraced us both at once, crushing us in her love-fueled and strawberry-daiquiri-scented grip. “You did it! You really did it! You would not believe how happy I am for you!”
This was Devlin Media Corp’s official public celebration, following shortly on the heels of my and Grant’s private one. Everyone was there—Grant had rented out a football stadium in order to fit in as many shareholders, employees, and families as wanted to attend. There was free pizza, booze, three bands Grant had called in, and fireworks. Now that’s what I’d call a proper company picnic.
“Thanks, Kate, I love you too, girl,” I said, laughing and disengaging gently. “Damn, but my man knows how to throw a party.”
I leaned back into him, feeling a doofy smile spread across my face. Not going to lie, my favorite part of this event was how Grant had kept his arm around me the whole time. I could spend the rest of my life this way.
He leaned down and kissed my temple. “Only the best for you, sugarplum.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “All right, you lovebirds, watch it. There are children present.”
She spotted someone over our shoulder, her eyes widening. “Holy shit, is that—did you seriously invite—”
“Your favorite actor to ever play Sherlock Holmes? Yes, yes, we did,” I said, laughing. “And he’s got an autograph just for you. I never would have gotten halfway here without your advice, after all.”
“Girl, I will give you about a thousand thank-yous later, but right now I have to go tackle-hug this man!” And Kate was off like a shot.
I chuckled fondly and let my head fall against Grant’s shoulder. “You really are amazing. I don’t know what could top this.”
“Well, I do have some ideas to start with.” He guided me into a private patch of shadow and slid two pieces of paper into my hand.
I gaped at them for several seconds before I could believe my eyes. “Tickets to the Caribbean?”
He grinned. “We leave tonight.”
I stared up at him, blown away by his thoughtfulness and generosity. “Really? You’re serious?”