My mouth went dry, and I struggled to breathe.
He moved to get closer, the two of us huddled in the much-too-small castle, as he kneeled in front of me, pulling a red velvet box from his pocket.
“Taryn, we spent too many years apart. I want the rest of my years to be with you I don’t want to go another day without making you my wife. Will you marry me?”
Now I really couldn’t breathe, partially because my eyes were tearing over and a lump was in my throat too big to swallow.
“I love you so much,” I said, through the tears. “I’ve been in love with you since I was fifteen.”
“Is that a yes?”
Perfect, confident, cocky Landon, sounded the slightest bit worried.
“Yes. A thousand times, yes,” I said, through my tears. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
When he kissed me, our names scribbled over my head in our childhood handwriting, it felt like coming home.
Two days later, I was standing outside of Landon’s den, a dinner plate in my hand. I’d been cooking for the last hour, told Landon he wasn’t allowed to come into the kitchen, and when he came to grab a beer, I shooed him out, shoving the bottle into his hand.
Now, I had a steaming plate of grilled salmon and asparagus, but I didn’t want to interrupt the intense conversation that he was having.
“I’m sorry, but I won’t do it. I can’t work with her.”
Her. Was this about Alexa again?
He was silent after that, listening intently to whoever was on the line. “I understand that. I never wanted this result either. But at the end of the day, she’s the majority owner. I can’t control her actions.”
I peeked around the corner. He was staring up at the ceiling, unaware I was watching. “It’s something I’ve considered, yes.”
I wanted to creep closer, wanted to figure out what was going on at the other end of the line, who he was talking to, but I couldn’t do so without him seeing me.
“I’ll look into it. But at this point, I can’t help you. If she wants to run that company into the ground and ignore her board of directors, that’s her prerogative. I’m not putting myself into the middle. I was willing to turn my company over to her because I needed her out of my life. Nothing would drag me back into her circle.”
Relief swamped me, mixing with the sadness. He didn’t deserve this. He’d given up everything to her, and she was ruining it. I hated that for him.
“Very well. I’ll let you know.”
I waited a heartbeat for him to finish his call, then plastered on a smile and stepped into his room.
“Hey,” I said, my voice so bright It was hard not to cringe. Too much. Too fake.
“So you heard,” he said, not missing a beat.
Yeah, definitely too much.
“More trouble at Prestige?” I asked, setting his plate on the table beside his chair.
“She’s changing too much all at once. You’d think she’d realize the place isn’t broken. I grew into a multi-billion-dollar asset. Instead she’s treating it like her private country club. It’s not going over well.”
“I can imagine,” I said, sliding onto the ottoman in front of his chair. I faced him, so that his knees were on either side of my own. “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing,” he said. “I’m a silent owner now. Emphasis on the silent.”
“How can you watch her destroy your company?”
“I’d rather she destroy my company than my relationship with you. You’re going to be my wife. If I get close to her—even if it’s in a board room—she will do everything she can to undermine what we have. Out of spite.”
“Have you given more thought to what Julius and Trevor said?”
His eyes brightened, and something between a smile and a smirk transformed his expression.
“I’m considering it.”
I leaned forward, kissing him. “You should do more than that.”
I stood, nodding toward his dinner. “Now eat. And then come upstairs. I’ll be waiting.”
I wasn’t surprised when, moments later, he left his plate behind and followed me upstairs.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
I was wearing a dress that cost more than my car.
And as I twisted around in the mirror, taking in my reflection, I knew it was worth it. Worth Every. Last. Penny.
It was tailored to hug my waist and hips, then flared out, into a waterfall of silk, gathered and bunched at strategic point with crystals. It was horribly clichéd to say I felt like a princess, but I was certainly ready to show up for a royal ball.
My hair was swept to the side, the curls tumbling over one shoulder, exposing the simple diamond pendant Landon gave me.