Page 20
Story: Sold to the Beret
“It’s all handled, princess. I’ve forwarded the recordings to the authorities and the press. He’s not going to escape this time,” I assure her.
“Thank you, Damien.”
“I love you, princess” I declare, softly kissing her forehead.
I pull back. “Another thing. If you’re willing, I can have my lawyer start the process of retrieving your family’s company back into your control. Would you like that?” I ask.
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t want to run the company. I’d rather it be handled by the board of directors or an external CEO. I would appreciate it if your lawyer can help me with that instead.”
I press a single, deep kiss on her lips. “Anything you want, princess,” I say. Then I ask, “What would you like to do then?”
A soft smile spreads across her features, sad yet so bright it illuminates the darkest part of my soul.
“I want to open a flower shop,” she says, shrugging shyly. “My mom loved flowers. It’s one of the few things we bonded over before she got sick. She had a flower garden and we would prune and water them together. And when she was too sick to go out, I’d take care of the flowers myself and describe each flower’s growth to her.” I smile at the sudden sparkle in her eyes.
I’m a little taken aback by the simple request, but I’m not shocked. Rose is just as pure and warm as the flower she was named after, and now I can’t imagine her doing anything else. It’s so fitting. I lean to press another kiss on her lips. “I’ll help with anything you want, princess. As long as it makes you happy,” I whisper against her lips, chuckling at the happiness in her gorgeous blue eyes.
I gently tilt her head upward to capture her lips in a long, smoldering kiss.
Oh, bliss…
Epilogue
Rose
Three Years Later…
The three happy years I’ve spent with Damien have been the best years of my life. Every day feels like a dream. I’m married to the best man ever, who puts my needs above all else. I’m happier than I ever dreamed or imagined. My flower shop is doing amazingly well, and every day I spend running it, the part of me that misses my mom heals a little bit more. Damien has cut back on taking dangerous missions, after a near miss on his life a year ago, and I couldn’t be any happier about his decision.
These days, life’s good.
My phone rings, the loud vibration jarring me out of my thoughts. I look down at the screen and smile. It’s Damien. My heart skips a beat, butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I raise the phone to my ear.
“Hey, honey.”
“Hey, princess, how’s your day going?”
The sound of his deep sexy voice washes over my skin like a gentle caress.
“Better now that I’m hearing your voice,” I reply, feeling a familiar rush of giddiness. “I miss you.”
His deep groan reaches deep within me and my body trembles in response. “I miss you too, princess. I can’t wait to see you,” he answers hoarsely.
I do a happy dance in my office at his words. Because it means he’ll be coming home earlier than expected. And I have a plan to surprise him.
“I’m closing earlier than usual too. I’ve sent out all the flower orders I have, and Theresa can handle the rest,” I say breezily, referring to my assistant shop manager who has been an absolute godsend after the business really took off in the last year.
“That’s great, princess. I love you.”
I close my eyes, letting the magic of those three words wash over me. It doesn’t matter how often I hear them; the feeling is invigorating each time.
“I love you too.”
At the end of the call, I’m grinning widely from ear to ear. I quickly pack my essentials and head out of the office. I don’t want Damien to get home before me, or my surprise will be ruined.
I say a quick goodbye to Theresa, pick up my already-packed basket of wine and flowers, and hurry out of the shop. I gently place the basket on the passenger seat of the white Mercedes that Damien got me for my twenty-first birthday before taking my space behind the wheel. The drive home fills me with so much anticipation that my legs are jiggling anxiously until I pull into the garage.
An hour later, I walk out of the shower and dry myself, making sure not to mess up the arrangements in the room. I smile in satisfaction as I take in the lighted candles placed in all corners of the room, wafting a vanilla and honey scent and giving the room a golden glow. A bottle of non-alcoholic fruit wine is neatly arranged by the bedside with two empty wine glasses, and red rose petals are scattered across the white sheets. It’s amagnificent view. And all it needs is me, lying seductively at the center of the bed, patiently waiting for my husband.
“Thank you, Damien.”
“I love you, princess” I declare, softly kissing her forehead.
I pull back. “Another thing. If you’re willing, I can have my lawyer start the process of retrieving your family’s company back into your control. Would you like that?” I ask.
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t want to run the company. I’d rather it be handled by the board of directors or an external CEO. I would appreciate it if your lawyer can help me with that instead.”
I press a single, deep kiss on her lips. “Anything you want, princess,” I say. Then I ask, “What would you like to do then?”
A soft smile spreads across her features, sad yet so bright it illuminates the darkest part of my soul.
“I want to open a flower shop,” she says, shrugging shyly. “My mom loved flowers. It’s one of the few things we bonded over before she got sick. She had a flower garden and we would prune and water them together. And when she was too sick to go out, I’d take care of the flowers myself and describe each flower’s growth to her.” I smile at the sudden sparkle in her eyes.
I’m a little taken aback by the simple request, but I’m not shocked. Rose is just as pure and warm as the flower she was named after, and now I can’t imagine her doing anything else. It’s so fitting. I lean to press another kiss on her lips. “I’ll help with anything you want, princess. As long as it makes you happy,” I whisper against her lips, chuckling at the happiness in her gorgeous blue eyes.
I gently tilt her head upward to capture her lips in a long, smoldering kiss.
Oh, bliss…
Epilogue
Rose
Three Years Later…
The three happy years I’ve spent with Damien have been the best years of my life. Every day feels like a dream. I’m married to the best man ever, who puts my needs above all else. I’m happier than I ever dreamed or imagined. My flower shop is doing amazingly well, and every day I spend running it, the part of me that misses my mom heals a little bit more. Damien has cut back on taking dangerous missions, after a near miss on his life a year ago, and I couldn’t be any happier about his decision.
These days, life’s good.
My phone rings, the loud vibration jarring me out of my thoughts. I look down at the screen and smile. It’s Damien. My heart skips a beat, butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I raise the phone to my ear.
“Hey, honey.”
“Hey, princess, how’s your day going?”
The sound of his deep sexy voice washes over my skin like a gentle caress.
“Better now that I’m hearing your voice,” I reply, feeling a familiar rush of giddiness. “I miss you.”
His deep groan reaches deep within me and my body trembles in response. “I miss you too, princess. I can’t wait to see you,” he answers hoarsely.
I do a happy dance in my office at his words. Because it means he’ll be coming home earlier than expected. And I have a plan to surprise him.
“I’m closing earlier than usual too. I’ve sent out all the flower orders I have, and Theresa can handle the rest,” I say breezily, referring to my assistant shop manager who has been an absolute godsend after the business really took off in the last year.
“That’s great, princess. I love you.”
I close my eyes, letting the magic of those three words wash over me. It doesn’t matter how often I hear them; the feeling is invigorating each time.
“I love you too.”
At the end of the call, I’m grinning widely from ear to ear. I quickly pack my essentials and head out of the office. I don’t want Damien to get home before me, or my surprise will be ruined.
I say a quick goodbye to Theresa, pick up my already-packed basket of wine and flowers, and hurry out of the shop. I gently place the basket on the passenger seat of the white Mercedes that Damien got me for my twenty-first birthday before taking my space behind the wheel. The drive home fills me with so much anticipation that my legs are jiggling anxiously until I pull into the garage.
An hour later, I walk out of the shower and dry myself, making sure not to mess up the arrangements in the room. I smile in satisfaction as I take in the lighted candles placed in all corners of the room, wafting a vanilla and honey scent and giving the room a golden glow. A bottle of non-alcoholic fruit wine is neatly arranged by the bedside with two empty wine glasses, and red rose petals are scattered across the white sheets. It’s amagnificent view. And all it needs is me, lying seductively at the center of the bed, patiently waiting for my husband.