Page 61 of Big Boss
I hold up a finger. “Later, though. It looks like other people are coming for the main feature.”
The parking lot fills up with cars full of the First Steps kids, their parents, and their best friends. And the other guests? Well, the poker bros themselves, of course, girlfriends and wives in tow.
The premiere of the documentary about Donovan Tate is a celebratory moment. We’d prepared the project in secret, colluding to have him interviewed and filmed at different times and locations in a way that he would never suspect what the true intent was.
And ninety minutes later, he turns to me with tears sliding down his perfect face. “How very dare you, you absolutely savage woman.”
I kiss him lightly. “Want me to clean you up? I don’t want your friends taking advantage of you having an emotional breakdown to film an unauthorized YouTube epilogue or something.”
“Stop that,” he fusses and mops at his face. “I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you, but I’m damn sure going to make sure I never let you go.”
The kids come by, one after another, to tell him how much his organization has changed their lives. More than one of them has made it to the honor roll at their schools now that the curriculum supplementation that the charity offers has targeted new and emerging interventions for learning disabilities.
And little by little, the crowd thins out until it’s just the two of us in a darkened field.
The man I love takes my hand in his and places a kiss along the back of it. “I love you, Erica. And I know I don’t deserve you, but I’m so grateful that you’re mine.”
“Don Ovan Tate-uh, I love you, too. You are the absolute best human being I’ve ever met, and you have impeccable taste in coffee and girlfriends.”
“What about my wife? I hear she’s pretty spectacular.”
“Okay, ha ha, but I know you’re not married because I do your taxes for you. Also, I’ve been in your attic more recently than you have, and there is definitely no secret wife hidden away up there.”
He kisses me in the dark, a tangle of breath and teeth and tongues that leaves me molten and boneless all at the same time.
“Maybe you should drive home,” I finally manage.
“Not until you give me what I want.” I can’t see him, but I can hear that little edge to his voice. Without a moment’s hesitation, I plop the car keys into the front of his shirt.
“Not that,” he murmurs, leaning over to trace the side of my neck with his teeth. I shiver at the sensation.
I squiggle around in my seat until my dress is hiked up and then reach for his hand and place it on the soft skin of my upper thighs.
“Erica,” he fusses, but then bites at my skin and does something with his talented hand that has me moaning.
“No, wait. You still haven’t given me what I want.”
I’m dying here, about to beg him to give me what I want instead, but there’s something serious underneath his seemingly light words.
“What is it you want from me, Bossy?”
“I want you to say yes.”
“Okay. Easy. Yes.”
His breath catches. “No takebacks.”
I shake my head. “I’ll always say yes to you, okay? Now can we get back to the biting and touching part?”
He laughs then reaches for my hand with both of his. He slides a band around my third finger and I pause, taking just a moment to make sure this is real.
“I thought I was the one with the surprise today,” I finally manage.
“I hate surprises.” But his voice gives away his pleasure in this particular one.
“So do I,” I answer, and it’s true. But without the unexpected and happenstance bringing us together, we wouldn’t be in his expensive fancy car, and I wouldn’t be suddenly weeping with happiness about us apparently getting engaged.
He kisses me. “No takebacks, remember?” His callused fingers smooth away the wetness from my cheeks.
“No takebacks. You promised me happily ever after, and I know you’re the kind of man who always keeps his promises.”
The night rests heavily above us, each individual star shining like a little glimpse of our future joy.
Because this is what being in love with my best friend has given me—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to let the man I love see himself through my eyes. I want him to see what a good-hearted, deeply talented human being he is.
And the amazing thing is that I know he feels exactly the same about me. His voice is steady and warm when he says, “Happily ever after then. I promise.”