Page 86 of Broken Headboards

“And this is it,” he continues, waving one hand at the apartment set. “What we’ve been working so hard for all these past weeks. I’m proud to announce that OakmontDominahas been granted the chance to furnish the new studio apartments.”

OakmontDomina?

Wait.

What the hell.

“Yes, you heard right,” Austin tells me, almost as if he could hear my thoughts. “Taking the best design inspirations of the two finalists for the Clarendon Tower contract, we joined forces. What you have is the strength and sturdiness of Oakmont fused with the beauty and grace ofDomina. An architectural and decorative style that will stand the test of fucking time.”

People are murmuring in approval.

“OakmontDominaoffers the male and female perspectives,” Austin says, looking at me directly now from where he’s standing. “It recognizes that by itself, both may be strong, but flawed. Only together do we have harmony.”

Whoa.

What happened to Austin Randall?

Closing the distance between the two of us, he continues. “But nothing happens till you agree to it, Tess?”

I’m speechless.

“I can’t do this without you,” he says. “And I was wrong. I could never win on my own. I need you.”

I can’t control myself.

“I’m so sorry for walking out on you, Austin,” I say, tearing up. “I didn’t know what to do and I didn’t want you to think of me as losing.”

“But that’s the thing, Tess,” Austin says, getting down on one knee. “Without you, I’m lost. Without you, I’m nothing.”

He’s on one knee.

Wait.

“Tess Armstrong,” Austin says as he takes a box from his pocket. “Will you do the honor of being my partner in life and in business? Will you allow me the privilege of calling you my wife? Will you marry me?”

“YES!” I cry out, wrapping my arms around him and pressing my head against his chest, tears stinging my eyes.

“For all three?” he asks, a smirk on his lips once I stop kissing him.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I exclaim. “All of it.”

“I love you,” he whispers, pushing the hair away from my face and smiling.

Ashley is smiling and crying. Taylor is holding her.

I can make out Malcolm and Sonia smiling at us and Daphne and Dominic clapping along with a bunch of other residents. I don't know where Colt is. Maybe cumming on senior citizens somewhere (that’s another story, for sure).

“We’re going to be amazing, baby,” he says to me. “We’re going to be OakmontDomina.”

“Only on one condition, Austin,” I say to him, arching my eyebrow sharply.

“What’s that?” he asks, his face serious.

I smile.

“You gotta stop calling the reader, ‘baby’,” I say before I kiss him.