Page 64 of Most Likely to Deny Love (Yearbook #2)

MIA

I stepped through the main doors of Catalyst Digital, clutching my coffee with one hand and my purse with the other. Emily was right beside me, animatedly describing her latest art commission disaster.

“And then she says, get this, she says, ‘I was thinking maybe more blue? And could you make the mountains look happier?’ Happier mountains, Mia. What does that even mean?”

“No idea,” I murmured, genuinely sympathetic but only half listening. My eyes had already darted to Jack’s office door across the floor. I stopped dead still. It was open. His office door was open. He was back? No, that can’t be right. He would have called, or texted, or come by.

Just as I managed to get my feet to start moving, Emily gripped my arm, stopping me. “What the fuck is this about?”

“Wh-what?”

“Why is everyone standing around your office?”

Dazed and a little confused, I dragged my gaze from Jack’s office door to my own.

There were at least twenty people gathered there.

Half of both sales teams, Rebecca, Tiffany, Porter two of the directors and someone else from HR.

My heart was pounding as acid churned in my gut.

Had Rebecca finally found a way to get me fired?

Feeling more than a little sick, I approached the group. “What’s going on here?”

Rebecca whirled around, her face flushed with vindication. “Ms. Harris! How nice of you to finally grace us with your presence.”

“It’s 8:45,” I replied, glancing at my watch. “I’m fifteen minutes early.”

“Early for what? To continue making a mockery of this company’s professionalism?” She jabbed a finger toward my office door. “This is absolutely unacceptable behavior. I’ve been waiting for you to slip up, and this time I have concrete evidence of your disregard for appropriate workplace conduct.”

I blinked, utterly confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, don’t play innocent.” Tiffany’s voice dripped with malice. “The evidence is right in there.”

Rebecca cut in again, practically vibrating with self-righteous energy.

“I’m going back to my office to draft your termination paperwork right now.

You’ve brought this on yourself, Ms. Harris.

You’ve always been a troublemaker who thinks the rules don’t apply to you, but this time you won’t get away with it. ”

“Now, Rebecca,” Director Johnson began. “About that… “

I looked around at the gathered faces, some sympathetic, others curious, a few women smiling brightly. Whatever this was about, it was clearly significant enough to draw an audience.

“I still don’t know what?—”

“See for yourself.” Porter gestured toward my office door.

Thoroughly bewildered, I stepped forward and pushed open the door.

The sight that greeted me stole the breath from my lungs.

Every surface, my desk, my computer monitor, my bookshelf, my walls, even the windows, was covered with bright yellow Post-it notes. Hundreds of them. Maybe thousands. And on each one, written in Jack’s familiar handwriting, were three simple words: I love you .

My hands flew to my face, covering my mouth as a gasp escaped me. The room seemed to spin as I took in the sea of yellow, each square a physical manifestation of everything I’d been hoping for, everything I’d been afraid to believe could be real.

It took me straight back to that very first note Jack had left for me. Back then, I couldn’t have imagined this moment, couldn’t have dreamed someone would love me this boldly, this completely.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the vibrant yellow into a golden haze. My heart felt too big for my chest, each beat sending waves of emotion crashing through me. He loved me. Jack Sullivan—brilliant, gorgeous, complicated Jack Sullivan—loved me .

My gaze landed on my computer monitor, where a single blue Post-it stood out among the yellow sea. In the same familiar handwriting, but with words that made my knees buckle: Marry me, Mia?

I stumbled forward, one trembling hand reaching to touch the blue square as if to verify it was real. The sapphire ring hanging from my necklace suddenly felt heavy against my skin.

In a daze, I floated back to my office doorway. The crowd had fallen silent, watching my reaction. I barely registered their presence as my eyes instinctively sought Jack’s office across the floor.

And there he was.

Standing in his doorway, leaning against the frame with his hands tucked casually in his pockets, his shirt sleeves rolled up. His hazel eyes locked on mine, warm and intense and full of love. A half-smile played at the corners of his mouth. He’d never looked more gorgeous, more right.

A hush fell over the entire office as heads turned from me to Jack and back again, confusion evident on every face except Emily’s, who had a knowing gleam in her eyes, and was already wiping away tears.

Without breaking eye contact, Jack straightened and began walking toward me.

His stride was unhurried but purposeful, navigating between desks and chairs with fluid grace.

The confidence in his movements, the intensity in his gaze, the slight curve of his lips, all of it made my heart race wildly in my chest.

When he was close enough, I reached out and grabbed his tie, walking backward into my office and pulling him with me. My hands were visibly shaking, but I held on like that tie was a lifeline.

As I pushed the door shut behind us, I heard Rebecca’s gasp of outrage, then Director Johnson’s murmured, “Rebecca, please accompany me to my office. You are entitled to a support person for this meeting.”

Then the door clicked closed, and it was just us, surrounded by hundreds of declarations of love.

“You’re back,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

“I’m back,” he confirmed, his eyes never leaving mine.

“And you did all this.” I gestured at the Post-it covered room, unable to stop the tears that spilled down my cheeks.

“I did.”

“In the middle of the office. Where everyone can see.”

Jack’s smile deepened, a softness in his eyes I’d never seen before.

“Seemed appropriate, considering where it all started.” He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending shivers across my skin.

“Besides, I’m tired of hiding how I feel about you.

I’ve spent my whole life hiding parts of myself, Mia. Not anymore. Not with you.”

I threw my arms around his neck, pressing my body against his. “I love you too, Jack. So much. I’ve loved you for so long, and I was so scared you wouldn’t come back.”

His arms wrapped around my waist, lifting me slightly off the ground as he held me tight against him. His voice was rough with emotion when he spoke. “I’ll always come back to you, Mia. You’re my home now.”

He held me for a long, luxurious moment, my body melting into his as if we’d been designed as two pieces of the same puzzle. The warmth of his body against mine felt like coming home after years of wandering.

Finally, Jack leaned back, his eyes roving hungrily over my face.

His hands slid to my waist, anchoring me to him as he dipped his head down. His lips brushed against mine, soft at first, then with growing intensity that made my toes curl inside my sensible work pumps.

This kiss was different. No hesitation, no holding back, nothing left unsaid between us. It tasted like love and promises and forever. Like finally being seen, completely and fully, and loved not despite my flaws but because of the whole, messy package that was me.

When we parted, both slightly breathless, Jack rested his forehead against mine. His fingers traced lazy patterns on my hips through my dress.

“Ask me where I’ve been,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that I could feel vibrating through my entire body.

I pulled back just enough to see his face properly, curiosity blooming alongside the happiness bubbling in my chest. My fingers played with the short hairs at the nape of his neck.

“Where have you been?” I whispered, suddenly desperate to know everything I’d missed while he was away.

“A few places, but Colorado, mostly.”

“Colorado?” My heart skipped a beat as worry instantly flooded my system. “Is Nan okay? Did something happen?”

Jack’s eyes widened, and he quickly shook his head, his hands squeezing my waist reassuringly. “No, no, Nan’s fine. She’s more than fine, actually. She’s very pleased with the recent investment we’ve made into Catalyst Digital.”

My eyes widened. “You bought a stake in the company?”

“I did. Ask me why.”

“Why?”

“Because I know you, Mia. If you did want a future with me, you would have felt you needed to quit your job. This job means everything to you, so I wasn’t prepared to let that happen. I don’t want you to sacrifice any part of yourself for me.”

“So you bought the company?”

“Not the whole company, just a controlling interest. But it’s enough that I can overturn existing policies at my own discretion. And I also have a say in personnel. Which is why Rebecca is currently signing her termination paperwork.”

I laughed through my tears, shaking my head in wonder. “You’re something else, Jack Sullivan.”

His expression grew serious as he gestured toward my computer. “Did you see the blue Post-it?”

“I did,” I whispered, my heart hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it.

Jack took both my hands in his, his thumbs caressing my palms. His eyes, dark and intense, held mine. “I meant every word on every single Post-it in this room, Mia. But that blue one? That’s the most important question I’ll ever ask.”

My breath caught as Jack reached forward, his fingers finding the delicate chain around my neck. The sapphire ring gleamed as he gently lifted it from beneath my collar.

“This ring was never supposed to be for pretend,” he said softly, carefully unclasping the necklace. “Even when I bought it, some part of me knew it was real. That we were real.”

He slid it free from the chain, and held it between us. The same ring I’d worn while playing at being engaged, but now it meant something entirely different. Something true.

“Mia Harris, I love everything about you. Your kindness, your determination, your ridiculous sweet tooth, the way you fight for what you believe in. Will you marry me? For real this time?”

My vision blurred with tears as I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. When I found my voice, it was barely a whisper. “Yes. Of course, yes.”

Jack slid the ring onto my finger. What had once been pretend now felt like the most real thing in my world.

His eyes, usually so guarded, shone with unmasked emotion. “You’ve just made me the happiest man in the world.”

“I’m happier than I ever thought possible. Kiss me, Jack.”

He did and I knew with absolute certainty that this was where I belonged. In this ridiculous Post-it covered office, in the arms of a man who had seen all of me and loved me anyway.

Love wasn’t about grand gestures or perfect timing, though Jack had obviously mastered both. It was about finding the person who made you feel brave enough to be exactly who you are.

And I’d found mine. “I love you, Jack.”

“I love you, too, Mia.”