Page 19 of Wicked Desire (Sapphic Billionaire Club #2)

Eleven months later…

“Are you sure she doesn’t suspect anything?”

Theo shook his head. “As far as she knows, she’s going to California to meet with a potential new business partner who’s only available on Saturday. She’s totally clueless.”

Theo and I had been planning this weekend for over a month, with lots of help from Maeve and Ariel.

They’d invented this fake business meeting, which coincidentally was happening close by the house in Malibu where we’d gone that first time we made love.

Grace asked me to go with her and make a weekend of it, but I’d pretended to be too busy with work.

In truth my work was busy. I was acquiring business so quickly that I’d hired on two other architects a few months ago. I’d worked on a few jobs for my family’s company as well as AGM but most of my business came from industry contacts I’d made over the years I’d worked in real estate development.

When I wasn’t working, I was hanging out with my girlfriend.

Now that she only had one full-time job, Grace had much more free time, which meant that we could spend a couple nights a week together, as well as every weekend.

We spent a lot of time exploring the city, going to the opera, attending festivals, and hanging out on her friend Ariel’s boat.

The AGM crew had also brought me in to help evaluate nonprofits applying for funding from their foundation, including doing site visits. It felt great to be helping our local community.

Grace’s relationship with her parents was still a little strained, but it seemed like her family was finally understanding that Grace wasn’t coming back to work there.

Like me with my family’s company, she served on the board of Sanderson Real Estate Services and that was the extent of her involvement.

The two of us had dinner with her parents a few weeks ago, and it had gone better than either of us had expected, so that was progress.

True to her word, Grace hadn’t brought up living together or marriage even once in the last eleven months, which was going to make my surprise even sweeter.

I grabbed a commercial flight for California in the morning and headed to the house in Malibu. Right before six o’clock I heard the Town Car dropping Grace off in front of the house. A few minutes later, the door opened.

I was ready for her.

“What the hell?”

She walked into the living room, then stopped dead, her head swiveling as she looked around the room.

“Nicole? You’re here? What is all this?”

I’d lit a bunch of candles, placing them around the room, and set the dining room table for a romantic dinner.

“I wanted to surprise you,” I said, suddenly nervous.

She stepped closer. “You did.”

Before I could lose my nerve I dropped to one knee and pulled the ring box from my pocket. Grace’s eyes widened comically.

“Grace Sanderson, love of my life, will you marry me?”

One hand clapped over her mouth and her eyes filled with tears as she stared at me for a long, pregnant moment.

“It hasn’t been a year yet,” she finally said. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I replied sincerely.

She raced closer, dropping to her knees in front of me.

“Yes Nicole, of course I’ll marry you.”

I slid the engagement ring that Theo helped me pick out onto her finger, then dragged her into my arms and gave her a long, passionate kiss. When we pulled away, Grace stared at her finger in amazement.

“We’re getting married!”

“We’re getting married,” I confirmed.

“Can we do it today?” she said excitedly.

I burst out laughing. “Theo has already informed me that he’s the wedding planner, and there’s no way we can deny him that honor. He had so much fun planning Ariel and Sadie’s wedding.”

Our friend loved nothing more than planning elaborate parties. Well, maybe matchmaking. That was also a favorite of his. He had a good track record. He’d helped Sadie and Ariel, me and Grace, and recently he’d also had a hand in Maeve finding her happily ever after.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” I replied.

“What’s up with dinner?” she asked, pointing at the table. “Is it something that can wait?”

I nodded. “It can definitely wait. Should we head to the bedroom?”

She smiled. “I’ll race you.”

***

Twenty years ago…

“I can’t believe we’re finally graduating.”

Ariel’s smile was huge as she threw one arm over Maeve’s shoulder and the other over mine.

“No more uniforms. No more parents telling us what to do.”

We paused as Nicole walked by with a small group of her friends, all still wearing their red caps and gowns. The color matched Nicole’s lipstick, and I was struck by how pretty she looked. Our eyes met for just a few seconds before they skittered away, giving me a strange feeling deep in my belly.

Seeing the exchange, Ariel added, “No more competing with Nicole Lowenthal either. She’s not going to Northwestern.”

As Nicole walked out of my site I had the strangest feeling, like maybe our story wasn’t over…