already have.’
‘No, I’ve only just begun. I love you, Ellie. Let me show you how for the rest of our days.’
Not often did an actual climax live up to the fantasy of Ellie’s unlimited—heavily Hollywood influenced—imagination. This moment wasn’t like that. There was no cinematic tweaking, no flash mob dancing, no proposals in neon lights... But nothing could beat the sincerity shining in the light in his eyes. Nothing could beat the liquid joy racing in her veins. Nothing could stop her from smiling, from crying. She squeezed her eyes shut as her tears flowed faster. Warmth seeped into her skin—the feel of his skin, his strong body, his tight embrace. Yes, the blaze of passion was there, but it was based on an eternal flame, a lick of heat that was all security. All his love.
She’d never felt so treasured. So wanted. In every way that mattered. In that most special of ways. She was his partner in everything. His equal. And they were going to work it together.
‘I love you.’ She’d give him everything she had to give. It could never be too much, now she understood that. He wanted it all—wanted to give her the same.
He groaned. ‘I need you.’
She couldn’t believe he was so blown away to have her in his arms. That he too was so ecstatic and so relieved that she’d opened up to him. As if he’d really believed she might not.
He moved, lifting her.
‘This is a bad idea,’ she yelped. ‘You’re injured.’
‘I’m fine,’ he argued.
‘You’re not.’
‘Hold me back any longer and I won’t be. Please let me do this.’
She cupped his cheek with her hand. ‘Only if you let me take care of you too.’
He smiled at her—that lucky, lovely smile—and carried her to the place they both needed to be. She muffled her gasps when she saw the extent of his bruising, but he’d already seen her distress.
‘It looks worse than it is.’
‘Liar.’ She brushed a kiss over the purplish skin near his ribs.
‘I love you.’
‘We haven’t had sex this simple,’ she said softly as he carefully moved over her.
‘This isn’t simple,’ he answered. ‘And this isn’t sex.’
She arched instinctively, her neck, her spine, her feet. Every muscle clenched on the pleasure of him, breathing hard already. Abandoned moans were a mere thrust away.
‘This is love.’ His biceps rippled as he braced over her, pausing before driving his point home. ‘This is making love.’
She cried, ‘Oh, yes.’
He groaned and pulled back, trying to slow down. ‘It’s not going to be a marathon.’
‘Not a problem.’ She arched again, the ripples starting already.
His grin was lopsided and strained. And so lucky. Their eyes met—vulnerable, revealing. Trusting.
In the aftermath he nuzzled closer, his weight so wonderfully heavy on her. She blew cool, teasing air over his face and neck.
‘I think I’m the luckiest guy ever,’ he whispered gruffly.
She looked at the lamp where his tee shirt had landed and saw the old slogan and smiled, the most secure and certain of anything in her life. ‘Yeah,’ she whispered. ‘There’s no one luckier than you. Except me.’
She felt his smile against her skin.
‘We’re going to spend the rest of our lives arguing that,’ he teased.
Pure happiness radiated through her. She softened. His completely. Happy completely.
‘I know.’
One Year Later.
‘I’M NOT going to win, you know. Just to be nominated is amazing. I never expected it, not two years in a row.’
Scepticism was painted all over Ruben’s face. ‘Just to be nominated? No one actually believes that, you know. Everyone wants to win. You included.’
Ellie determinedly shook her head. ‘It would be nice to win, but I’m not going to be devastated if I don’t. I’m going to enjoy the night anyway.’ She’d partied like a wild woman last year when she hadn’t won. This year was going to be so much better than that because he was with her and they’d just had the best year ever.
‘You are?’
She nodded. ‘You by my side, a job I adore. Life can’t get better.’
Those gorgeous lips of his curved a little deeper. ‘I got you a little something.’
‘A consolation prize?’ She giggled. ‘To make me feel better if I don’t win?’
‘I wouldn’t say it’s a consolation prize. But it’s for later.’
‘Can I have it now?’ She sent him a flirt look.
‘Your category hasn’t even been announced yet.’
‘I don’t care.’ She leaned close, brushing against him. ‘I’m far more interested in what you’ve got for me.’
‘It really is for later.’
‘Please?’
He sighed. ‘I can’t say no to you.’ He put his hand in his pocket. ‘But hopefully you can’t say no to me either.’
He opened his hand in front of her.
Ellie looked at the box. The noise of the crowded room was suddenly muted. The crowd had vanished too—she was conscious of only him and her. ‘Oh, Ruben.’
‘Bit of an odd place to do this, but...’
She looked up. She could see only him—his gorgeous brown eyes, that charming, lucky smile and the love that shone through.
‘You’ll say yes? You’ll marry me?’
‘Of course I will,’ she said. Only she was so choked up with emotion it was little more than a whisper.
She didn’t hear her name over the sound system, she was so busy kissing him.
It was Bridie who poked her in the back and informed her she’d just won Tour Guide of the Year.
She hit the stage, collected her award and was heading back to her seat with no recollection
