Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“I have an empty room over here.” She leads me into a room with several couches that are in much better condition with plush carpeting. “Give me five minutes and I’ll have a mirror set up so you can get ready without being disturbed.”
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I’m Skye, Thea’s assistant,” she answers before she disappears.
I let out a soft breath, relieved to be alone. I think that might have been the first time I’ve stood up for myself.
Pride fills me. I’ve spent so much time feeling like I have to apologize. But now I see I’m enough, as I am. I’m done making apologies and playing small. I’m taking back my power.
Skye returns with two big guys who are carrying a vanity. She directs them on where to set it in the room. It powers on, lighting up my face and I can see every acne scar and every freckle. But for the first time in a long time, I don’t want to hide.
“Those two are always like that, but I didn’t think they’d have the nerve to say something to your face,” Skye says. “I’m really sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize for them,” I tell her, meaning the words.
Before I can tell her anything else, Zac barrels into the room.
Skye mutters something and leaves the two of us alone.
His jaw is tight and there’s an icy calmness to his voice. “It’s been handled.”
“What do you mean, handled?” I demand as I start applying concealer over my trouble spots. I glance at him in the mirror. He’s reassured me so many times that he loves seeing me bare-faced that I don’t feel self-conscious in front of him at all.
“They’ve been fired.”
I gasp. “You can’t fire your crew because they were mean to me.”
“Damn straight I can. These were my people, and I don’t want people working for me that don’t see the beautiful treasure I see when I look at you.”
“Zac…” I stand from my seat at the vanity and cross the room. I throw myself into his arms. His hands go to my hips and his lips are on mine in an instant. His kiss is hot and possessive. He growls deep in his throat when I hitch my leg over his hip, grinding against him.
“Maple, get your ass out here right now! Stop making out with your girlfriend!” Thea bangs on the door to the dressing room.
I back away from him, sucking in oxygen greedily. This man kisses like he doesn’t care if we both suffocate. “You have to go.”
He presses soft kisses to my jaw, and I offer him my neck. He trails his lips lower. “Can’t help it. You look so damn beautiful tonight.”
“I love you,” I whisper. I hadn’t planned to tell him that yet. I’d wanted to wait for a quiet moment after the show. But this moment feels so very right.
He stops kissing me, a big grin stretching across his face. “Shit, I was supposed to wait for the performance, but I can’t wait another minute.” He reaches into the pocket of his black suitcoat and pulls out a ring box. “I love you, Dotty. The first moment I saw you, I glimpsed heaven, and it’s not because you hit me with your car. But because I saw my whole future in front of me. Make me the happiest cowboy on earth, and marry me.”
I sob his name. This is the happiest night of my life. I never imagined that when I started fake dating Zac Maple that it would turn into the real thing. But this love and passion between us burns so bright, and I know it always will.
“I’m taking that as a yes,” he whispers as he slips the ring on my finger.
I throw my arms around him and kiss him again. This cowboy is big and rowdy, and he belongs to me. We’re going to get married and start a family. We’ll raise our babies on his farm and then we’ll grow old together, laughing and loving our way through life.
Chapter 18
Zac
“Are you sure you have every exit and entrance covered?” I ask Gray again. He’s the owner of the Everafter Lodge here in Sweetheart, North Carolina. It’s a popular wedding destination, and I reserved it this weekend.
When I asked my girl what she wanted for Christmas, she told me the only thing she wanted was to become Mrs. Zac Maple. It took some planning and a hefty donation to Gray’s favorite charity, but we were able to get the last wedding of the year. I love that when the clock strikes midnight and announces a new year, I’ll be a married man.
“Every exit and entrance is covered. No paparazzi are getting in here,” Gray reassures me.
“And she’s not running away, though maybe she should,” Jasper jokes from his place in the groom’s suite. He’s one of my best men. He and my three brothers.