“I love you!” He cried as he jumped off the step and threw his arms around Royce.
“Well...” Royce murmured as he caught him then smiled as he wound his arms around Grant. “That’s perfect because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life, in ways I never thought I was capable of,” he stated. A startled laugh slipped from Grant as he searched Royce’s face.
“Really?” None of it seemed real or possible but Royce came back and it felt like he always would. Royce chuckled as his arms tightened around Grant possessively.
“I love you and I don’t want to pretend to be your boyfriend anymore,” he said. A watery laugh burst from Grant.
“You don’t?” He asked and Royce groaned softly as he teased Grant’s lips.
“No. I’d like to be your husband, one day, when you’re ready,” he stated matter-of-factly and Grant laughed again.
“Are you sure? I’m kind of a mess,” he warned and Royce waved it off.
“I’m a pampered pain in the ass and I don’t know how to do my own laundry. I’m probably getting the better end of the deal. I’m not sure why anyone would want to marry me,” he admitted. Grant raised a shoulder and chewed on his lip as he loosened the knot in Royce’s tie. Their morning outing was going to have to wait.
“I happen to have a lot of time and space in my life and can accommodate a pampered pain in the ass. If you’re willing to be patient and agree to one condition,” he said. Royce’s eyes glittered as they widened.
“I’ll do anything,” he vowed.
“We have to invite the Lees to the wedding,” Grant whispered and Royce laughed as he gathered him in his arms and spun him.
“It’s a deal,” Royce said as his hand curved around Grant’s jaw and he kissed him tenderly. “Pretending to fall in love with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Epilogue
One year later...
They got married in Walter Newberry’s garden. Griffin was there but Royce asked Walter to be his best man. It was Walter who brought them together and it was Walter’s gentle guidance and sage advice that stayed Royce’s hand and helped him out-maneuver Waites. The garden was wrapped in fairy lights and candles floated in the pond as Royce promised to love and cherish Grant, in sickness and in health. Edgar was Grant’s best man and Marcy and Audrey wept at his side as he vowed to love and cherish Royce for the rest of his life. They kissed as husbands as the Lees, Vanessa, the Davis sisters and a handful of friends clapped, cheered and cried. After, Walter hosted his most extravagant party ever and all of Hopkins Creek and Apsenville turned out to celebrate the newlyweds.
“How are you feeling?” Royce asked when he found Grant sitting in their secret corner in Walter’s garden. Grant looked like he’d been crying but his smile was radiant as he stood and let Royce gather him in his arms. He was relaxed and light as they began to sway with the band on the front porch.
“I feel great and I’m really happy,” Grant said. Royce could feel it as they kissed and in the steady pounding of Grant’s heart as they held each other close. “I’m happy but I’m also a little sad,” he admitted and Royce sighed as he rested his forehead on Grant’s.
“That’s understandable,” he replied gently. Royce couldn’t fathom pledging his heart to another man but Grant found the strength to trust and do it all over again.
“I’m happy and this feels right but it also feels like I’m leaving someplace I loved and I can’t ever go back,” he explained and Royce frowned.
“You don’t have to let go of Chris,” he argued. Grant nodded and made a contented sound as he wound his arms around Royce’s neck.
“I know and I know Chris would love this. He wanted me to laugh and have adventures and he’d think this was perfect. But my life with Chris was supposed to be my greatest adventure and I have to accept that that’s over and I’m going on a different adventure with someone else. I’m excited and I want to be brave and embrace every minute of it but I have to let go of the dream Chris and I shared to do that.”
“Falling in love with you has been my greatest adventure. I promised Chris that I’d make you laugh and I take that just as seriously as my wedding vows,” Royce said and Grant smiled.
“You make me laugh every day and I didn’t realize how much I needed that. Thank you,” he whispered.
“It’s been my pleasure,” Royce murmured then growled softly as his lips found Grant’s ear and nibbled. “Speaking of… Are you ready to leave? Nobody expects us to stay,” he said and Grant hummed thoughtfully.
“I think I’d like to go outside and dance with my husband first,” he decided and Royce’s brows jumped as his head cocked.
“Out there? Where everyone can see us?” He teased and Grant gave him a flat look.
“I’m being brave,” he stated flatly and Royce nodded in agreement.
“You are,” he said as he cradled Grant’s cheek then kissed him.
“And if I survive that, I’d like to go home and make love to my husband,” Grant declared and Royce had never felt prouder or more excited about anything in his life. Which was saying a lot. Royce’s life had been one delightful surprise after another since he arrived in Hopkins Creek.
The End
*Before you go! A review would put the biggest smile on my face and feel like a hug or a high five from you but PLEASE be careful about spoilers!
Love,
K. Sterling
A Letter From K. Sterling
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for your time and letting us find a little more room in your heart. I hope you enjoyed The Perfect Cover and fell in love with Grant and Royce as much as I did. I’m hoping you’ll return to the K. Sterling universe and see what kind of trouble we get ourselves into. Our next adventure will be available soon! Before you go, I’d appreciate it if you’d consider leaving a review on Amazon. Your review would really help me and help other readers on Amazon find their way to The Perfect Cover. And I promise, I read and appreciate every single one of them. Even the negative reviews. I want your honest feedback so I know how to steal your heart. Please help me out by leaving a review! Tell me if you enjoyed our little trip to Hopkins Creek and what you’re in the mood for next!
K. Sterling is just a very tired and anxious woman with a MacBook who writes to save her sanity. Writing also allows her to stay home and care for her dog, the awful Otis, and one very rotten cat, Luna. K. has two teenage daughters who are the most teenage daughters to ever teenage and responsible for all of K.’s premature grey hairs. She also homeschools her autistic teenage son, Alex. Alex is the inspiration behind K.’s most beloved character, Dr. Aiden Sharp. Before all this magical romance nonsense happened, K. served in the U.S. Army as a counterintelligence agent then went on to teach CI Investigations before changing careers and becoming a stay-at-home mom with Alex and the gang. K. has been married for many, many years to Mr. Sterling and he’s recently left his very long career in counterintelligence to narrate his wife’s audiobooks. And other things.
If you’d like sneak peeks at future releases, including excerpts, inspiration pics and cover reveals, follow Author K. Sterling at ksterlingbooks.com and on FaceBook: