And then we kiss, and my whole world returns to good. To the place I’ve missed so, so much.
The emotion between us is so strong that it brings tears to my eyes.
“Welcome home, fuck bunny,” he whispers against my lips. “Welcome home.”
One week later
“We need to do a follow-up story, a where-are-they-now kind of thing,” Athena says as we stand together at the printer.
“Yes, I know. I’m going to go over the notes this afternoon as soon as I get a chance.”
The office is a hive of activity today; news has broken overnight. A married senator has been caught in a scandal with his secretary, and the phones are ringing off the hook.
People are everywhere as they try to decipher the truth as the rumor mill spins into overdrive.
I’m having trouble concentrating, if I’m honest. I’m on a Jameson high. I think I can successfully say I’ve joined the Miles-High club.
This last week has been . . . magical.
I’m completely and utterly in love with this man. We moved me into his apartment on the weekend. Any trepidation that I had has finally gone.
I hear an unusual sound coming through the office, and Athena and I look up as the office watches on. I hear “The Piña Colada Song,” and I frown as Jameson comes into view through the desks.
Tristan is with him and holding an old-fashioned tape deck, and the familiar tune is blasting through the office.
If you like piña coladas,
And getting caught in the rain.
“What in the world?” I frown.
Jameson smiles hopefully as he approaches me. His eyes search mine.
The office falls silent as they watch on.
“Emily Foster,” he says.
“Yes?”
He drops to his knee, and the office collectively gasps. My hands fly over my mouth.
“Will you marry me?” He opens a black box and holds out a solitaire diamond ring.
I stare at him for a moment as my brain misfires.
Is this real?
I look over to Tristan. I’m in complete and utter shock.
“I’m the DJ.” Tristan grins as he taps the tape recorder as if very proud of himself.
“You are crazy,” I whisper.
“This proves it,” Jameson mutters dryly as he looks up at me from his knee.
My eyes are wide. I’m shocked to my very core.
“Answer the question,” he says.
I nod through giggles as “The Pina Colada Song” echoes through the office. “Yes.”
He slides the ring on my finger. It’s an oval diamond on a thin gold band, and I stare at it, still completely in shock.
I bend to him, and we kiss as the office breaks into laughter and cheers. They clap as we laugh into our kiss.
I can’t believe this is happening.
He stands and takes me into his arms. “Cheesy enough for you?” He smiles down at me.
I giggle as I hold him tight. “Next level cheese—and perfect. I love you, Mr. Miles.”
The song finishes, and Tristan presses play, and the song begins to repeat. The workers all cheer.
Jameson laughs in embarrassment and leans in to kiss me. “The things I would do for you, Emily Foster, the things I would do.”
Epilogue
One month later
I read the story in the paper.
Hayden Morris and Lara Aspin were officially charged today with the embezzlement of seven million dollars from Miles Media.
In what has been described as a modern Bonnie and Clyde story, the two, who have been dating for five years, carried out the fraud over a period of three years. The crime may have gone unnoticed, and they were only caught when Morris was fired by Miles Media.
Fueled by a need for revenge, they stupidly decided to frame Jameson Miles for the crime. In the backfire of all backfires, this decision sealed their fate. The pair will be serving prison time of ten years in different state prisons.
Jameson Miles has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Miles Media reached a new height today on the stock market since April 2018.
I smile broadly. It seems so long ago now that this all happened—a lifetime, if I’m honest.
Thank heavens it’s all over.
We have a wedding to plan. He’s given me three months. We have so much to do, so many decisions. Where will we get married? I have no idea. Jameson has said that I have to pick the destination because as long as I’m there, he doesn’t care where it is.
I wait on the curb in the underground parking lot. It’s Friday afternoon. “What did he say he was doing?” I frown at Alan.
“I think you will be pleasantly surprised.” He smirks.
I frown as I consider the possibilities. Jameson has been acting weird all week. Taking secret phone calls and being all pleased with himself. Maybe he’s secretly booked the wedding venue?
I hope so—helps me out.
I hear a crunch of gears, and I look up and frown. Bessie is bunny hopping toward us with Jameson behind the wheel, and Alan bursts out laughing.
My mouth falls open in shock. “What in the world?” I whisper.
He pulls up beside me, and I open the door.
“Going my way?” He smiles with a sexy wink.
I laugh out loud. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you away for a few days.”
“You are?”
“Your things are already in the trunk.”
“In Bessie?” I stammer.
“Yes, in Bitchy. I borrowed her from Viagra Mike. Although I must tell you, I’ve ordered you a new Range Rover. Bessie is unbearable.”
“You snob.” I giggle, then turn and hug Alan in excitement.
He laughs. “Have a great weekend, Ms. Foster,” he says as he helps me into the car. I lean over and grab Jameson and kiss his face. I love that he borrowed Bessie for me.
He honks the horn. “Goodbye, Alan,” he calls as he does an overexaggerated wave.
I laugh out loud at his un-Jameson-like behavior. “Goodbye, Alan.”
We bunny hop out of the parking lot, and he takes my hand in his and kisses the back of it. “Where do you want to go, my little fuck bunny?”
I smile over at my beautiful man. “Bumfuck nowhere.”
Two hours later
Jameson pulls into the driveway of Arndell, and I bounce in my seat. “We are going to our house?” I shriek in excitement.
“Yes, I booked it for the weekend.”
I unclip my seat belt and slide over and begin to smother his face in kisses as we drive up the driveway while he chuckles at my childlike behavior. We arrive at the old house, and I bounce out of the car before the car even stops and run up to the front door. I turn and stare out over the view of the beautiful grounds.
“Oh, Jameson, I just love this place.” I smile dreamily as he walks up behind me.
“I know.” He hands me a key ring with a red ribbon bow tied to it.
I frown as I stare down at it in my hand.
“That’s why I bought it for you.”
My eyes meet his. “What?”
“Uh-huh. I thought we could live here on the weekends and on holidays.”
“You want to be a swamp person with me?” I whisper in surprise.
He stands and takes me in his arms. “I could be anything, Emily Foster . . . as long as I’m with you.”