Beauty and the Boss (Modern Fairytales) (17 page)

Her eyes widened. “You…you’re…I…”

“It’s okay. I know it’s quick and all.” He laughed and kissed her. “You don’t have to say anything back. I’ll wait. I’m a patient man.”

“But—” She shook her head and slowly, beautifully, a smile spread across her face. “I love you, too.”

He froze. “You do?”

“I do.”

“Well, shit.” He laughed and kissed her, keeping it short. “That officially makes me the happiest guy on earth. Where’s my trophy?” He cupped the back of her neck. “Oh. Right. She’s here, in my arms already.” He lowered her face to his, stopping just short of kissing her. “Say it again, darling.”

She fisted his tux, her breath hitching in her throat. “I love you, Benji.”

“I love you, too.”

Unable to resist, the happiness practically bursting out of him, he pulled her down for a passionate, long, deep kiss. And he never wanted to stop. But then the limo
did
.

He picked her up and set her down, straightening her dress over her thighs. “You good, darling?”

“Y-Yeah.” Maggie watched him, smoothing her hair. “We’re home, aren’t we?”

Home. Such a simple word that held so much meaning. He’d found his home, but it wasn’t in the traditional sense. He’d found it in
her
. He opened the door and climbed out, offering her his hand. “Yeah. We’re home.”

She slid her fingers into his, grinning as she followed him out. They walked into the building hand-in-hand, and come what may—whatever they might have to face or fight their way through—they could make it.

Together.

Epilogue

Christmas, a year later

South Dakota

L
aughter rang out all around the living room’s pale yellow walls, and someone called out
bullshit
from the dining room, where a rousing game of cards was being waged. If Benjamin had learned anything during his weeklong stay here at Maggie’s farm, it was that her family took competition
very
seriously.

Even if it was “friendly.”

After the first time he’d beaten her father at cards—and had consequently feared for his life—he decided to avoid those games until he was liked enough not to be shot on the spot for winning. He was already almost there. Her family had greeted him with open arms and warm smiles. It was so foreign. So different. So
welcome
.

Staring into the crackling fireplace, he shifted his weight on the couch. He’d never been so accepted, so
happy
, as he’d been this last week, in South Dakota of all places. His “mother” was still a thorn in their sides they did their best to ignore, but being away from her—and all the drama she brought with her—had been paradise.

He almost didn’t want to go back. Life could be good here.

They could take over the farm from her parents and raise a bunch of gorgeous little brown-haired Maggies amidst the crops and the open, never-ending plains. He could be happy here. And so could Maggie.

Someone sat down beside him, and he didn’t need to look to find out who. He’d recognize her scent anywhere. Maggie wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek on his shoulder. “Whatcha thinking about?”

He held on to her wrists with one hand. The other held on to his beer. His heart picked up speed, because he was actually thinking about this. About walking away from their life in New York, and his company, and becoming a fucking farmer. “Have you ever thought about moving back out here?”

“Yeah, sometimes. I mean, it’s my home. Of course I think about it.” She stiffened. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly. He chugged the rest of his beer and pulled her onto his lap. She squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “Nothing’s wrong, and that’s just what I was thinking about.”

She grinned and smoothed his messy hair. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”

“I don’t think I’d use the word ‘stuck.’
Blessed
, maybe.” He nuzzled her neck and breathed in her scent, letting it soothe his nerves. “You make me so happy, Maggie. Happier than I’d have ever thought possible, or even believed in. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered.

Her gaze dipped down, lighting up with appreciation. She wriggled in his lap, brushing her sweet ass against his hard cock. Around her, he was always hard. Like a fast food joint, he was open twenty-four hours a day and ready to serve her at a moment’s notice. “Watch yourself,” he warned, nipping at her throat.

“I can’t help it.” She trailed her fingers down the buttons of his shirt. “You might not be
the
beast anymore, but you’re one
hot
beast in a flannel, jeans, and a five o’clock shadow. Who knew South Dakota would suit you so well?”

He rolled his hips up, his attention on the door to the living room. Maggie’s parents were the opposite of his mother—loving and kind and embracing—so they wouldn’t be alone much longer. “I can show you just how well it suits me, right now, in our room.”

She watched him through her dark lashes. “Oh…?”

“Yeah.” He stood up, holding her in his arms. “I have something to show you outside first, though.”

She blinked at him. “But it’s snowing and freezing.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm.” He set her on her feet and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. His legs felt a little bit weaker than normal, but he ignored that. “Come with me?”

“Okaaaay.” She eyed him as if he’d gone a little mad, and maybe he had. “Let’s go, then.”

He’d spoken with her father earlier today, and it was almost midnight, which meant it was almost Christmas, which made this their official one-year anniversary—and he knew exactly how he wanted to celebrate it. And where.

He threw his arm over her shoulder and led her to the front door, winking at her father as they left. Glen nodded once, and whispered something to her mother—who covered her mouth. Maggie missed all of this.

She was too busy watching him with a wrinkled brow.

“Are you feeling okay?” She stopped on the porch and rested a hand on his forehead. “You look a little green.”

“I’m fine.” He pulled her hand down and held on to it for dear life. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

She followed him, shivering, but didn’t argue. When they reached the huge willow tree in the middle of the backyard, he stopped, smiling up at the dark sky. Snowflakes fell, drifting down slowly and magically. “It’s snowing.”

“Yeah.” She glanced up at the sky for two seconds, but her gaze came back to him. “What’s going on? Why are you acting so strange?”

“Give me a second. I need to work it all out in my head. It has to be perfect.” He let out a soft chuckle and brushed her hair out of her eyes. “You deserve perfect, darling.”

She nibbled on her lower lip. “Okaaaaaayyyyy.”

Turning to face her, he rubbed her slim arms through the blanket. He could feel her goose bumps even through the thick material. “This past year has been heaven, Maggie. Pure heaven. You gave me myself—and helped me remember the kind of man I wanted to be. A man who loved, and laughed, and
lived
. I love you so damn much. You have no idea.”

She smiled. “I love you, too, Benji.”

“But you don’t understand. I didn’t really live until
you
. I existed as a shadow of myself, sure, but that’s not the same.” He caught both of her hands and held on tight, smiling. “You taught me that, just like you taught me what real love feels like.”

Awareness dawned on her, as if she figured out why they were out here, in the cold. He saw it in her expression. “Benjamin…”

“You are my everything. My life. My love. My heart.” He squeezed her hands and laughed, because tears rolled down her cheeks. “Do you know what this tree is?”

She nodded, not speaking.

“Then you know that your father brought your mother out here, when they first started dating, and they planted the tree together. He told her that the tree would grow, like his love for her, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.” He let go of her hands, wiped the tears off her cheeks, and reached into his pocket. “This is where he asked her to marry him. The tree was a lot smaller, but you get the idea.”

She covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”

“Maggie Louise Donovan, you have made me the happiest man on this earth, so I might be getting greedy now, asking for more, but I’m going to do it anyway.” He sank to one knee and pulled out a little blue box—one she probably recognized all too well. “You are the one person I never have to wonder about, the one person I always want by my side. Will you make me an even happier man and agree to be my wife? To spend the rest of our lives together—here or in New York, I don’t give a damn, as long as I have you—loving one another? No matter what comes?”

She fell to her knees in front of him and kissed him. She tasted like tears and sunshine—and forever. By the time she pulled back, his vision was less than perfectly clear. He blinked rapidly, grinning as she sniffed loudly and said, “I love you. I love you so much.”

He nodded. “But you still have to answer me.”

“Oh my—” She laughed and covered her mouth. “Well, I can only think of one appropriate reply.” She rested her hands on his shoulders, giving him the brightest smile he’d ever seen. “I thought you’d never ask, Benji.”

She threw herself at him, and they fell to the ground, lips locked. The ring tumbled somewhere in the snow, but neither of them broke off long enough to search for it. She eventually ended the kiss, resting her forehead on his. “I can’t believe you knew about this tree. How did you find out about it?”

“Like a wise person once told me…” He tucked her hair behind her ear and craned his neck, searching for the blue box. He found it easily. “Research. Always research.”

She cupped his face. “I love you, Benji.”

“I love you, too. And I meant what I said.” He pulled the ring out with a trembling hand. “I’ll move out here with you, if that’s what you want. We can be farmers and live here and keep the family business going. This farm means a lot to your family—and to me, too.”

“What about
your
family business?”

“That doesn’t seem as important as it did a year ago. Probably because my mother isn’t really my family. You are.” He kissed her again and held out the ring. “I love you.”

She blinked away tears and took it. “I love you, too.”

“Read it.”

“What?” She picked it up and held it to the moonlight, squinting. “Forever yours, for all time, Benji.”

He took it from her and slid it on, watching the way it fit as he did so. It was the same ring as before—he’d planned to give it back to her someday, for real this time, so it wasn’t the first time he’d seen it on her. But it was the first time it meant something. Something real. And he’d never been happier. “Seeing that on you…it does things to me, darling. I was alone for so long.”

“You’re not alone. Not anymore.” She wrapped her arms around him and straddled him, face to face. “And never again.”

“Because of you.” He rubbed noses with her. Hers was freezing. “Because of
us
.”

She kissed him again, and he pulled her closer against his chest, wrapping the blanket around the both of them. It still wasn’t close enough. Nothing ever would be. Not for this beast and the beauty who had saved him from himself. By the time they came up for air, the kiss had taken on a whole new meaning.

It was a beginning. A promise. A vow.

Of
forever
.

THE END

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Acknowledgments

I’ve written lots of books, and with that, lots of acknowledgements. But this time, I want to keep it short and sweet, and say thank you to those of you out there who have read those books. Whether this is your twentieth book by me, or your first…

THANK YOU.

Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do this.

About the Author

Diane Alberts
is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. She’s hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble numerous times with numerous titles. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

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