Maid For You - A Cinderella Love Story (20 page)

A
va

1
Year Later
…

“
C
ome on Kitten
, we’re gonna be late…”

I check my reflection one last time and fix my hair. “Coming…”

It’s my twenty-seventh birthday and as I come down the stairs, I see Jax pacing the floor. He’s kind of been all jumpy today, but I figure it’s because he’s got a lot on his plate. I stop for a moment to watch him and even a year later, my breath still hitches at the sight of him. His hair is styled in that perfect mess I love and his outfit, consisting of black jeans and a black button-down shirt, makes him look like he belongs in a Bond movie. Sexy, sharp, and dangerous. Looking up, his blue eyes lock with mine and he stops pacing, watching my descent.

Even now, my heart takes off and races like a thoroughbred when he looks at me like that. He makes me feel so incredibly loved, worshipped, and desired.

He releases a low whistle. “Wow. You look beautiful.”

I reach the bottom and give him a little twirl. I’m wearing a red A-line dress, which has a frill around the hem. Lauren sent it as my birthday present and I love it. It’s feminine, sexy, and playful. and I partnered it with my black red-soled stilettos.

I wrap my arms around him and peck him on the lips. “Thank you.”

Jax groans against my mouth. “You better stop now, or we’re missing your birthday dinner…”

I laugh and purposely rub myself against him. “I’ve no problem with that…”

“You are a temptress, Miss Cortes…” He gently pulls away and kisses the tip of my nose. “Let’s go, Kitten.”

I
’m ridiculously happy
. Our lives have entwined and come together so perfectly over the past year. Sometimes it’s crazy and stressful, but I have a life that’s better than I could have ever dreamed of.

After a few months of dating, Jax surprised me and bought us a beach villa. He knew how much I’d missed being by the water, and I fell in love with the place as soon as he removed my blindfold.

The villa is elegant and has everything I’ve always loved. High ceilings, a living room with a fireplace, and the perfect ocean-view dining room that opens onto the deck. I loved it so much that I put my apartment up for rent and moved back to Miami with Jax. Truth was, neither of us could stand being apart from each other, and the constant flying back and forth was starting to take a toll.

Lauren is still in New York. We visit each other often but message and talk about fifteen times a day. I’m lucky that most of my side of the business is digital and therefore I don’t have to attend as many client meetings and video conferences are my best friend. As we’ve expanded so rapidly, we’re also thinking of hiring more staff to shoulder some responsibility.

The majority of our business comes from The Dreams Foundation. After discovering his past, I felt so much more connected to Jax, which made me love him a little harder. The Foundation is going from strength to strength and combined with Lauren’s and my tactical advertising, donations are now flowing in. It’s incredibly special to work together on such a wonderful cause.

W
e reach
the restaurant and Jax takes my hand, leading me to the back, where he appears to have reserved a private room. When we’re outside it, he holds open the door and I walk into the darkened room.

“Surprise!”

My hand flies to my mouth, and the light comes on to reveal all our loved ones standing in front of us. There’s Gaby and Roberto, Carter with Cole and Kyle, Michael and Veronica, and Lauren with Logan. Yeah…they’re together, but that’s a different story altogether. Things are getting better with Veronica, she’s trying to make up for the past and I’m beginning to even like her now.

I spin around to Jax, my eyes filling with tears, but he’s down on one knee. Gasping out loud, my eyes flare and go back and forth between his face and the ring he’s holding. He’s grinning from ear to ear.

“Ava Isabella Cortes, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, both inside and out. You make me complete. Every single day, I’m grateful for fate intervening and bringing us back together after six long years apart. I want to fill that beautiful belly of yours with plenty of kids and grow old together. I want to give you the world…and I promise to always do right by you. I love you. Will you be mine, forever?”

I remove my hand from my mouth and mouth a “yes,” and our families break out into screams and thunderous applause. He steps up to face me and wipes his thumb gently down my cheek, which are wet with tears.

“I love you so much, Jax. God, I’m so lucky.”

He pulls me against him and brings his mouth down on mine, kissing me with so much passion that after a few seconds, I can hear Carter shouting out, telling Jax to stop. We laugh and break away, our eyes fixed on each other.

“I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he says. “I love you, Kitten.”

Everything in the world has fallen into place. I’m so happy, I think my heart could explode with the love I feel for this man.

“I can’t wait for you to be my husband,
Stud
.”

P
aisley Lang is
a long-time lover of reading and writing romance. She spends her days looking after her two children and her nights dreaming up alpha heroes.

If you’re looking for romance with heart, conflicted men and sassy women, you’re in the right place.

There’s always a HEA for this fairy-tale dreamer.

A
note
to some very special people I'm incredibly thankful for:

T
o my wonderful
husband and kids for all the support you give me to pursue my dream.   

To my publisher, Prism Heart Press, for the encouragement I continually receive - you rock! 

To my readers - thank you for taking a chance on a new author, I'm so grateful.

Last but not least, to Winter - thank you for going above and beyond with your help and advice.

L
ove lots
, Paisley.