The Things She Says(66)
The coincidence didn’t mean anything. Not really, but it broke her resistance. Her greatest emotional need was the heart of this man, and he was spilling it out, passionately, with soul-wrenching truth. Offering her something real, tied up with a fairy-tale bow, and asking if she was woman enough to accept.
“And you’re crying because?” he asked.
“Because I love you. Put the ring on, Kristian.”
The storm clouds finally cleared from his eyes as he slid the circle of forever onto her finger. Then he kissed her. It was joyous, magical, right.
Almost.
She pulled back. “Um, can you turn off the camera? I’m about four seconds from stripping you, and a sex-tape scandal might not be the best move for us.”
His rich laughter took up residence in her heart, and she believed again. Not in a fantasy, but in real, true love.
Epilogue
Kris tossed the phone onto the island in the middle of his kitchen. No way had that just happened. He barged into the master bathroom, raring for a confrontation, anticipating it, because he never had to pretend he was emotionless ever again.
Coconut-scented bubble bath hit him at the threshold and ignited that primal reaction that hadn’t faded. At all. His mind drained of everything except for the scene before him. VJ soaked in the tub, spread out appetizingly, with her eyes closed, hair wet and pure bliss in her smile. The diamond on her third finger caught the light and refracted, splintering through his heart.
She’d moved into his condo only a month ago, sliding into it as if she’d always been there. Her presence alone lightened the darkness of the decor as if he had a private sun all his own. Only a month, and already the preproduction work on Visions of Black was done. Brilliantly, and largely due to VJ, his stellar new production assistant.
Love was the greatest muse of all. How had he ever created without her? How had he ever lived?
She popped an eye open and regarded him steadily, shamelessly naked and gorgeous.
“Are you going to watch or get in?” she asked, her voice husky. “If it’s the former, I should move some of these bubbles.”
In a slow, sensuous scrape, she swished them from her breasts and the red butterfly peeped up from the foam. That butterfly—the color of passion and permanent. Every waking moment, he labored to live up to what it represented. To be worthy of the faith she’d had in him from the beginning.
Familiar quickening spiked through his groin, but he crossed his arms instead of flinging clothes to the floor. “I’m not falling for that again. Figure out a different way to distract me because—” With a sigh, he turned his back to the provocative sight of his soon-to-be-wife. “Never mind. It still works.”
VJ laughed. “What am I trying to distract you from this time?”
“Kyla called. A warning might have been nice.” He tried to sound stern and failed. “She was letting me know, oh-so-casually, how excited she was to start shooting since you talked her into taking a percentage of profits instead of the upfront fee her contract called for.”
What a relief. A huge, gigantic relief to have that albatross off his shoulders. The film was all downhill from here.
“What? I’m not allowed to rescue you occasionally? Too bad if you don’t like it. That’s stage eight, by the way, and I’m bound to think of a few more,” she said with a little splash, as if she’d risen from the water, perhaps exposing the butterfly fully. “Wedding’s in three days. Last chance to back out.”
“No way, agapi mou.” He twisted and ripped off his T-shirt, followed swiftly by the rest of his clothes. He stepped down, sank into the water filling the enormous garden tub and spooned VJ into his arms. Definitely his favorite position. “You’re stuck with me. I gave up half my bed for you, after all.”
“It’s only fair. I gave up a half of a condo in Dallas for you. Though I have a feeling Beverly Porter and Pamela Sue are going to kill each other before too much longer,” she said drily and settled back into that place only she fit. Wet cinnamon hair splayed across his chest, warming his skin and his heart.
Now. He had to join with this amazing woman who had saved him, and within seconds, it was a reality. The best reality because it was a combination of passion, love, friendship and a touch of magic.
Happily ever after had a lot to recommend it.
Six months passed in a blur of pleasure. Kris married VJ in a fairy-tale wedding and took her on a two-week honeymoon to Fiji, which was as far out of the state of Texas as he could get. He fell more in love with his wife every day.
He filmed Visions of Black on a shoe-string budget like in the old days, and discovered an interesting secret. Turned out when he put his heart into directing, cast and crew alike responded with vivid performances. The media, never hesitant to jump on a good story, devoted a great deal of coverage to the romance between the director and the woman who inspired him.