“Go right ahead.” Alicia waved toward the couch and waited while Brad took a seat. She moved in the direction of the chair, but Brad’s voice stopped her.
“Will you sit next to me on the couch? It will make it a lot easier for me to give you your present.”
Great! How could she sit that close to him with him smelling so good? Stomping across the room, Alicia took a seat on the couch but she left enough room between them so they weren’t touching.
“Alicia, I love you,” Brad said staring at her with a tense longing in his eyes. “I was a total ass to you and we both know it. I didn’t even give you a chance to defend yourself against what Richard told me. I assumed you were the same woman who had used me to make Max jealous, but you aren’t.
“You’re loving, caring and beautiful. You went out of your way to get me a meeting with Ivan Graf, who by the way agreed yesterday to become my partner in Perfect Match, my new business.”
“Congratulations, Brad. I’m so happy for you. I knew how much you wanted to have your own business,” Alicia said. “I know you will do an outstanding job. Ivan is lucky to have you and that’s all I wanted was for you to get everything you wanted.”
“Well, I only have about twenty-five percent of what I want then,” Brad said as he handed the box to her.
“What is this?” Alicia noticed how heavy the box felt. What in the heck was inside it and should she even open it?
“It’s a present for you and me,” Brad whispered as he slid closer to her on the couch. “Open it.”
A present for both of them? Brad wasn’t making any sense.
“I don’t know. This might be something that I can’t accept since we’re no longer together.”
“Please open the box. I love you and I know you still love me. Just open it.”
Alicia stared into Brad’s face and it was like an open book. She saw the regret, hurt, sadness but most of all she still saw the love there that he felt for her. Her heart jumped in her chest at the thought she might be about to get back what she had with Brad.
Tearing open the box, Alicia stared at the bridal books on the inside and when she glanced back at Brad her hands flew to her mouth as she found him down on one knee with an open ring box in his hand with a diamond the size of a small island.
“Alicia, those books are for you to start planning our future. Baby, I’ve never been so lonely as I was those weeks you weren’t in my life. I kicked myself every day after I tossed you out of my life. I’m hoping you find it your heart to forgive me and overlook me being a jealous ass. I almost let the best thing in my life slip away.”
“Yes, I’ve Perfect Match now, but it won’t be anything if you aren’t there to share in the wealth with me. I love you more than I could ever have thought possible. The years I waited to get you as my girlfriend were worth it, but now I’m ready to take the ultimate leap and make you my wife. Alicia Hart, will you marry me?”
Tossing the box down on the couch, Alicia got down on the floor and wrapped her arms around Brad’s neck. “YES! I would love to become your wife.”
“Thank God!”
Brad took the ring out and dropped the box to the side with the magazines. He slid the ring on her finger and planted a long, slow kiss on her mouth. As he tried to lower her to the floor, she pushed at his shoulders.
“Wait,” she said moving away from him. “I’ve a present for you too.” Getting off the floor, she raced into the kitchen and came back a few seconds later with her hands behind her back.
“How can you have a present for me if you didn’t know I was coming?” Brad asked as he got up off the floor.
“Hey, do you want it or not?” Alicia grinned.
“Of course. Show it to me.”
Moving her hands from behind her back, Alicia handed the book to Brad. He glanced down at the book and then back at her several times without saying a word making her afraid that he was in shock.
“45,000 Plus Baby Names,” he whispered. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded her head and Brad tossed down the book and yanked her to his body. “Sweetheart, I’m so happy. I promise now that I have you back that I’m never going to let you go.”
“I hope not since we are going to add another new addition to the Drace family next year,” Alicia said as Brad looked down at her with love shining bright in his gorgeous blue eyes.
