I growled softly against her ear, making her laugh again. She pushed the “end” button on my phone.

  “Look,” she said simply, holding up her left hand.

  The ring sparkled on her finger.

  “Yeah?”

  She nodded, smiling shyly. “Very much.”

  I dragged her to the doorway of the not-so-secret park.

  “Hey everyone,” I said to all of the people gathered in the old section. “Consider this a ribbon cutting for the new Rhodes Treehouse Park. Please go in and enjoy yourselves!”

  I heard a few people whisper about CamLicity as we sped from the park and down the sidewalk, holding hands and giggling like fools. We were just blocks away, but we couldn’t get back to the building fast enough.

  We waved at Carl as we jogged through the lobby, and we could hear his laughter echoing behind us as the elevator doors closed. He knew exactly why we were in such a hurry.

  “I can’t wait,” I said, pressing Felicity against the wall.

  She kissed me back with a pent-up passion, which made me want to strip her down right then and there. I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. I cradled her ass in my palms as our kisses turned feverish.

  I couldn’t believe how much I’d missed this. And that I’d almost lost her.

  I carried Felicity down the hallway to my apartment, kissing her the entire time. Daniel had offered to take Boris, so nothing was going to slow me down once we got home.

  The minute the door shut behind us we tore at our clothing, like we were in a race to see who could get undressed first. I was a little too impatient and got tangled up in my jeans. By the time I extracted myself, Felicity was out of sight. I followed the trail of sneakers, leggings, and a sweatshirt, and discovered a gorgeously naked Felicity waiting for me in my bedroom. A second later I joined her, sweeping her back into my arms and showing her with my body that there was no way I was ever going to let her go again.

  We were the lucky ones.

  29

  FELICITY

  ONE YEAR LATER

  Ifelt absolutely giddy as the string quartet played the opening notes of Canon in D by Pachelbel. It was the perfect song for a walk down the aisle, past friends and family on a stunning autumn afternoon. The road to the altar had been a bumpy one, which made the big day that much sweeter.

  Cameron caught my eye and beamed at me as I made my way down the aisle. I’d been living in comfy pants lately, so seeing me looking sparkly was probably a shock to his system. Sure, I still dressed up when he had a function I needed to attend with him, or when Nina and I were hosting an author event at Treehouse Books, but for the most part, comfort was the name of the game for me. Today, I was thrilled to be decked out in seafoam silk with my hair in an updo and sporting fake eyelashes for the second time in my life.

  I joined the three other bridesmaids at the altar and gave Cameron a quick wink as the music switched to the bridal processional. The guests turned to watch as Megan and her father paused at the end of the aisle, but I looked over at Aiden as he held his fist to his mouth and tried to blink away his tears. Cameron stepped up to do his best man duty, offering his brother support with a slap on the shoulder.

  I still couldn’t believe we were here.

  Several months ago, the brewing tension between the brothers had erupted in a fight during a dinner at our place that nearly came to blows, but Megan and I worked together to cool them off. The conspiring we’d done behind the scenes had helped us bring the guys to a point where they could talk through their differences and finally realize that in the end, love really does conquer all. Eventually, both Megan and Aiden stepped down from their respective boards to prove to their families that the only thing that mattered to them was each other.

  The bride was a showstopper in a billowy, tiered ballgown I’d watched her try on. Megan’s sisters, Abby and Gia, openly sobbed as she floated down the aisle. We’d all gotten close during the year of wedding planning, and I felt like I’d found two new families. Granted, those families-by-choice didn’t include any parents—Cameron didn’t have much of a relationship with either of his parents, and Megan had had a somewhat fraught relationship with her dad ever since her mom passed away years ago—but it wasn’t like I was in any position to judge. I only saw my parents once or twice a year, and that was plenty for all of us. In the meantime, though, it was great to feel like I had a whole crop of siblings—in addition to Nina, of course.

  I shed a few tears myself as Megan and Aiden recited their vows. The promises to always be one another’s best friend and never miss the chance to hold hands sounded familiar. My thumb went to the band on my ring finger, a little gesture of comfort I caught myself doing whenever my emotions got the best of me. The promise ring that helped me find my way back to Cameron, and the guarantee of so much more. When I looked over at him, I realized he’d been watching me. I whispered my love to him, and he mouthed it back.

  How did I get so lucky?

  A thriving business, a deliriously happy best friend who’d found her own true love with a former rock star, a goofy dog who was finally learning some manners thanks to me, Veritique setting new records, two people promising to be true to one another forever…life was good.

  After the ceremony ended and we posed for a zillion photos, we could finally get to the business of celebrating.

  “Hungry?” Cameron asked me as he took my hand in his and we walked into the airy holding room, just past where the outdoor ceremony had been held.

  “Absolutely starving. And thanks to all the planning, I know exactly what they’re serving during cocktail hour, so lemme at the crab puffs and blue cheese phyllo toasts.” I craned my neck trying to spot a server assigned to take care of the bridal party prior to our introductions.

  He laughed at me. “May I bring you some champagne?”

  “You even have to ask?”

  “Got it.” Cameron saluted me and headed for the bar that had been set up for us while we waited.

  Megan sidled up to me and leaned to whisper in my ear. “I need your help.”

  Her expression was pained, a bad look for the happiest day of her life. “Of course, anything. What’s going on?”

  She bit her lip. “Abby and Gia are missing, I think they snuck out to see their boyfriends, and…I need to pee!”

  I threw my head back, laughing at her dilemma. We’d talked about the difficulty of getting out from the layers and layers of fairy tale tulle at her fitting, and now we were living it.

  “I’ve got you, let’s do this.”

  Thankfully, the venue had a large private bathroom for us, so the two of us got to work. I collected an armful of fabric and stood off to the side of her while Megan did what she had to do. We giggled like idiots because of the absurdity of the whole thing.

  “You know you’re next up at the altar, right?” Megan asked when we finally finished and met at the sink. “You’re already halfway there.” She nodded at the promise ring on my finger.

  “It’s funny, we haven’t even talked about it,” I mused. “We’re just enjoying our life together so much that it’s not a consideration yet.”

  “I get that,” she replied. “But you do want to marry him, right? You don’t have doubts or anything?”

  “Oh my gosh, no! I’d marry him tonight if he asked me.”

  “Does he know that?” Megan asked as she leaned closer to the mirror to check her eye makeup.

  I opened my mouth to answer her, then snapped it shut. “You know what? I haven’t outright said it.”

  Megan turned to look at me. “Maybe you should. Especially if there are babies on the horizon.”

  “Excuse me? Babies?” I squeaked back at her. “Oh my god, no, not for a long time. Why are you even thinking about that?”

  She watched me in silence for a few seconds as a smile spread across her beautiful face.

  “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Megan!” I breathed out in shock. “Are you…”

  She nodded.

  I started hopping around her like a fool, screaming silently because I was sure she’d just given me classified information. I finally pulled her into a hug.

  “Oh my gosh, congrats! This is amazing!”

  She squeezed me, then pulled away. “It’s also a major secret. Hardly anyone knows, but I wanted to tell you today.”

  “Did Aiden tell Cameron?”

  Megan shook her head. “Not yet, but I’m sure he’ll let him know by the end of the night, before we leave on the honeymoon. It’s still really early, we probably shouldn’t even be talking about it, but I’m just too darn excited.”

  “I’m so happy for you,” I beamed at her. “For both of you.”

  “Thank you.” She reached out to grasp my hands. “Like I said, you’re next. But first you have to talk to Cameron. Tell him what you want.”

  “You’re right. I will, I promise. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I want Aiden to be the one to tell Cam. It’s going to be a special moment.”

  “We both have so many adventures ahead of us…sister-in-law.”

  I laughed and wagged my finger at her. “To be!”

  We stumbled out of the bathroom to find the groom and his best man waiting for us right outside the door.

  “You took forever,” Aiden joked. “I was about to send a search party in there for you. Marie is freaking out about the timing.”

  Their wedding planner was the physical manifestation of a Type A personality, armed with a clipboard and headset.

  “Have you seen my dress?” Megan asked. “Lots of petticoat action going on in this region.” She gestured around her midsection and winked at her new husband.

  “Let’s get moving, I’m starving,” he said.

  “That makes two of us,” I added.

  Cameron held out the champagne glass to me. “You have about three seconds to down this before the introductions start. Think you can?”

  “Your girl can still party! Let’s go!”

  We clinked glasses and threw back our drinks like a shot, then got in line with the rest of the bridal party.

  Megan’s advice kept echoing in my head as the night wore on. It was such a simple suggestion, but she was right. Without expressing what I wanted from our relationship, Cameron probably wasn’t sure about how I hoped our future would unfold. I’d been wearing the promise ring on my left hand since he’d given it to me. Tonight was the night I’d hint that it was time for a new ring there.

  No, not hint. I was going to tell him.

  I loved wedding receptions, and Aiden and Megan’s was one for the books. Every detail was elegant and perfectly over-the-top, from the celebrity performers to the surprise choreographed dance Megan did for Aiden, but the event still felt like a celebration of their love at the core. I could tell that getting married in a field by themselves would’ve left them equally thrilled.

  Once the meal was over, I spent the better part of the reception on the dancefloor with the other bridesmaids. Cameron was practically glued to his chair no matter how much I pleaded with him. I pulled out all my tricks to try to get him to dance with me, swinging my hips and shimmying just for him. I could tell he appreciated it, but nothing I did was enough to get him out on the floor. The only reason we’d danced once was because he’d had no choice during Megan and Aiden’s first dance when all of the wedding party was required to join them.

  That is, until “The Very Thought of You” by Billie Holiday came on.

  I was gossiping with Gia, barely paying attention to the music, when I felt a hand on my back.

  “May I interrupt?” Cameron asked.

  I beamed a huge smile at him. “I’ve only been waiting all night!”

  We found a spot at the edge of the dance floor, and Cameron wrapped me in his arms.

  “Why do you hate dancing so much?” I asked him as we started moving to the music. “You’re surprisingly good at it.”

  “I’m good at everything; you should know that by now.”

  I stared up at him ready to give him shit for his arrogance—until I saw his expression. He still reverted back to his bosshole personality every now and then to rile me up and make me laugh.

  “Right, Romeo,” I summoned up the old nickname, which was now just a reminder of us in a different life. “Cameron O’Connor can do no wrong.”

  He pulled me a little closer.

  “Exactly, Fagin,” he sniffed and raised his chin, maintaining the persona. “Pay attention, I’ve got plenty to teach you. Hit the subscribe button to stay up to date on all my tips and tricks for dominating the dance floor.”

  I laughed at him. He still hated social media, but he knew how to fake it.

  We both turned as a round of applause rippled across the dance floor. Megan and Aiden took a spot in the center with eyes only for one another.

  “It was a perfect day,” I said as they swayed together.

  “Agreed,” he nodded as he watched his brother. “I was wrong about them, I admit it.”

  I drew back and gaped up at him. “I’m sorry, what? Did you actually just say that?”

  He circled his arms tighter, drawing me close again. “Lis, you should know by now that I’ll always admit to my mistakes. Hell, I did it in front of a few billion people on a livestream.” His jaw tightened. “Sometimes it just takes me a while.”

  “It’s true, you do admit when you’re wrong,” I said, nestling against his chest with a sigh. “And it’s one of the many things I love about you.”

  I hummed the song as we moved together.

  “Have I told you how stunning you look tonight?” Cameron murmured.

  I giggled softly. “About a dozen times, but I’ll never get tired of hearing it.” I tipped my head coquettishly. “Say it again, please.”

  He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “You are the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever seen, and I feel so lucky to be with you.”

  “Thank you, and same,” I said quietly.

  He stroked my back as we danced, and all I could think of was the naked fun we were going to have once we were home again. It didn’t take much for my mind to flip to naughty thoughts. I considered sneaking off to the bathroom after the song was over to take some suggestive photos, which was one of my favorite ways to tease Cameron. His hand slipped lower to cup my ass. Yeah, he deserved to be tortured with a filthy pic. Although he wasn’t above dragging me to coat closets or bathrooms to have his way with me once he saw my messages.

  But first, before any sexy fun, we needed to have an important conversation.

  The song ended, and I pulled Cameron out to the deck with me, which was empty now that the band had cranked up a dance song.

  “What’s going on?” Cameron eyed me suspiciously as the rest of the crowd headed in the opposite direction. “Do you suddenly hate ABBA?”

  I shook my head. “I just want to talk, and I figured we should enjoy this beautiful night.” I glanced up. “Look at that moon!”

  He looked at it for a second, then back at me. “Yup, beautiful. Now, talk.”

  We were side-by-side, leaning up against the barrier and looking out at the endless Manhattan skyline. I glanced down at my hand.

  “I love this ring,” I said, holding my hand up near my face.

  “I’m glad. You’re my shooting star, so it felt appropriate.”

  “Yeah, it did,” I mused as I turned my hand from side to side. I glanced at Cameron out of the corner of my eye and saw his face shift to a worried expression.

  “What do you mean ‘did’? Is there something you want to say to me?”

  I bit my lip and tried to look nervous. I still enjoyed toying with him now and then.

  “I think it’s time for something new.”

  Cameron let out a sigh. “Okay, that’s easy enough. Did you want to try gold? Or we could even do something in a rose gold, that would really complement your skin tone. Whatever you want.”

  He really wasn’t getting it.

  “What about…an upgrade?” I paused for a beat. “To a diamond.”

  “Hold on,” he staggered a step backward. “Are you serious? You mean that?”

  “I do.”

  Cameron swept me into his arms and spun me around, kissing me the whole time.

  “I take it you’re happy,” I laughed as he finally set me down on the ground again.

  “Lis,” he grinned. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to hear that. I told you I’d wait until you were ready. I wasn’t going to push. But holy shit it’s been killing me holding back from suggesting we look at rings. It is my job, after all.”

  I walked back into his arms and snuggled against him. “Well, now it’s time. Should we set up an appointment with Bernard at the flagship store?”

  His laugh rumbled against me. “Oh no, Clara is dying to design something just for you. I think she’s more excited than I am!”

  I leaned away and narrowed my eyes at Cameron. “I certainly hope not.”

  “Stop,” he chastised me as he kissed me on top of the head. “You have no idea how happy I am about this. For the ring, and saying ‘I do,’ and for the rest of my life with you, my dear.”

  I snuggled against Cameron’s chest feeling like the luckiest person in the world, because I knew exactly how he was going to respond when I said the next part.

  “I love you, Cameron O’Connor.”

  He placed his thumb beneath my chin and gently lifted it so he could stare into my eyes. “And I love you more. Forever.”

  Always trying to top me, but this time, I was happy to let him win.

  EPILOGUE: FELICITY

  ONE YEAR LATER

  “Why am I so nervous?” I asked Nina. I smoothed the front of my white lace sheath dress. “It’s stupid to be nervous, right?”

  She grinned at me mischievously and shook her head in disagreement. “Oh, you have every reason to be nervous considering the crowd out there includes two former presidents, a Grammy winner, and the number one lifestyle Instagrammer in the world. I’m nervous for you, and all I have to do is walk down the aisle and stand there. You have to recite vows!”