by Vi Keeland
“What do you think your grandfather would have to say about that?”
“I mentioned it to him. He’s…coming around.” That was true. Well, sort of. At least this time he hadn’t said over my dead body when I’d mentioned him getting to know the man I lived with. I took that as progress.
Weston tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’ll go if you want me to.”
My eyes widened. “You will?”
“It’s important to you, right?”
“Yeah. I know my grandfather would love you if he would just get to know you.”
Weston shook his head. “Why don’t we shoot for tolerating my presence, so you’re not disappointed, babe.”
I smiled. “Okay.”
After we got through the tunnel, Weston turned right instead of left. “Aren’t we going home?”
“I need to stop at The Countess.”
“What for?”
“Uhh… I had a package shipped there by accident. I ordered from your Prime account, and the last address you shipped to was there, and I didn’t notice.”
I yawned. “I’m tired. Is it important? I can just bring it home tomorrow after work.”
“Yeah. It’s important.”
“What is it?”
He was quiet for a minute. “None of your business. That’s what it is.”
I grinned. “It’s my Christmas present, isn’t it?”
We pulled up down the block from The Countess, and Weston parallel parked. He unbuckled and started to get out.
“I’ll just wait here,” I said.
“No.”
“What do you mean no? Why can’t I wait here?”
Weston raked a hand through his hair. “Because the package is in your office, and I don’t have the key.”
I reached for my purse, which I’d set on the floor. “Oh. I’ll give you my keys.”
Weston huffed. “Just come with me.”
“But I’m tired.”
“It won’t take more than a minute.”
I huffed. “Fine. But sometimes you’re annoying. You know that?”
He grumbled something as he exited the car, yet jogged around to open my door. When he took my hand to help me out, I noticed his palm was sweaty.
“I didn’t think your car had a heated steering wheel.”
“It doesn’t.”
“So why are your hands so sweaty?”
Weston made a face and tugged me to start walking. At the entrance to The Countess, he waved off the doorman and swung the door open for me. His mood had shifted from happy to grumpy really fast.
Inside, I walked four or five steps and then stopped. I blinked a few times, confused. “What…what is this?”
“What does it look like?”
“It looks like the biggest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen.”
Weston guided me closer. We stood a few feet in front of an enormous balsam fir, and I looked up. It towered over me, positioned between the two curved staircases that led to the second floor. It almost met the ceiling on the second story. It had to be thirty-feet high and made the entire lobby smell like Christmas.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I love it. It’s huge!”
Weston winked and leaned in to me. “I’ve heard that before.”
I laughed. “Seriously, I can’t believe you did this.”
Len from maintenance walked over. He had an extension cord in one hand and a plug to something in the other. He looked to Weston. “You ready?”
Weston nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
Len connected the cords, and the entire tree lit up in white lights. I couldn’t even take a guess how many thousands had to be strung on it. A few seconds later, the tree started to twinkle. It looked absolutely magical. And I’d been so mesmerized by it all that I hadn’t noticed Weston moved. But when I did, the world seemed to stop.
Everything except the man down on one knee seemed to fade away.
I covered my mouth with my hands, and my eyes immediately began to water. “Oh my God, Weston! And I didn’t want to get out of the car!”
He chuckled. “That was obviously unplanned, but pretty damn fitting, don’t you think? We had to argue right before I came in to do this. We wouldn’t be us if everything was smiles and roses.”
I shook my head. “You’re right. We wouldn’t.”
Weston took a deep breath, and I watched as his chest rose and fell. He took my hand, and I finally understood why his palms were sweaty. They still were. My cocky man was nervous. I lifted my other hand to my chest and covered my racing heart. He’s not the only one.
Weston cleared his throat. “Sophia Rose Sterling, before I met you, I had no purpose. It didn’t take long after you stormed into my life to realize the reason I’d been lost was because you hadn’t found me yet. My purpose in life is to love you. Deep down, I knew that from the first day we stepped foot into this place. But it didn’t make sense. It took me a while to figure out that love doesn’t have to make sense; it only has to make us happy. And you do—you make me happier than I’ve ever been, Soph. I want to spend the rest of my life fighting with you just so we can make up. And I want the rest of my life to start today. So, will you please do me the honor of marrying me, because ‘I would not wish any companion in the world but you’?”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I don’t know why, but I got down on my knees and pressed my forehead to his. “How can I say no, when you finally quoted Shakespeare right? Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you.”
Weston slipped the most gorgeous, cushion-cut diamond onto my finger. The thousands of lights illuminating the tree above us dimmed in comparison to its sparkle.
In true Weston style, he reached around my neck and squeezed hard, bringing my lips to crash against his. “Good. Now shut up and give me that mouth.”
He kissed me in the middle of the lobby, in front of the big Christmas tree, long and hard. When we finally came up for air, I heard people clapping. It took a few seconds for it to register that they were applauding for us. People had been watching the proposal. My eyes came into focus as I looked around.
Oh my God! Mr. Thorne is here.
And…is that… I blinked a few times. “Is that…?”
Weston smiled. “Scarlett. It is. I flew her in last night to ask her permission to propose. I figured I wouldn’t have much luck with your father, and you value her opinion more anyway.”
We were still both kneeling on the floor, so Weston helped me up. Scarlett and Mr. Thorne congratulated us, as well as a ton of the staff.
I looked up at Weston, still in disbelief. “I can’t believe you did all this. Do you remember the story I told you about the last time a tree was in this lobby?”
“I do,” he said. “The three of them used to decorate a big tree together, right here in this very spot. Grace always hoped our grandfathers would come around some day, and they could all be friends and do it again. That never happened, so she never put another tree in here. That’s why I did this. Our grandfathers are too stubborn to come around, but I think Grace Copeland would be happy that the Sterlings and the Lockwoods have finally made friends again.”
I smiled. “She would be. I’m sure of it.”
Weston reached into his coat pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot. I had the lights hung so it would look nice for you, but we’re going to decorate it together. Just like they used to. There’re a couple of dozen crates of ornaments stashed behind the tree. But I have the first one for you to hang.”
“You do?”
He unwrapped a glass ball from a wad of newspaper and handed it to me.
“Louis gave Grace this as a gift one year. He found it in storage yesterday. If I’d had any doubt that proposing to you in front of this tree was the right decision, this ornament solidified that it was meant to be.”
I looked down at the Christmas ball, which was personalized like many ornaments still are today. Painted in silver were three stick figures holding han
ds, the two on the ends a bit bigger than the middle one, and below that, names were painted.
Sterling—Copeland—Lockwood
Forever
“That’s us, with Grace Copeland bringing us together, Soph.”
“Oh my God! You’re right!”
Weston leaned down and brushed his lips with mine. “Of course I am. I’m always right.”
I hung the ornament on the tree and wrapped my arms around his neck. “You know. I don’t like the ring you picked out, and I think you could have used a bit more creativity in your proposal. Oh, and the tree…it’s pretty lame.”
Weston’s eyes widened. “I hope you’re joking.”
“I’m not.” I tried to hide my smirk, but failed. “Perhaps we should fight about it later when we get home.”
My fiancé’s eyes darkened. “Why wait that long? Meet me in the laundry room in five minutes…”
Dear Readers,
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Weston and Sophia’s story! I’d love to stay in touch and invite you to join my mailing list and receive back a NEW, FREE short story.
For a Good Time Call
Ever see For a good time call scribbled on the bathroom wall of a bar? Sure you have. Ever wonder what would happen if you had a few too many drinks and actually called the number? Well, now you don’t have to wonder anymore, because I’ll tell you… It blows up in your face when you suddenly realize who Mr. Good Time is.
Other Books by Vi Keeland
* * *
Inappropriate
All Grown Up
We Shouldn’t
The Naked Truth
Sex, Not Love
Beautiful Mistake
Egomaniac
Bossman
The Baller
Left Behind (A Young Adult Novel)
Beat
Throb
Worth the Fight
Worth the Chance
Worth Forgiving
Belong to You
Made for You
First Thing I See
Cocky Bastard (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Playboy Pilot (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Mister Moneybags (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
British Bedmate (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Park Avenue Player (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Stuck-Up Suit (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Rebel Heir (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Rebel Heart (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Hate Notes (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Dirty Letters (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
My Favorite Souvenir (Co-written with Penelope Ward)
Acknowledgements
* * *
To you—the readers. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your reading escape. Life seems to be turned upside down lately, and I’m so grateful to let you escape for a short while. I hope you’ve enjoyed Weston and Sophia’s enemies to lovers story, and you’ll come back again to see who you might meet next!
To Penelope – The last few years have been one big, crazy adventure, and there is no one I’d rather take the ride with.
To Cheri – Thank you for always being there for me, and always keeping the secret of my age. ;) Books brought us together, but friendship made us forever.
To Julie – Thank you for your friendship and wisdom.
To Luna – So much change in a year, and I’ve enjoyed watching every bit of it. Thank you for your friendship.
To my amazing Facebook reader group, Vi’s Violets – 17,000 smart women who love to talk books? There is no greater gift. Thank you for being part of this crazy journey.
To Sommer – This one is my favorite. I know I’ve said that before. But this time it really is…until you top yourself next time! Thank you for yet another amazing cover.
To my agent and friend, Kimberly Brower – Thank you for being there always. Every year brings a unique opportunity from you. I can’t wait to see what you dream up next!
To Jessica, Elaine and Julie – Thank you for smoothing out all the rough edges and making me shine!
To Eda – Thank you for all of your help and feedback!
To all of the bloggers – Thank you for inspiring others to take a chance on me. Without you, there would be no them.
Much love
Vi
About Vi Keeland
* * *
Vi Keeland is a #1 New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author. With millions of books sold, her titles have appeared in over a hundred Bestseller lists and are currently translated in twenty-five languages. She resides in New York with her husband and their three children where she is living out her own happily ever after with the boy she met at age six.