The New Rule: (The Casual Rule 2) (37 page)

*Use the Martin charm. Trust me… it works on men and women.*

*Don’t think it’ll work on this guy. Emilio’s for dinner?*

*Perfect. See you later.*

Chapter 25

“Hi Andy,” I say to the doorman.

“Miss Conti.” He tips his hat slightly, smiling at me as he opens the door to Ben’s building.

Humming to myself, I walk into the elevator. I press the button to the twentieth floor. Smiling widely as the elevator ascends, I dig through my bag for the shiny heart-shaped keychain I got this morning. I fist it in my hand and hold it close to my heart. A month ago, I’d never thought I’d feel so lucky. But I do. In some ways, the storm we weathered was worth it. It forced us to focus on what was important… Us… and now we’re here. Not taking anything for granted.

I stare down at the doorknob that always turned my stomach into a butterfly frenzy and smile again. This is our next step. And it’s a good step.

Putting the key in the keyhole, I turn it. The butterflies are having a party in my stomach as I listen to the front door unlock. I know it’s only the sound of a door unlocking, but to me, it’s beautiful music.

Slowly, I open the door and walk into the apartment. It feels right, but strange at the same time. I guess I’ll get used to it, eventually.

“Hello,” I call out.

No answer. Maybe I beat him here. I drop my handbag on the small table near the coat closet and walk into Ben’s apartment. It’s so quiet. And so damn clean.

Gliding my hand across the leather couch, I make my way to the hallway bathroom to freshen up. As I pass the Coin Shrine, I hear the unmistakable sound of his laptop’s keyboard keys clicking away.

I lean in the doorway with my hand over my mouth and watch him typing. I know I should go, but I can’t bring myself to leave. He’s writing. He’s actually writing again.

He stops and swivels his chair around.

“Hey,” he says quietly.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to disturb you. Go back to your writing. I’ll watch some TV or something.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m done for the night.” He closes the laptop and stands from his chair. He walks over to where I’m standing, wraps his arms around me, and kisses me sweetly.

“Mmm, minty kiss,” I say. “It’s nice to see you writing again.”

“I had a burst of inspiration.”

My grin is so wide my face hurts. It’s as if all the broken pieces of Ben are repairing themselves right in front of me and it’s magnificent to witness.

He smiles back at me revealing the dimples that turn my legs to jello. I frown when I notice right next to one of those sexy dimples, is what looks like a small bruise.

“You have a mark on your cheek. What happened?”

“One of the blue-haired ladies I met with hit into my elbow and the pen I was holding jammed right into my face. I’m lucky it missed my eye.”

“Aww, poor baby. Little old ladies beating you up?” I give him a quick peck on his cheek then lean into him for another hug and inhale deeply. “Ugh. You smell like cigars.” I gag, waving my hand in front of my nose.

“Some guy on the subway platform was puffing away.”

“They’re not supposed to smoke there,” I grumble. I hate the smell of smoke, especially cigars.

“He didn’t seem like the type to fuck around with. I already got my face beaten in by the blue-haired ladies. I met my brawling quota for the day. I’ll change out of these clothes.”

“There’s a stain on that shirt anyway. It looks like grease. My mother puts a dab of plain old dish detergent on the spot to get grease stains out. Try that.”

“I scarfed down a slice of pizza for lunch in between meetings. The oil was dripping all over the place. I’ll try the detergent later.” He shakes his head, exasperated. “It’s been one of those days. I hope you don’t mind, I picked up Emilio’s instead of going out. I thought it’d be nice just to eat-in and relax here tonight,” he says, his lip twitching.

What’s the twitch about? That’s his lying twitch. I bet I know. In Ben-speak “relax” means “Get Julia naked”. He’s trying to speed things along.

Such a man.

“No, that’s fine,” I answer, pretending I don’t see through his plan.

“Good. Give me five minutes and I’ll get dinner.”

“I’ll get it,” I offer.

“Just relax. I’ll be right back.”

~o0o~

I turn around to walk into the living room when a familiar nosey voice inside my head beckons me to peek at his Work-in-Progress. I wonder if he’s back to the baseball book or trying something new.

I know I shouldn’t peek, but I’m not going to waste the few minutes I have arguing with myself over something I know I’m going to do anyway.

I tiptoe to the laptop, sit down and lift the screen. The document he was working on is still up. It’s like he’s handing it to me.

I cock my head after reading the first line, placing my hand over my mouth as tears well up in my eyes.

Love is strong and gentle

Love is wonder and discovery

Love is complicated and simple

Love is tender and bold

Love hurts and it heals

Love is frightening and fearless

Love is stormy and serene

Love is sunshine and rain

Love’s not easy

But it’s worth it

Love is why my heart beats

And my heart beats for you

For me

Love is you

Turn around, Julia

I spin the chair around with tears streaming down my face and a smiling Ben leaning in the doorway.

“You knew I came in here and read your stuff?” I ask, unsuccessfully blinking back my tears.

“Yes,” he answers, amused.

“And you’re not mad?”

He shakes his head, smiling. “No.”

He walks over to me with a look of love so deep it takes my breath away. He kneels down on one knee and pulls a small blue velvet box out of his pocket. He opens the box and a stunning round diamond ring with a pair of diamond baguettes on either side of the platinum setting is staring back at me. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.

I gasp, placing my hand over my mouth. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, my body trembling.

“I didn’t look for love, love found me. You are my heart and my soul. I love our past. I love our present. It would be my privilege to be your future.

This ring belonged to my grandmother,” he chokes up and pauses, composing himself. “It’s been in my family for over a hundred years. I would be honored if you’d wear it.

I want to be the only one in your heart. The only one who kisses you goodnight. The only one you love because, Julia, you are the only one I will ever love.

You’re everything good in my life. I want complicated and messy with you. Every part of me belongs to you. Spend the rest of your life beside me. Let me love you forever.

I love you, Julia Conti. Be my wife. Please marry me.”

I nod excitedly.
Oh my God, Oh my God. Breathe, Breathe.

“Yes?” he asks, grinning wide, beautiful dimples and all. He sounds surprised or relieved. I’m not sure which. How could he think my answer would be anything but yes?

“Yes,” I exclaim, beaming back with happy tears rolling down my cheeks.

He takes the ring out of the box and slides it on my trembling finger. I stare down at it sparkling brilliantly, reflecting exactly how I feel.

He stands and pulls me off the chair, twirling me around in circles, laughing. He kisses me tenderly and lowers me back to the floor. His eyes are glassy, happy, and he’s still grinning wide.

“I don’t know how to tell you how much I love you,” he whispers.

“You’re doing a great job. I love you. I love you so much,” I say through a half-laugh, half-cry.

“I know I don’t deserve you, but I’m going to be selfish and never let you go,” he says in wonder, wiping away the tears falling down my cheeks with his knuckle.

“Good. Never let me go. Never ever let me go.”

“I will love you forever,” he whispers.

“Forever? That’s a long time,” I say, beaming at him.

He smiles warmly, caressing my cheek.

“Until the day I die.”

A few months ago, after a bumpy start, Ben first declared his love for me in this apartment. He said it was just our beginning. I look at the sparkling diamond ring on my finger and smile.

He was right. It was the beginning of our future. And despite our ups and downs… We’re here… Exactly where we’re meant to be. We may not be perfect and sometimes we get it wrong… but there’s no one else on earth I’d rather get it wrong with.

We’re each other’s love story.

I always knew Ben was the love of my life… and now we’ll get to live the life I know we’ll love.

~o0o~

Epilogue

Four weeks later…

I’m sitting cross-legged on Ben’s bed in a tank top and boy shorts going through what Ben has deemed “Wedding Central”. It’s my box of Bridal magazines, swag from a bridal show I dragged Allie to last week, printouts from websites, business cards… our wedding in a box.

Ben walks into the bedroom, holding a cup of coffee and a raspberry danish. He sits next to me on the bed and places his coffee cup on the nightstand… where there’s a coaster waiting, of course.

“Are you going to eat that?” I ask, eying the danish.

“No, I brought it in for show,” he answers sarcastically.

“You didn’t bring me one?” I stick out my bottom lip and pout.

“I’ll share, but it’ll cost you.”

“Fine, what sexual favor do I have to do to get some food?”

“I’m hurt you would think so little of me.” He places his hand over his heart, pretending he’s offended.

“I’ve met you. I know what body part is really in charge,” I deadpan.

He laughs and taps his cheek with his index finger. I lean across the bed and kiss it.

“That wasn’t so hard was it?” he asks, bringing the danish to my mouth.

I shake my head and take a big bite. He brushes the crumbs off my lips with his thumb then gives me a quick peck on my lips.

He stares down at the magazine opened in front of me. “Another bridal magazine? How many of those do you need?”

I narrow my eyes then glare at him. “You have no idea of the degree of planning that goes into a wedding.”

“The gossip rags are probably wondering why their sales numbers have dwindled with all the bridal magazines you’ve bought instead. Why don’t we make it easy and hire a wedding planner?” He kisses my shoulder. “Or we could just fly to Vegas tonight and we won’t have to deal with any of this.”

“You want to elope?” I ask.

“I just want to marry you.”

I grin, running my fingertips down his stubble. “Who’s going to tell my mother that she missed her last unmarried child’s wedding because you wanted to elope? I know I’m not. Do you want to do it?”

“No.” He takes my hand and kisses the back of it. “She’ll probably find some curse to put on me.”

I chuckle. “Probably. Right now, you can do no wrong… since you went old school and spoke to my father before proposing.”

“I wanted to do everything right by you.”

“It was sweet. He didn’t give you a hard time, did he? He was a real pain when Sophie and Isabelle’s husbands spoke to him before they proposed.”

“Nah, he was a pussy cat.”

“My father a pussy cat?” I look at him skeptically. “If you say so. Anyway, thank you. I know it meant a lot to him. And it meant a lot to me.” I grab the danish out of his hand and take another bite.

“What’s that doing out?” he asks, pointing his chin to the nightstand.

“The Oliver Twist book? I was thinking about your grandmother and figured it was time to remove it from the paper bag. It seemed disrespectful.”

“Only you would worry about disrespecting a book.”

I smack his arm playfully. “Not to the book, to your grandmother.” I reach across the bed to grab the book. Ben grabs me at the same time and the book falls out of my hand.

“See what you did; now it’s on the floor.”

“Don’t care. I got a handful of my soon-to-be wife’s ass.”

“Wife… that freak you out a little?”

“No. I can’t wait to call you my wife.”

“I can’t wait either—especially when you say it in front of Camille. In fact, when she’s around, I want you to only address me as Mrs. Martin.”

He smirks, shaking his head. “So you plan on changing your name?” he asks, ignoring my snarkiness.

“I’m quite fond of Julia,” I tease.

“Your
last
name.”

“I was planning on it. Julia Martin feels good to me. Would it matter to you?”

“Not really. I’ll know who I’m married to. As long as it’s you sleeping next to me every night, I don’t care what you call yourself. I can’t believe I’m asking, but what’s your middle name. I don’t know it.”

“Anne. After my mother’s mother.”

“Once we’re married, your initials would be J.A.M. It figures.”

“What figures?”

“JAM… it’s food related. You and food.”

“Proof you were meant for me.” I take another bite of the danish. It’s light and flaky, delicious.

“I think so.” He laughs. “I’ll get the book off the floor. I’m sure it landed safely on top of your ‘In Case of Fire’ pile of clothes on your side of the bed.”

“It’s all about compromise, Ben. I can’t run out of a burning building in the nude. You want me sleeping naked next to you, you deal with my crazy.”

“I’ll deal.” He gets off the bed and walks around to my side. Bending down to pick up the book, he pauses, looking curiously at a piece of paper in his hand. “What’s this?”

“What?”

“It’s a note. It’s in my grandmother’s handwriting. It must have fallen out of the book.”

“What’s it say?”

He sits next to me on the edge of the bed, places the worn leather-bound book down on a pillow, and unfolds the paper.

His brow crinkles. “Hmm.”

“What?” I ask, trying to peek over his shoulder.

“It’s for you.” He hands the paper to me.

“Me?” I read at the note in my hand. Ben is reading it over my shoulder.

Julia~

This book is priceless to me. I read it to my son and my grandchildren when they were young. I want you to carry on the Martin tradition and read this to my great grandchildren someday
.