Wilder Things was complete and everything Tempest dreamed it would be and so much more. She strolled through the bar area, greeting the select guests that had been invited to the pre-opening night party, a sense of pride and accomplishment rushing through her like the best kind of adrenaline. All her close family and friends were there, along with the press and a food and wine magazine photographer, who was snapping pictures of the signature cocktails, appetizers, and the trendy but stylish décor that was both elegant and sophisticated.
She caught sight of her brothers standing together with their now-wives, Arabella and Elle, laughing and talking to a few people they knew, including Remy, who w
as hanging out with her family while Tempest worked the room and gave interviews to the press in attendance. Both Maddux and Hunter had gotten married over the past few months in small, intimate ceremonies, and Tempest couldn’t be happier for all of them. She was hoping that soon she’d have nieces and nephews to spoil.
A few hours into the evening, when Tempest felt as though she could finally relax and enjoy herself, a pair of strong arms circled around her from behind and warm, familiar lips pressed against the side of her neck. The scent of Remy’s cologne filled her senses and made her shiver with desire.
“Have I told you how radiant you look tonight?” he murmured into her ear, his hands lightly skimming over her hips encased in the new red dress she’d bought specifically for tonight.
She bit her bottom lip as her body automatically responded to his touch. “Umm, a few times, yes.” The compliments had started as soon as she’d walked out of her bedroom and Remy had seen her in the dress for the first time.
“Or how proud I am of you?” he asked huskily.
She smiled to herself. “Yes,” she said, though she couldn’t have accomplished everything without him.
“Or how much I love you?”
Tempest turned around in his arms and met his warm, affectionate gaze. “Yes, though that one never gets old.”
He lightly kissed her lips. “I’m glad, since you’ll be hearing it very often and for a very long time.”
This man had come a long way in the past six months since the night he’d run into his mother on his birthday. Now, his heart was completely open to Tempest, without any reservations. He was her lover, her confidant, and her best friend, and she felt how much he adored her every single day.
Kyle had attempted to contact Remy after finding out they were half brothers, but Remy wasn’t ready to merge that part of his life with the one he was currently living, and might not ever be. Tempest left the choice up to him and would support Remy in whatever he decided to do.
“So, now that the press is gone and things are starting to wind down for the evening, can I steal you away for a little while?” he asked, a secretive glimmer in his eyes.
She glanced around the room, at the staff that had been hired to tend the bar and wait on tables and the experienced manager, who ran a tight ship, and knew everything would be fine without her.
“Sure,” she said, and when he tucked her hand in his, she followed him out of the bar area and up to the themed hotel rooms two levels up.
The hotel part of Wilder Things wasn’t open for business yet—Tempest estimated another three weeks before they were completely ready for guests—but every single one of their rooms was already decorated and booked up two months out. It was crazy and unheard of, but the marketing firm she’d hired had done an amazing job of advertising in all the right places.
“What are we doing up here?” she asked curiously.
He grinned at her as they walked down the hallway and he stopped in front of the rooms. “There’s something I want to show you.”
Figuring there was a design issue he wanted to discuss with her, which they did often, she waited for him to use the master key card he had a copy of, and when he pushed the door open, she stepped inside.
This room was one of the romantic themes, with a heart-shaped bed that was covered in a soft, red velvet comforter and a heart-shaped jacuzzi bathtub for two. The decor was sweet, charming, and fanciful.
She frowned when she took in the hundreds of real rose petals on the floor that led to the bed, where even more petals were strewn. Off to the side, a table was set up with chocolate-covered strawberries and an ice bucket with a champagne bottle chilling inside. The setup was real, reflecting how it would look when guests arrived in this particular room.
She turned around to face Remy, who suddenly looked nervous. “What’s going on? What’s all this?” she asked, indicating the petals, strawberries, and champagne.
“I thought we could celebrate . . . afterwards.”
“Afterwards?” She had no idea what he was talking about. “What are we celebrating?”
She expected him to say that they were celebrating a successful pre-opening party, but instead he withdrew a small, square black velvet box from his pants pocket and opened the lid, presenting her with a stunning ring in platinum with a large, square-cut ruby that was surrounded by diamonds.
“I’m hoping we’ll be celebrating you saying yes to marrying me.”
Her jaw dropped, at his words and the ring, which was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. “Remy,” she breathed, so shocked by the unexpected proposal.
As he looked into her eyes, his shone with a wealth of love. “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now, but I’ve just been waiting for the right time. We’ve both been so busy with Wilder Things, but now that it’s done, I want to make you mine. Forever.” He took the ring from the box, grabbed her left hand, and held it in front of the finger it would go on once she accepted his proposal. “You make me happier than I ever thought I could be. I want you to be my wife, the mother of our children, and I want to build a future with you. I want you to be the lady to my tramp,” he teased with a grin before growing serious once more. “Tempest Wilder, will you marry me?”
A happy sob caught in her throat and she nodded eagerly. “Yes. Of course, yes!”