Billion Dollar Revenge (The Lincoln Brothers #2)

39. Epilogue 3

Chelsea

A few months later

“You look incredible,” Evan says as he walks toward me.

I’m standing in his bedroom, looking into a floor-length mirror. My mouth opens as I turn, but before I can speak, he grabs my hips and brings me closer to him. My words turn to dust as he kisses me. He doesn’t care that I've just finished getting ready. My makeup is heavy, just how I like it.

However, my lipstick is probably smeared now, but it doesn’t stop me from kissing him back hungrily. I’ll touch it up before we go.

It’s my 28th birthday, and we are getting ready to go out for dinner. I requested a quiet and intimate place.

We break our kiss, and his eyes cast downwards, inspecting my outfit and licking his lips.

I do the same. He’s in dark blue jeans, a white shirt, no tie, and brown boots.

His hair is that perfect yet slightly tousled wave I love and can’t wait to mess with later at home.

I’m totally and utterly obsessed with him.

The way he’s looking over my simple black dress, you’d think he was going to eat me.

“We better get out of here before we change our mind.” His infectious grin sets the tone.

I shove his shoulder playfully. “You change your mind, you mean.”

“No, I want to take you out and spoil you.” His fingers on my hip tighten.

Those words and his possessive touch make a large smile stretch across my face.

“I won’t stop you.” I spin and touch up my lipstick. It hasn’t smudged much...

“Before we leave, I need to give you a gift.”

My eyebrows pull together, wondering what it could be.

He hands over a brightly-colored paper bag. I take it and pull out a wrapped box. Tearing at the paper, I see it’s a jewelry box. Too small for a ring, but still, my heart pounds in my ears. Gifts are another thing he’s outdone himself with over the months we’ve been together, something Bobby never did.

Speaking of Bobby, he was convicted of publication of an intimate image, stalking, harassment, and assault. He’ll spend the next two years behind bars, which is helping me sleep peacefully at night.

I open the paper with shaky fingers. And then open the box. A gorgeous shell and gold necklace stare back at me.

My eyes sting and fill with unshed tears. “Evan,” I choke out.

“Do you like it?” he asks, his voice laced with concern.

As if I wouldn’t. It’s classically beautiful.

“I love it.”

“Let me put it on.”

I remove it from the box and hand it to him.

Spinning around, I lift my hair, and he puts the necklace on me, his touch feather-light. When his lips touch the back of my neck, my breath hitches, and my nipples tighten.

As he pulls away, and I shiver from the loss of his warmth. I drop my hair to swivel back and face him. My hand immediately reaches up to touch the shells sitting around my neck.

“You're my Shell,” he says.

I peek up at him from under my lashes, loving the way he’s looking at me with so much longing. “Always.”

We share a sweet kiss, one I could melt into and end up not leaving the house over.

“We should go,” he breathes across my lips.

“Let me fix my makeup.”

His smile slowly grows. “Okay, baby. I’ll be waiting for you in the living room.”

Getting ready for dinner is so different from last year. The devastation and tears on this same day just one year ago are in complete contrast to how I feel tonight.

I’m not the same person I was back then. Now, I live the life I want to, with a man who supports me.

Spending tonight with just him and me will be special. The restaurant Evan booked will be grand. I’ll be treated like a queen. I already have a house full of white gardenias in not one, but both houses.

The one we bought in Connecticut one month ago is under construction because the two-story house was older inside, but the land and location were perfect. It’s fun changing the house so it’s a blend of us. We wanted to make the house ‘ours.’ Some of the pieces will be kept?like the fireplace and the hardwood floors.

We’ve already planted our own white oak tree, and we plan to put a tire on ours too. More white gardenias still need to be planted in the garden, but it’s getting closer to being completed.

I don’t know what that means for us taking another big step, but for now, this is enough to prove to me we are on the right path. We’re building a future together.

During the drive, we slipped into our usual quiet but comfortable place. My mind on our renovations. His? Well, I have no idea, but sometimes I wish I knew.

We arrive outside a fancy New York Italian restaurant.

He walks me inside, and I’m hit with the warm aromas of garlic, cheese, and onion.

“You didn’t,” I whisper, staring at a big wooden table running down the middle of the restaurant. There’s no one else here, just our closest friends and family. They all wear excited and reassuring smiles.

I take a moment to appreciate the intimate setting he’s created for me. The restaurant's rustic yet elegant charm, with its exposed brick walls and soft, ambient lighting. The table has fresh gardenias and candles, casting a gentle glow around the room.

“Thank you,” I breathe, my voice wavers slightly from emotion.

He kisses my temple as my eyes remain on the guests here for me.

His hand on my back encourages me to enter, but I need a moment.

My eyes glaze over with water. He organized this. I refuse to cry and instead rejoice that they are here ready to celebrate me.

“You know I’m not thirty yet,” I whisper so only he hears.

“I’m aware. I’ve already started planning that.”

At his confession, my feet stop moving and I turn to face him. “You’re kidding.”

“No.”

“What if I’ve already planned it?”

His eyes squint, trying to get a read on me to see if I have.

“We could have two.”

Laughing lightly, I shake my head at his over-the-top ridiculousness. “I haven’t done a thing. I can’t believe you have.”

“I love seeing the face you make when I give you something.”

“I’m going to have to pull a blank face from now on.”

“Good luck with that,” he says and leans in close to my ear. “There are other signs than on your face.”

My lips part as I can feel the way my breasts feel heavy and my nipples so tight from the ache growing between my thighs.

“Unfair,” I pout, but it turns to a smile.

“Let's go say hi. And get you a drink,” he says with an infectious grin.

I won’t argue with that. The first person I say hi to is his gram, and then I make my way through his family before moving around to mine. Every so often, my eyes drift to his, watching him follow. We make our way to our seats. I’m at the head of the table, Summer on my left, Evan to my right.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming,” I say, addressing all our friends and family. “It means so much to have you all here.”

Evan squeezes my hand under the table; I pull my gaze to him, my heart swelling with affection. This isn’t a simple dinner; this is a celebration surrounded by all the people I love.

“Happy Birthday, Shell.”

I lean over to kiss him and murmur on his lips. “Thank you. This was the best birthday ever.”

“I’m so happy I could make tonight special for you.”

The waitress interrupts to deliver a large selection of dishes, including bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, creamy risotto, and an array of pasta that fills the air with tantalizing scents that make my mouth water and my stomach grumble.

In front of me is a glass of bubbly champagne. I take a sip between bites of food. During dinner, I can’t help but steal glances at Evan, marveling at how easily he’s slipped into my life. His interactions with my family and friends are effortless, as if we’ve been together much longer than we have. We’re already building a life together, one I’ve always dreamed about.

After the main course, a chocolate sponge cake I recognise as Gram’s with flickering candles is placed in front of me. Evan’s amused eyes meet mine as he begins singing, “Happy Birthday,” and the rest of the room joins. A blush creeps onto my cheeks at the attention on me. As the song finishes, Evan whispers in my ear, “Make a wish.”

I close my eyes, reflecting on the past year, from heartache and pain to love and happiness. This year, I found Evan, and so when I blow out the candles, I wish for a future filled with Evan and our kids.

The End.