Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“No, I didn’t go and buy it,” he replied. “We already owned the property. It was an investment that hadn’t been moved yet. The family owns it. Like they do most of the buildings on this street.”
I stood there, speechless. This building was worth millions of dollars.
“Say something,” he said. “I need to know what you’re thinking.”
I opened and closed my mouth several times. “I’m, uh … wow, I … I don’t know. Levi, people don’t just do this. It’s huge. It’s … why?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Why? Why did I do it?”
I nodded.
“You. You want to volunteer. This is important to you. I love you and can’t live without you. This meets both our needs and wants.”
“Levi,” I said as a laugh bubbled out of me. “What in the world? This is not what I was asking for. I mean, it’s incredible, but I didn’t want you to spend money. I wanted to volunteer my time. Help people.”
“And you can help even more people now,” he replied.
“The church knows about this?”
He nodded.
“I bet they’re blown away,” I said. “I’m still struggling to wrap my head around it.”
Levi walked over and ran his fingers through my hair, then held my head. “I fucking live for your smiles. Whatever it takes to keep you smiling, I’ll do it.”
I wanted my forever to be longer. Just so I had more time to love him. But then again, would it ever be enough?
“I don’t have the words sufficient enough to thank you for this,” I said quietly.
“Do you love me?”
I smiled. “You know I do.”
“That’s all I need.”
Thirty-Nine
Levi
Watching Aspen walk around the private jet in awe was almost as much fun as watching her in the new food bank building. Her eyes would light up, and she’d look at me with such an animated expression. If someone had told me six months ago that I’d be so completely fascinated and find so much pleasure in watching a woman simply enjoy life, I wouldn’t have believed them.
Having her out of breath, sated, and curled up against me on the bed in the back of the plane was pretty damn perfect too. Once we had gotten to cruising altitude, I’d unbuckled her and hauled her in here, needing to be buried inside her. We would be landing soon, and I knew we had to get up.
I pressed a kiss to her head. “We need to go back to our seats for landing,” I told her.
“Are you going to tell me where we will be landing?” she asked.
“Nope,” I replied with a grin and stood up to pull my jeans back on.
“But I am going to know when we step off the plane,” she pointed out.
She was right. It wouldn’t take her long to figure it out. I picked up her panties and bent down to help her slip them back on. Stopping only once to place a kiss to her stomach. I watched her shimmy back into that romper, and I wasn’t sure she was going to get to wear that again. I didn’t like the fact that her ass was barely covered.
Taking her hand, I led her back to our seats and buckled her up. She looked up at me, and I held her gaze.
“Remember that bucket list of yours?” I asked.
Understanding lit in those green depths. “We’re going to New York City?” She breathed the words.
“We have tickets to Phantom of the Opera tonight.”
The elation on her face made me wish I’d bought out the entire fucking theater. She threw her arms around my neck.
“But you hate New York City,” she said, starting to pull back.
I pressed a kiss to her lips. “Sweetheart, anything that makes you this fucking happy and gets you to smile at me like that, I adore. And it’s a first. I’m getting all the fucking firsts I can with you.”
“I love you,” she said, kissing my mouth, cheeks, and chin. Then, she sat back and squealed with delight, looking out the window.
Aspen was wrapped in the silk robe I’d had delivered to our suite, standing out on the balcony, taking in the lights of the city. I hadn’t seen much of Phantom of the Opera because my complete attention had been on her. Watching her expressions. Committing them to memory. I stepped outside, dressed in only a pair of sweatpants.
She smirked as her gaze trailed down my body.
“Enjoying the view?” I asked her.
“Which one? The city or you?”
“Both?” I asked.
“Yes, most definitely.”
She looked back at the city that never slept. Thankfully, we were up high enough that the noise wasn’t so bad at night. “It’s as magical as I thought it would be. You were wrong.”
I laughed, stepping up beside her. “With you in it, sure it is.”
She glanced up at me with that sweet, shy smile that did me in every time. I moved back and lowered myself until I was on one knee. Her smile fell away as she watched me. I pulled the small box out of my pocket and kept my focus on her face. Her eyes widened, and her full lips opened slightly.