Was this what you all were waiting for? ;-) Last chapter should be up some time next week when I get home from my vacation.
Chapter 26
Joshua opened the door to his apartment expecting to see Avery as soon as he walked in through the door. Instead all he found was a pitch dark hallway.
"Honey?" he called out. " I know you're here. I saw Tony standing outside."
Not getting a response, he put down his suitcase and began walking down the hallway and towards the living room.
"You're early." Avery said greeting him with a smile as she lit the last candle.
Josh smirked. "Would you like me to leave and come back?" he teased.
Avery shook her head and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I don't want you to leave again for a long...long time." Raising herself on her tip toes, she kissed him tenderly.
Realizing just how much he missed her, Josh wrapped both arms around Avery's waist slightly raising her off the ground. He did this to better access her mouth as he was much taller than she was when barefoot. Josh had only been gone a week, but it felt like an eternity to the both of them.
When they finally broke from their kiss, Josh--still out of breath--surveyed the room. A picnic blanket was sprawled out in front of the lit fireplace, which also had aromatic candles lit on the mantle.
"What's all of this?" he asked still holding her in his embrace.
"This is a private party. But if you play your cards right, I might let you stay... just don't tell my boyfriend," she whispered seductively into his ear before moving out of his arms.
Josh grinned widely and continued with their little game. "Exactly what did you have planned for this private party?"
"Well, I thought a picnic by the fire would be relaxing after such a long trip." She pointed to the Tapas style setting on the blanket that had many of Josh's favorite Spanish delicacies. He had raved about his love for the Spanish culture and food after spending a semester there in college... and during their courtship, he'd introduced Avery to the food as well.
"We have Spanish omelette, Spanish sausage, calamari... and a bottle of merlot." She poured some wine in both of the glasses and handed him one.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" he asked.
Avery looked down to the blanket and around the room to make sure she hadn't missed anything.
"What did I forget?" she asked her back still turned to him.
Josh walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Dessert," he whispered into her ear.
Avery grinned. God, she had missed his touch, she thought. Leaning into him she provocatively replied, "Dessert is whatever you'd like, doctor."
With a gleam in his eye Josh began trailing kisses down her cheek. "Well, in that case I would like some of this..." He moved down her neck, "and this..." Turning her body to face him he captured her lips in a passionate kiss. "And a lot of this," he said breathlessly when they pulled a part.
Avery looked up at his dark brown eyes and grinned mischievously, "I was hoping you'd say that."
Josh chuckled and shook his head, "I really missed you."
Avery sighed and placed her hand against his chest. "I missed you, too... Come on the food's getting cold."
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After dinner they quickly retreated to Joshua's bedroom to make up for the days they had spent apart. Joshua loved it when she was the last thing he saw at night and the first thing he saw in the morning. Everything just fit when they were together. He wanted her to be there permanently... but unfortunately after hearing her conversation with Becca, he knew she didn't feel the same way. It was this thought that kept Josh awake that night. He was standing by the window when he felt her soft hands wrap themselves around his waist.
Avery kissed his back and quietly asked, "What's the matter?"
Joshua turned to face her. She looked so sexy in his pajama shirt. It wasn't completely buttoned all the way and it hung slightly off her shoulder.
He ran his finger over the length of her exposed shoulder. "Nothing...just thinking." He smiled weakly.
Avery cocked her head to the side. He was only evasive when something was really bothering him. "Those must be some big thoughts to keep you up."
Josh simply shrugged.
She put her hand on his arm. "Baby, tell me what's wrong." Her voice was filled with concern.
"Nothing's wrong..." He looked at her pleading eyes and suddenly all the emotions he felt after hearing her conversation with Rebecca flooded back to him. " I was... I was just watching you sleep and thinking about tonight and how lucky I am... I just wish it didn't have to end, you know?" He turned his back to her and continued, "But I know that for now this is how it's got to be."
Not knowing where this was all coming from she asked, "Josh what are you saying?"
He took a deep breath. "I'm saying that I'm willing to wait until you're ready for as long as you need me too... It's just difficult to put my feelings aside when all I wish is for us to be on the same page."
Avery arched her brow. "I thought we were on the same page? What would make you think we weren't?"
Turning back to face her he decided to just come out with it. "I overheard you talking to your sister when you were getting ready for my friend's engagement party." Seeing she was still confused he elaborated, "You told her not to start picking out bridesmaids dresses because there wouldn't be a wedding anytime soon."
Remembering the conversation and realizing that he didn't catch the entire thing, she shook her head. "Honey, you didn't hear everything I said to Rebecca. I told her that we hadn't discussed marriage yet. I know we've both thought about it... at least I have," she told him shyly. "I just didn't expect anything for a while. With your job and my starting law school, I just thought you might think it's all too much. But I never meant for you to think I didn't want to get married."
He remained silent.
"Josh, I love you... I never want you to think that I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want that more than anything."
Josh looked into Avery's eyes. "You mean that?"
She nodded her head, "With all my heart."
Joshua paused letting her words sink in. Then he walked over to the dresser across the room and opened the drawer. He walked back to Avery and stood in front of her with a little black velvet box in his hand.
He laughed nervously, "I feel so foolish now... I've been holding this for a month now, thinking you weren't ready." He held the box up to her.
"I was going to give this to you on your birthday." He opened the box to reveal a stunning princess cut diamond set in the middle of smaller diamonds surrounding it on a white gold band that was also covered in tiny clustered diamonds.
Avery was shocked. Tears began to well-up in her eyes as Joshua bent down on one knee.
"Avery, I love you... I've loved you from the moment I met you and if you'll have me, I promise I will hug you when I'm with you, I will miss you when I'm not, I will kiss you everyday, and I will love you for eternity..." He looked up and smiled at her as he spoke the words he'd wanted to say for months, "Avery, will you marry me?"
Avery couldn't help herself. The small tears that had formed before began to pour as her emotions took over. She knelt to Joshua's level and looked right into his eyes. "Yes," she nodded softly and spoke quietly, grinning ear to ear. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Utterly thrilled Joshua slipped the ring on her finger and held her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. Their eyes met and they both smiled.
Avery grabbed the sides of his face with her hands and pulled him into a passionate kiss, sighing deeply against his lips.
"I can't believe you've held on to this for so long," she said breathlessly as she broke their kiss and looked at her ring.
"This wasn't how I had planned to do it. I'm sorry it wasn't more romantic."
"Are you kidding me? This is..." She struggled to speak as her emotions were again getting the better of her. "Josh, this is a moment in my life I will never forget. I'm never going to forget the look in your eyes or the love in your voice..." She smiled caressing his cheek. "…Or how much I love you at this very moment."
Josh grinned and kissed her softly. "We're going to have a lifetime of love, honey." He stood up from the floor, extending his hand for her to join him.
Avery smiled before leading him over to the bed. She kissed his hand that held hers and then kissed his lips. Their eyes met in equal understanding, knowing exactly what the other wanted. They melted into one another in a passionate embrace and began to celebrate the beginning of their future together as only they could.
