Nineteen

I've waited a month for this night. Technically my whole life. But Edward gave me the date, location and guest list for it a little under 30 days ago.

My art is framed, hung from the walls. Beneath are the titles and my name.

I watch people stand before my work, holding champagne glasses in fancy dresses and suits, contemplating the meaning behind all of my meaning.

"Will you calm," Emmett's hands land on my shoulders with a comforting squeeze, "everything looks incredible and everyone is enjoying your work."

"I know. I just… what if no one buys anything," I look at him.

"Then I'll make Shrivel buy it all," he wraps his arm around my waist.

"You really need to drop that nickname," I smile instantly.

"If the shoe fits," he shrugs, kissing my temple.

"You make me happy I'm an only child," I tap his cheek, smiling at the glimmer of my own engagement ring.

He'd put it on there the second he was able to leave the apartment. He told me he was getting groceries but came back with an engagement ring for me too. It was a stunning rose gold band with a oval cut pink diamond. Bella had squealed at the idea of planning two weddings. But I hadn't had the heart to tell her a big wedding wasn't something I'd envisioned.

"Where's the one of us naked?" He looks around the room.

"That one is for private sale," I whisper, "payment is a sexual favour from my officer fiancé."

"Can I pay in instalments?" He winks at me.

"Sure," I giggle, moving in to kiss him quickly.

"Stop flirting," a voice interrupts, "it's making me sick."

"Jerry," I gasp and move into his arms for a tight hug, "I'm so glad you came!"

"As if I'd miss your big night," he rubs my back, "I'm so proud of my little Rose! I actually managed to bring someone I'd love for you to meet."

He steps back and my gaze shifts to him.

"Thomas Gary," I gasp, holding my hand out for him.

He shakes it with an impressed smile. The owner of the gallery I've worked at for years stares back at me. A silver fox who I'd totally set my Aunt up with if I wasn't his employee.

"I wanted to be first to showcase your work. It looks like someone beat me to the punch," Thomas beams at me, "I'd love to invite you in for a meeting. Perhaps a permanent fixture in our gallery could be something of interest? I would love to nurture talent that's grown from within my own company."

"Wow," I breathe out, "that would be incredible. Thank you."

"I'll get Jerry to give me your details. I'll call after the weekend. You deserve tonight and the headache from celebrations tomorrow morning," he smiles at me, a polite nod at Emmett, "you must be proud of her."

"Incredibly," Emmett nods at him, "thank you for coming to support her."

"The honour is all mine," he places a hand on his chest, "I look forward to working with you. If you'll excuse me I want to place a bid on that piece of the sunflower meadow. My wife would love it!"

Damn. Sorry Aunt Kayla

When he walks away, Jerry follows him, looking back at me with a thumbs up. I feel dizzy. Emmett puts his hand on my back laughing softly, his lips pressing to my temple in comfort.

You did it baby," he speaks into my skin, "you're a superstar."

"There you both are" Esme appears before me, putting a hand on my forearm, her phone in her hand "my client decided on your art. She wants to know if you'll paint something on request."

"Your client as in Jennifer Lopez?" Emmett looks at his mother.

"Shush," Esme glares at him, "she wants to know if you'd paint her childhood home. In the Bronx, but with twists. I have a written brief. She'll pay you handsomely."

"Fuck off. It is her," Emmett looks as starstruck as I feel.

Esme's expression at her son cussing at her would be laughable if I wasn't having a mini heart attack.

"JLo wants me to paint something for her," I clasp Emmett's hand in shock.

"I sent her a photo of the painting you did for Edward and Bella and she adored it. She wanted one with her own personal stories," she smiles at me, "when could you have it ready?"

"Maybe a fortnight. I want it to be perfect," I say.

"That's perfect," Esme grins, "congratulations gorgeous. I'm so proud of you and you should be too."

"My art is going to hang from a wall in JLo's home," I whisper in astonishment.

"I have other clients coming up," Esme winks at me, "now I have a go to artist who'll potentially make custom pieces. You deserve this."

I feel weightless. The night is a dream. A miracle unfolding before me.

80% of my work that's displayed sells. The remaining only didn't sell because they're pieces locked in bidding wars.

At the end of the night I sit on the floor staring up at a canvas of a night sky above the Tower Eiffel. I'd painted it after my parents took me last year, but spent little time with me. I was sad, lonely. But inspired and adventurous. All emotions is managed to place between the strokes of paint.

"We should go," Emmett says as he takes a seat on the floor beside me.

"Home? Let me get my purse," I begin to move as he pulls me back.

"To Paris," he shakes his head, "anywhere really. Anywhere you feel inspired."

"I feel inspired with you," I look at him.

"I spoke to the chief. I'm taking six months of leave," he leans back on his hands, stretching his legs ahead of him, "so I can enjoy an extended honeymoon where I'm not shot at for a change."

I don't know what to say. I don't know how to move.

"So let's start with Paris," he nods toward the painting, "then somewhere tropical, somewhere snowy and maybe somewhere we can plan out the life we're going to have together."

"Oh Em," I huff moving into his arms, kissing his face as I cuddle into him, "I love you so much. Are you sure you want to leave your work?"

"I'll come back," he whispers against my skin, "my job will be waiting for me. But time with you isn't always promised. So I don't want to waste it. So I propose we get our families and friends to fly to Vegas, you paint JLo her work of art and then we take off around the world so you and your little paintbrush can run wild."

"Alongside you," I smile, "you know I've always liked the idea of a surprise wedding. Where people just show up looking nice and the couple suddenly reveal it's a wedding."

"If that's what you dream of then I'll make it come true. I want to do this right this time," he pulls back to cup my face, to make me look up at him, "no mistakes."

"Never again," I shake my head.

"The others are waiting for us at a bar down the street," he says, "to celebrate your achievement."

"We should go," I nod, "I don't want them to have to wait."

"We could make them wait," he grins down at me, "the place is empty. I'm a trustworthy cop."

"How empty?" I arch an eyebrow.

"I locked the door downstairs. Edward booked out the entire thing," he placed a kiss on my bare shoulder, "I told them we needed to pack up."

I let him guide me to stand up, taking my hand he tugs me toward a bench in the centre of the space. He sits and pulls me down into his lap, lips immediately attaching to my neck.

My body hums to life for him. His fingertips reach beneath the hem of my dress, my hands loosen his tie.

"We have to be quick," I giggle.

Knowing our friends are waiting. That we're technically speaking in public. He is the rush I crave daily. This is our relationship. The passion and obsession for one another. It's going to be the rest of my life.

"Let them wait," he tugs my dress up my thighs, around my waist, "I had to wait for you and that took much longer."

"Oh fuck," I gasp out as his fingers push aside the crotch of my panties, pushing into me.

I hadn't been prepared for how fast he moved.

"You're already wet," he grunts out, "undo my pants for me."

I do as I'm asked, tugging his hardness out from under his waistband. Enough so that I can slide down on him, bringing us closer to the pleasure we're both chasing.

"That's it," he huffs, tucking my hair back as he catches my eye, "I'm so proud of you, my Rosie. Not just because of tonight. But because of everything you've let us become and will become. Because of who you are and who you make me want to become. I'll never stop loving you."

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull my body in close to his chest, so our lips are inches apart.

"You're all mine," I whisper, "I love you."

We take longer than we should. Crying out into the empty room. Our moans echo back to us. What was slow and sweet turns to hot and heavy. When we climax he holds me in his arms, my art surrounding us.

He's the only masterpiece I admire.

We collect ourselves, walking hand in hand to our friends. Ready for life to give us all it's got so we can kick it down together. Everything that we'd conquered this far had been a test for us. We're ready for anything. I'm ready for anything.

We're about to step into the bar.

"Oh," he grabs my hand as he pulls me back, "I forgot to tell you. I booked it."

"Booked what baby?" I look over him.

"Edward's jet will be ready to go at 9am tomorrow morning. I called him. Your aunt and parents will meet us there," he smiles, "everyone is going but no one knows why."

I'd ducked to the bathroom before we'd left the gallery for no more than five minutes tops. This man is a master.

"Huh," I blink at him shocked, a slow smile spreads over my face.

My impulsive idiot.

"Vegas baby," he smacks my ass before pulling the door open, "remember to keep it a secret."

thanks for reading x