Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

as we stood there on the beach, suspended in a moment, our hearts beat in concert.

Jaxson cracked a contented grin. “So…”

“So?” I managed to reply lazily, still heavy and unfocused.

“Do you have something to say to me?” he asked. He was so fishing for a love confession. In truth, I had so much more to say to him. But how could I possibly top that fireworks show? How does one respond to years and years of affection gradually building to perfection? Where to begin? What was left to say?

At length, I could only think of one thing true—one thing that was pure and right.

“Marry me.”

Jaxson stilled. If he made any movement, his fingers clutched tighter onto my shoulders.

“Isn’t that my job? Proposing?”

I shrugged because I didn’t care who proposed to whom. It was the result I was interested in. His lips curled, and he said, “I thought it would be cool to date for longer than oh, I don’t know, five minutes. And then one day, I’d take you to a romantic spot and surprise you with a breath-taking ring.”

“If it makes you feel better, you can buy a ring tomorrow, propose Thursday, and we’ll get married Friday.”

He laughed—softly to himself—as if someone had told him a joke hours ago, and he just now got the punchline.

“What?”

“Funny story… I already have a ring.”

Why? How? Wishful thinking on his part? I liked his style. He pulled away just enough, so he didn’t look like a cyclops anymore.

“I went to England because I needed to think. Get away. But everything about it reminded me of you. That little shop where we stopped so you could use the loo. That place by Cambridge University where they have the best fish and chips. Piccadilly. And I knew I had to set you free. So I went to see your mum.”

“What does Mum have to do with anything?”

“I told her our deal was off. No more… helicopter friendship, or whatever.”

“Sock-blocking,” I supplied, nodding.

“That really isn’t a thing.”

“Tomato tom-ah-to. What did Mum say?”

“She hugged me—a little too tight I might add. And she wouldn’t let me leave. Made me stay for dinner.”

“Oh, that can’t have gone well. What did she serve this time?”

His eyes widened in dramatic animation. “Shepherd’s pie.”

“Whoa. I’ll bet Dad was elated.”

“Over the moon. He couldn’t even tell it was veggie meat.”

I could imagine. “Where is this story going?” I rather wished we could go back to snogging.

“Your mum confessed, the reason she came out to visit you in California was to conspire with Stella… about you… and me.” He reached into his pocket, digging deep into his trousers until he came up with something shiny, perching it between his thumb and forefinger. “Then she gave me this. For ‘safekeeping.’”

The antique ring was so beautiful I couldn’t do it justice with words. A large diamond surrounded by several smaller ones nestled in a platinum setting. Intricate scrollwork and lacy Edwardian motifs graced the precious metal all around the edges. It was stunning.

“It belonged to your great-grandmother,” Jaxson said, swallowing hard. “Stella’s mum. Both Stella and your mum thought I might find a use for it someday. She wouldn’t hear my protests when I tried to leave it behind.”

“What was Dad’s reaction to all this?” I asked with interest.

“He shook my hand and said, ‘Welcome to the family, son.’ Then he disappeared into his study.”

I stared at the ring then back at Jaxson. I had to admit, I wasn’t shocked. My mum was nuts. But Dad?

“And she just gave you her grandmother’s ring. Without even talking to me first.”

“She knows you better than you think she does, Emma. And your sister said something to her.”

My sister! Traitor.

“Well then.” I supposed matchmaking ran in the family.

“Well then.” Jaxson repeated my words and with a sincere expression, bent his knee onto the sand. He took my left hand and poised the ring at my fingertip.

“Emma, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

I ran my teeth along my bottom lip and helped him slip the ring on my finger.

“Yes. Of course. Now get up from there.”

Jaxson shot back up and captured me in his arms, embracing me like the only source of air. He held me for a timeless moment, breathing me in, exhaling himself to me. It was bliss.

My best friend—now fiancé.

I guess one could say he was my boyfriend for all of three minutes. But to me, he was my better half for the past ten years.

“This is it, then,” I said, smiling larger than life. “We’re actually doing this.”

“Yes, we are,” he answered, speaking into my hair. “Not quite what we expected when we woke up this morning, is it?”

“Perfect misery to perfect happiness.”

He slid out of the embrace to kiss me. “I only want to make you happy. It’s my goal in life.”

“You’re bloody good at it,” I said, kissing him back. He smiled extra wide, and I kissed his smile, too. Even his lovely teeth. “And Jax?”

“Yeah?” He loved the smile kisses.

“I love you. In case you didn’t know.”

A deep rumble erupted from his chest. His laugh just did things to me I couldn’t explain.

“I had an idea. But it’s good to hear you say it.”

“I’ll never stop.”

Jaxson fixed his eyes on me, arresting me with candour and honesty in their beautiful depths and softly spoke directly to my soul.

“Neither will I,” he whispered. “Never in a thousand years.”

Epilogue

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A MUSICAL

One Year Later

Emma

I used to think the best weddings were the ones in which I made the match. That all changed the day I married my best friend. I came to realize the sweetest weddings—the happiest, most magical ones were those that took you by surprise.

I decided surprises should be my new thing.

Warm twinkle lights draped across the expanse of The Hacienda Gardens, casting a romantic and faerie-like glow on the wedding reception. The food was fabulous, the music was lively, and the bride and groom were incandescent. I squeezed Jaxson’s hand