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

Jersey. We spent the time laughing and telling tales and getting to know the grown-up people we’d become. And we made out. A lot.

I open one eye. His arm is heavy on my bladder—not that I’ve had much to drink. When my vision comes into focus, there’s a figure standing over us, hands on his hips.

“Eugene?” I may be hallucinating. He could be a mirage.

“What is-a my flour all over floor?”

Yep. He’s not a mirage.

I jostle Ingram to wake him up. Eugene chuckles to himself and shakes his head as he shuffles away.

“I to going in my office.” Then he mumbles something in Greek as he disappears.

Ingram must have seen him because he’s awake now but he doesn’t seem to care. He nuzzles his nose in my neck and spoons me closer to him.

“Good morning, Funny Face.”

I bristle a little but somehow it doesn’t bother me like it used to.

“Why Funny Face?”

He guides my cheek with his thumb to turn my head around and kisses me tenderly. “It’s an old Hepburn movie. To me it means you’re elegant and graceful and I’m crazy for you.” He kisses me again. I could stay like this forever if the flour sacks weren’t so lumpy. He plants one more kiss on the tip of my nose and moves to get up. It’s a fumbling, awkward business getting off these big bags of flour.

“I guess we should go talk to Eugene before we clean up our mess,” he says.

“Yeah. This flour’s history, though.”

He runs his fingers through my hair to tame the wild mess. “Are you ready to wow him with our marketing ideas?”

“Let’s do this.”

He breaks away, heading in the direction Eugene went, tucking in his shirt as he walks.

“Ingram?”

He turns and holds out his hand to me. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”

I skip over to him. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night...”

(Because my mouth was more agreeably occupied)

“Tell me what?”

“That I love you.”

A huge grin splits his face and I’ve never seen anything more radiant. “I think that was implied.”

“Oh? Well I thought you should know.”

He plants a soft kiss on my forehead. “I appreciate it.”

“And Ingram?”

He raises a brow in a playful way. “Yes?”

“I always have.”

“Me, too,” he says, and with a devilish smirk, he tugs me against his chest. He kisses me hard and hot. I’m reeling.

Then, with a deep, rumbly tone, he says something that slays me.

“Rosemary, love of my life... you will always... always... have a pita my heart.”

Epilogue

INGRAM

The setting sun casts a golden glow on my wife’s white dress. My wife. The two words are new yet familiar and oh so right on my tongue. She’s incandescent with the backdrop of the turquoise sea and a sky of orange and pink. There isn’t a ballroom in Jersey that could match this level of perfection—no matter how many luxurious chandeliers and centerpieces. Rosemary said she wanted me to take part in the planning, but I pretty much stayed out of it. Between her and her quirky mom, they had it covered. I’m glad of it.

A destination beach wedding suits me just fine—Rosemary had dreams of coming to Bali. And I’m happy the celebration is intimate. Presently, she’s dancing on the sand with Bing. Her laughter carries on the wind with the crashing waves. I’ll never tire of watching her. She’s wearing a crown of daisies over her long, wavy hair and her dress flows freely in the breeze. My chest squeezes just a little. I’m so filled with love.

I glance to my left. Bing’s pretty blonde wife is graciously nodding and smiling, although her company is less than savory. She’s surrounded by dudes. I don’t know how Bing doesn’t get jealous. I go over to rescue her, but really, I have ulterior motives.

“Hey, Jane.”

She smiles warmly and the dudes break their circle around her to give me a spot. They pat me on the back and raise a beer to toast me and my nuptials.

“Do you guys mind if I borrow Jane for a while? Her husband is asking for her.”

They kind of grumble and Jane just laughs. “Nice to meet you, gentlemen.” She even waves goodbye.

“Gentlemen is a bit of a stretch.” I guide her over to the sand. “You’re way too nice.”

She hitches one shoulder and kicks off her strappy shoes. “They’re just curious about what I do. I’m used to it.”

Jane plays Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera. She’s amazingly talented, but Bing has a Broadway career, too. I don’t see crowds forming around him. We reach our spouses and I tap Bing on the shoulder.

“I’m cutting in, brother.”

He dips Rosemary and she squeals. The flower crown falls off so I pick it up and plop it on Bing’s dopey head. He’s got such a pretty-boy face, it doesn’t look so bad on him.

He claps me on the back. “Take good care of her.”

“Always.”

Jane slides her arm through Bing’s and they’re gone the next moment. I finally have Rosemary to myself. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her flush against me. I want this party to be over with already.

“What are you thinking, married lady?”

She hums contentedly. “I’m thinking this is way better than any prom.”

“And not a corsage in sight,” I say into her neck. “Let’s get outta here.”

“Knock it off. We still have to cut the cake.”

“Forget the cake. I’m full on hummus.”

We had Eugene’s wildly popular line of Mediterranean products shipped in for the reception. He offered to bring them himself, but we wanted him to fly in luxury. First class. If it weren’t for him and that locked-up factory of his, we might not be here today. He’s like our fairy godfather.

“Just a little while longer,” she says. “And then we can honeymoon.”

“Mmmm, baby, you are going to love the surprise I have for you.”

Her eyes grow round as clementines. “Is that so?”

Innuendo drips from her voice, but she’s going to flip when she opens her present. I found a