Without Warning: A Billionaire Romance (Playboys of New York Book 5), JA Low [book suggestions .TXT] 📗

I just need to get through the next one, which is to get Ariana down to the beach.

“Sure, I’m fine.” Wiping off the little bit of sweat that has beaded on my upper lip, I look at her.

“Are you sick? You’re sweating badly.” Audrey makes a face at me.

“Ssh,” I reply as I nervously look around, making sure we’re alone. “I’m going to propose to Ariana tonight.”

Audrey screams the kitchen down, which of course, makes the staff stop and stare for a moment before realizing everything’s okay. She’s jumping up and down like a crazy woman, then she stops and hugs me tightly.

“I’m so excited,” she whisper-yells. “I love her,” she tells me.

“I do, too,” I reply, which makes Audrey crack up even more.

“What do you need me to do?” Audrey asks.

Actually, maybe she could be the help I need.

“I need you to get Ariana to walk down the main path to the beach. The path is lit up by a million candles. I also need to have everyone walking after her as well.”

Audrey frowns. “You know this group. They beat to their own drums.”

She’s right.

“Okay, tell Chloe. She’ll pull everyone in line.”

Audrey nods and rushes away.

Okay, you can do this.

As I try and calm my wayward nerves, I think, It’s pretty simple. Just tell the woman you love that you want to spend the rest of your life with her.

Easy.

I suck in a deep breath and smooth down my shirt as I walk out into the tropical night and head down toward the beach. As I walk along the path that is lined with candles, I reach a beautiful tropical floral arch.

It’s been hard trying to keep this a secret from everyone. But somehow, I managed to do it. I look up into the inky blackness of the sky and take in the millions of twinkling stars staring back down at me.

This is it.

41

Ariana

“You ready?” Chloe asks as she pops her head into my villa.

Rhys left this gorgeous white evening dress hanging on the door for me to wear tonight. He wanted to put together a sophisticated new year’s event he explained to me earlier. Rhys left about an hour ago to look over the menu and to make sure the finishing touches were made, which is kind of cute that he cares so much about making it perfect for everyone.

“Yes,” I call out to Chloe as she pops her head around the corner.

“Oh, Ari. You look sensational.” Chloe smiles, her eyes becoming a little misty.

“Oh, wow. That dress is stunning.” Audrey walks in a couple steps after Chloe.

“You can thank your brother for this,” I say as I do a twirl for them. “He has great taste.”

Chloe and Audrey give each other a weird look before smiling at me.

These two are acting strange.

They both link arms with me as we step out of the villa and silently walk through the tropical gardens on the way to the main home.

“Rhys asked if you could meet him down on the beach,” Audrey tells me as she points to the candlelit pathway. I glance around at everyone milling around the living area, talking amongst themselves.

“Just me?”

“Yeah. He wants you to check if the lighting is right or something before the guests come down.” Audrey shrugs. “You know my brother is a perfectionist,” she adds.

Everyone is acting weird tonight. Maybe they are all excited because it’s a new year, or maybe Rhys has been too much of a stress head, and they are keeping their distance from him. I grab my dress and hold it up while I stroll along the path toward the beach. It’s so beautiful with all the candles lighting the path. When the pavers run out, I kick off my heels and step along the warm sand, following the thousands of candles to where Rhys is standing in front of a floral arch.

That’s cute.

Wonder who that’s for?

Hang on, did EJ ask Rhys to help him set up a proposal for Stella?

Oh my goodness, is Stella being proposed to tonight?

Oh my God, this is so exciting. She has no idea.

I take the last couple of steps toward Rhys, who’s standing in front of the arch and looks a little pale. Is he okay? Hope he doesn’t have heat stroke or something.

“You look gorgeous,” Rhys states as he takes me in. Those blue eyes are flaring with desire as they run along every inch of my body. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

Ah, he’s the sweetest.

Movement catches my attention, and I turn to notice everyone is walking down the candlelit pathway. Then I see EJ and Stella walking hand in hand.

Are we a decoy?

I turn back to Rhys and notice he’s on the sand on one knee.

No.

My hands reach for my mouth as I gasp in shock.

No.

“Ariana…” His voice is a little scratchy as if he’s nervous.

Oh my God.

No.

He’s not…

No.

Oh, so many thoughts are running through my mind.

“I know this may seem too soon for some people, but for us, I feel like it’s not soon enough.” Rhys then looks up at me, and I can see it on his handsome face. “All I know is that I love you with all my heart, and I cannot imagine what my life would be like without you in it. I never want to know what it’s like without you in it.”

The first tear begins to fall down my cheek.

“You picked me up when I was in my darkest of moments, and yet you could still find the light shining deep inside of me.”

Damn him and his words ruining my makeup.

“You fell in love with me during the worst time of my life. You loved my flaws without hesitation. You stood by me when many others wouldn’t have.”

“Because I love you, that’s why,” I tell him. My interruption to his proposal makes him chuckle.

“And I love you.” He smiles up at me as he opens the black velvet ring box he’s holding. A tiny light shines down on the