Lovers Premiere (Kimani Romance) (17 page)

Sofia shook her head. “I think you're wrong about that. If it wasn't hard then everyone would have it. Love is hard to find. Love is hard to wait for. And in my case it was hard to recognize. And even harder to appreciate.” She sniffed and then backhanded a few tears. “I'm…I'm sorry. I'm just so damn sorry about how I've treated you. You were right about everything you said last night.
You've always been there for me, even when I convinced myself that I didn't want you to be. I took you for granted and there's nothing…nothing I can say can ever excuse that.”

Ramell nodded and lowered his gaze.

“But you never had to wait for me to love you. I've always loved you. And if you give me another chance, I promise to prove it to you every day for the rest of our lives. I don't want you to move to New York and I don't want an annulment.”

“Sofia—”

“No. Please let me finish.” She reached for his hand and then took comfort with the fact that he didn't snatch it back from her. “You mean more to me than even I knew at first. It wasn't until I was faced with the possibility of really losing you that I realized just how much you're a part of me. I love kissing you, making love to you. Hell, I even love fighting with you. But I can't…I absolutely can't imagine myself going back to living without you. Not this time.” She took a timid step forward and slid her hands flat against his chest. “Please. Give me a chance to love you the way that you deserve to be loved. I'll work less hours. I promise that I'll never put you on a shelf again. I'll—”

“Sofia—”

“Don't say it's too late.” Tears streamed down her face. “I don't know what I'll do if you say that it's too late.” She searched his eyes for any sign that he still loved her, that he still wanted her.

Ramell lifted her hands from his chest and brought
them up to his lips. In that moment she feared that this was it. Her second rejection in two days.

“Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?” He leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. His hands trembled as he cupped her face and then kissed her with all the love he felt in his heart. “Are we really going to do this? For real this time?”

Sofia pulled her hands from his grip and then threw her arms around his neck. “Yes! I love you so much.” She leaned up on her toes and kissed him with every ounce of love and passion that was in her body. She gave and received so much that her whole body trembled like the last autumn leaf blowing in the wind.

When they both had to come up for air, Sofia held him tight while Ramell whispered against her hair. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” Relief rushed through her like a tidal wave.

“I want to marry you,” he said. “The right way. With family and friends around us to celebrate and witness our love.”

Sofia laughed and cried at the same time. “I'll marry you anywhere, anytime.”

“Harrumph.”

Sofia and Ramell pulled apart to see Jacob standing nearby, smiling.

“I hate to interrupt but the photographer is waiting.” He winked and then walked off.

Sofia and Ramell stole another kiss before they reluctantly pulled apart. “I guess we better get back to the wedding,” she said.

“Save a dance for me?” he asked.

“I'll save all of them for you.”

 

Thirty minutes later, everyone was in their places and watching Rachel float down the aisle. Sofia had never seen her sister look more beautiful. When she met Ethan in front of the minister and linked their hands, everyone sighed at just how beautiful the couple was together. When it came time to recite their vows, Ethan choked up a bit and every woman's heart swooned.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Ethan stepped forward and drew his wife into his arms, made a dramatic dip and then kissed Rachel passionately. While the wedding party cheered, Sofia and Ramell's gazes found one another. There was so much love in his eyes, Sofia could drown in it.

At the wedding reception, Ramell swept her into his arms and pressed their cheeks together. Sofia still struggled to keep her tears at bay when she reflected on just how close she came to losing the best thing that had ever happened to her.

“No tears,” Ramell said, kissing their salty tracks.

Sofia smiled. “Don't worry. They're happy tears.”

“Yeah?” He smiled. “Then those might be all right.”

They floated around the dance floor, sharing Rachel and Ethan's special day and feeling like it was truly the beginning for them, as well. In a lot of ways, that was exactly what it was.

The beginning of happily ever after.

A year later…

S
ofia sat on the edge of the doctor's table with her cell phone tucked under her ear while her fingers raced across her new iPad as she fired off one contract counteroffer after another. “Sorry, Larry, but that's not going to happen. You've only locked down Mary Bell for one season of
Paging the Doctor
. She's a big hit. The fans love her. If you want to lock her down for another four years then you're going to have come up with a figure that doesn't insult my intelligence.” She only half listened to Larry Franklin's response because she knew that this was the part when studios started crying broke.

“Larry, if you feel that way then we can just let the contract run out and I can dedicate more attention to
the numerous
movie
offers that have been flooding my in-box.”

“Damn, Sofia. There you go beating me up again. I hoped that you becoming a mother was going to soften you up a bit.”

“Are you kidding? Not with these hormones.”

Larry laughed. “All right. All right. I can go up another ten percent. But that's it.”

That managed to put a smile on her face. “I'll confer with my client and get back with you,” she said noncommittally and then disconnected the call. But then her phone started ringing again. She was about to answer when Dr. Perry's voice startled her.

“You think you can fit in time in for your checkup?”

Sofia jumped and then flashed him an apologetic smile. “Sorry about that.” She quickly put her phone on vibrate and sat it and her iPad down.

Ramell unfolded his arms and grabbed his wife's electronic gadgets. “Yes, please forgive my wife. She gets a little carried away sometimes.”

Sofia glanced over at him. “Hey, I'm doing better. I've cut my work hours in half and only work three days a week.”

“And I appreciate that, baby.” He leaned over and kissed her before returning his attention to their doctor. “So what's the news doctor?”

Dr. Perry smiled at the loving couple. “I'm going to ask once again. Are you two sure that you want to know the sex of the baby?”

Sofia and Ramell smiled as their arms drifted around each other's waists.

“We're sure,” Sofia said, giddy.

“All right. Then just lay back and let's get you hooked up.”

Minutes later with her belly jelled down, Sofia and Ramell stared at the sonogram monitor in awe. When Dr. Perry pointed out the tiny little head and feet of their child, tears rushed their eyes as more love filled their hearts.

“Oh my God, baby. Look.” Sofia reached for Ram's hand. “That's our baby.”

“It sure is.” Ram nodded and then planted a kiss against her forehead.

Dr. Perry pointed at the screen. “And this here tells me that you two are about to have…a boy.”

Ramell dropped his wife's hand and pumped his fist high into the air. “Yeah! Yeah, baby!”

With tears streaming down her face, Sofia laughed at her husband's antics and then beamed when he then wrapped his arms around her and smothered her with kisses. “I take it that you're happy?”

“Are you kidding me? You've made me the happiest man in the world.”

She smiled as she cupped his handsome face in her hands. “And you've made me the happiest woman. I love you.”

“I've loved you for a gazillion years,” he said tenderly.

“And I'll love you for a gazillion more,” Sofia whispered, and sealed that promise with a kiss.