Dirty: The Complete Series (Secret Baby Romance Love Story) (204 page)

“Ladies and gentlemen, once again I’d like
to say that I’m so honored at the turn out we’ve had tonight, as well as
overwhelmed by the offers I’ve gotten from many of you to help. I will probably
be taking a lot of you up on those offers since this is my first foray into the
business world and I’m not really sure yet what I’m doing.” I glanced back
towards the door. My father was still there.

“I came up here for a specific reason and
I will get to that. But while I’m here and talking about my business acumen, or
lack thereof, there is someone else I need to make honorable mention of. My
father, Neil Spencer, is one of California’s most successful businessmen. He’s
a self-made man that worked tirelessly for hours day and night while I was
growing up to go above and beyond when it came to providing for his family.
There was a time, a lot of time, when instead of realizing that and
appreciating it, I took it all for granted. I didn’t let myself consider the
hours of intensive brain power it had taken for him to earn what I spent freely
in a day. It was just my life and I was so caught up in living it that I didn’t
know how to look outside of myself and really see the world. My father and I
haven’t seen eye to eye on most things since I became an adult. The fault of
that lies with us both, but tonight, I’d like to say that for my part, I’m
sorry. It would have to be devastating to build a legacy for a family who not
only doesn’t appreciate it, but doesn’t want any part of it, either. Many times
I’ve complained about how unreasonable he is, but now I realize that he’s
actually been a lot more patient than I ever gave him credit for. So tonight,
I’d like to thank him for what he has taught me. He’s taught me about hard work
and free enterprise, and he’s made me tough enough to stand on my own two feet,
even when I could have continued to take the easy road and let him keep doing
it for me. I’d also like to thank him for coming tonight and tell him that I
hope one day he realizes just how much that means to me.”

The audience was clapping and my father’s
eyes still hadn’t left my face. For a second, I thought he was going to just
turn around a walk back out. The expression on his face was unreadable. But
after a brief hesitation, he gave a nod in my direction and then he went over
to where my mother, sister, and Summer were sitting, and he sat down with them.
I wasn’t joking when I said it means a lot to me for him to be here. There’s
only one thing left that I need to do and with the right answer to my question
my life will finally be complete. “Summer, can you come up here for a minute?”
She looked embarrassed. She hates being the center of attention and I knew
that. But tonight, I want her to be because from here on out, I wanted everyone
to know that she’s mine.

Summer came up and stood next to me on the
stage. I gave a little talk about her and what her role was going to be in our
business. I thanked her for everything she has done to help me, and then I took
her hands and slid down to one knee. There was a collective gasp in the crowd
and as I took the velvet box out of my jacket, Summer’s eyes filled with tears.
I flipped it open so that she could see the sapphire and diamond ring as I
said,

“Summer French, nothing in my life
prepared me for falling in love with you. When people talk about things that
consume them, I never really understood that
–
until I met you. I’ve been consumed
by you for eighteen months and during that time, the only part of it I was
unhappy was when I wasn’t with you. This business is a dream of ours and I
believe it will be successful, but if it’s not and if nothing else in this
world works out the way I think it will, I know I’ll be okay as long as you agree
to stay by my side. Summer, will you marry me?”

Tears were streaming down her face as she
took my hands and pulled me up to my feet. She reached up and put her arms
around my neck and pulled me down so her mouth was next to my ear. “Yes,
there’s nothing else I’d rather do with my life than be your wife and your
partner and hopefully someday, the mother of your children. I love you.”

“I love you so much, baby.” I kissed her
then in front of everyone. For a minute, the rest of the room and the world
disappeared. When I pulled out of the kiss, I took the ring out and slipped it
on her finger. Then, I held her hand up to the crowd and said, “She said yes!”
There was clapping and cheering and as I took her hand and led her down off the
stage, the band began to play a slow song. “Dance with me?”

“I still can’t dance,” she said with a
grimace.

“Remember what I told you about slow
dancing.”

“Yes, it’s like making love.”

“Then make love to me on the dance floor,
Summer.”

She grinned and led me out in front of the
stage. I took her into my arms and we began to dance. “Will you teach me?” she
asked.

I looked down at her pretty face. “Teach
you what, baby?”

“Will you teach me how to dance, the way
you taught me how to surf?”

I grinned at her. “It would be my pleasure.”

THE END

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This
book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are
products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not
to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual
events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Copyright
© 2016 Nella Tyler