21. Raven

"Eden,I can't thank you enough."

"Raven, you really were the only person right for it."

Since Eden said my name on the stage, I've been in a state of shock. As soon as I was pushed toward the stage, I lost track of Blair.

A moment this big deserves to be celebrated with the ones you love.

Now that I have traveLLin', I want Blair too. There's nothing stopping us. I want to have a life with her. With her and her sister.

Finding Laney by the bar, I grab her.

"Have you seen Blair?"

"She said she wasn't feeling well and was going to go back to the hotel."

"Wait, she left?"

"About twenty minutes ago. And if I were you, I wouldn't let that woman get away."

Her comment draws me up short. "I'm sorry?"

Eden approaches the two of us, my nerves now starting to come back in full force.

"Do you really think we're that dumb?" Laney laughs. "It was all a ruse between the two of you. You're not the only ones that did their due diligence."

"But…" My mouth goes dry.

"We did our research on you. You're a force to be reckoned with, Raven. But you reminded me of me when I first started this business. No attachments to anyone. You had a quote in an article with the Seattle Star a few months back about how you've been single for so long it makes it easier to run the business."

That damn article I did a few months back. I used to wear my singlehood like a badge of honor. Not wanting or needing anyone in my life. Turns out, finding the rightpartner makes all the difference.

"But then we saw you two together. Reminded me of the two of us." Eden's face is soft as she looks at Laney. "No one could pull me away from work like she could. The same way I saw Blair pull you away."

"You knew it was fake? And you're still giving me your company?"

Eden nods, but Laney is the one who speaks. "While you were trying to impress Eden, it let me observe you two. It was subtle, but it was there."

"And you still trust me with your company?" After all that, to lose what I came here for would be devastating.

But would it be as devastating as losing Blair?

Laney takes my hand in hers. "Getting to watch the two of you fall in love? You can't witness anything greater than that."

"Besides," Eden interjects, "the two of you running this company together? You'll be the balance each other needs to make it work."

I blow out a breath. "I'm sorry for lying."

Eden waves me off. "Are you really? Even though you fell in love?"

"I guess not."

"Now, why are you standing around talking to us? Go get your girl."

"Thank you. Truly."

Dropping kisses on each of their cheeks, I head off in the direction we came from. There is no way I'm letting Blair run scared. Not with everything finally within reach.

This was never meant to be fake, even though we thought it was. It's the most real thing in my life, and I won't stop until I'm back in her arms.

Kicking out of my heels, I pick them up and run along the promenade back to the hotel.

Only I don't make it far.

Blair is standing about fifty feet away, a lone light casting her shadow on the path.

"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?" I call out to her.

She startles, turning to face me. Tears wet her eyes.

"You got what we came for."

"Not everything."

"You sealed the deal."

"The company, yes. But there's one more thing I want."

"What's that?"

Blair doesn't look at me as I close the distance between the two of us. "You."

She stiffens, goose bumps breaking out across her skin.

"But…it was all for show."

"Was it?" I sweep a blonde lock of hair back off her shoulder.

"Uh-huh." Her voice stutters.

"Are you sure about that?"

Her eyes close, like she's willing herself to have this conversation with me.

"Why would it be anything else, Raven?" Her voice is quiet.

"It was a lot more for me."

"It was?" Her gaze snaps up to meet mine. Blue eyes, full of hope, are staring into mine.

Resting my hands on her hips, I turn her to face me. The wind off the lake blows around us.

"It might've started out fake, Blair, but it's not for me anymore. Not for a long while. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. Even Eden and Laney could see it."

"They knew?" She gasps.

"They knew. And they still gave me their company."

She bites down on the corner of her lip, eyes welling with tears.

"I don't open myself up to anyone. A downside of the business I'm in. You were the exception."

"Yeah?"

"The only one. The only person who ever even bothered to try." Cupping her cheek, I tug her lip free from the clutches of her teeth. "I don't want anyone but you, Blair. You're it for me."

"Really? Because my life isn't exactly easy right now. I have my sister to think about, and we're a package deal."

"I know."

"And my job doesn't really make it conducive to being in a new relationship and?—"

I cut her off by sealing my lips over hers. She melts into my touch.

This. This is why I love her. She never thinks about herself. I want to be the one to put her first.

Not my business or traveLLin'. Her. Only her.

"I'm going to need someone I trust to help run traveLLin'."

"Me? Really?"

"You'd be incredible. With your skills and drive? We'll be taking over the world."

She huffs out a laugh. Warm hands drift around my waist, holding me close. "Do you think I'd be able to steal you away from work? Visit some of these places we talk about?"

"Remote beaches with you? A drink in hand? Can we go right now?"

Blair presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. "I'd go anywhere with you, Raven."

"Does this mean you'll stay?"

She nods against me. "As long as you won't be hiring out any more girlfriends for company functions."

This woman. She drives me mad sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Then maybe I should think about upgrading that title of yours from fake girlfriend."

"To what?" Blair takes my extended hand, linking our fingers together.

"Partner. On a permanent basis."

"Yeah?" Her breath leaves her in a rush. "You'd want that?"

I nod, pulling her into me and wrapping my arms around her waist. "I want everything with you, Blair. The good, the bad, the ugly."

"There might be a lot of ugly. I have a teenager after all." She drops her forehead to mine.

"It's what we do for love, Blair. I love you. And I know I'll love Avi just as much."

"I love you, Raven." Blair closes the distance between the two of us, connecting our mouths. Sealing the promise we made to one another.

"I'm sure my Gram will be happy to know that I'm as happy as she is," I laugh against her cheek.

"I can't wait to meet her."

"You'll love her."

Blair shakes her head. "Not as much as I love you."

She seals it with a kiss. The best kiss of my life.

Because it's with the woman I truly love.

Blair Stevens.

My fake girlfriend.

The most real person I've ever met and fallen in love with.

Thank God for Elite.