Exactly What I've Been Waiting For

Chapter 26

Perrie made love to her that night, holding her close. The sun rose too abruptly in the morning, however, and the glare from the three-carat ring blinded Perrie. "Probably should've gone for something smaller."

Jade elbowed her."You could've gone for something bigger." She teased.

Pulling the brunette tighter, Perrie grabbed her side, tickling her.

Jade squealed, "Perrie!"

"So what time do you have to be in today?"

"I think it's only fair the boss and newly engaged takes a day off. I don't want to move," she sighed, sated. "I just want to stay here forever."

"Well, let me ask the owners." Perrie said. "Miss, do you mind if we stayed here?" she looked at Jade from behind.

Jade raised her eyebrows. "What?"

"Well, my beautiful fiancée!" The blonde kissed her cheek, "Would like to stay here forever, and I was wondering if we could."

Jade pushed her hands off and stared at the blonde with wide eyes. "Shut up!" A smile crossed Jade's lips and she covered her mouth."Shut up, shut up, shut up! Are you kidding me!?"

"I signed off the papers yesterday, and all that's needed is yours.

"You bought this house? Perrie..."

Perrie grabbed her hands and kissed her fingers. "I didn't buy this house. We bought this house. This is ours."

"You are..unbelievable." Jade slipped her legs underneath her. Cupping the blonde's face, she stared at her. "What did I do to deserve you? Deserve all of this?"

"Well, you could sleep with me again, again and again." she laughed.

"I'm serious," Jade said. "What you did last night. That video." She looked out the window and knew her Dad was watching her. Her breath caught in and she quietly sobbed.

"Hey," Perrie cooed, tipping her chin up -- making Jade meet her gaze. "Your dad told me to show you that video when I was ready to marry you. And it worked. You said yes. He wants you happy, and I promised him that I would make you happy."

"Thank you." She whispered. "Not just for showing the video, or knowing exactly what I needed. A thank you doesn't even fit for what I feel"

The blonde wiped the lone tear that teetered down Jade's cheek, and grabbed her. "I promise you that we will be happy. And I promise you that I will love you today, tomorrow, and everyday after that because there's absolutely no one else for me. You make us click," Perrie told her."You listen to me, and you hear me, and by just one look at you, I fall in love all over again. Don't ever doubt it."

Jade smiled, kissing her, "You keep talking like that, we'll never leave this bed." She laughed, pushing the blonde down and crawling on top of her.

"Then I guess I need more lines," she said, chuckling.

***
Perrie drove her to the shop midday. Camila was dealing with a customer when they walked in, and when Perrie had a smile of an elephant on her face, she winked at the girl.

The shop was a little more busy than usual, and Jade went straight to the back, placed her things on the table and walked back to the main showroom and helped Camila.

On the other hand, Perrie walked to the front and watched Jade work. It was something she never did, she noticed. Just sitting there at
the brunette's desk, watching her talk flowers with everyone, smiling, being courteous. She was so passionate, so knowledgeable. She walked from corner to corner to find the exact one
customers wanted, and then she'd hit the next. She made reasonable suggestions that only made everyone gasp and smile. She made a difference, Perrie realized. With such a small gesture, Jade made a difference.

There was a non-stop line up for a couple of hours straight -- one person left the store, and five would enter. It was just passing five in the evening, and Camila continued working with more of the customers, and Jade went to Perrie at her desk. "Hey, sorry about that. I didn't know it'd get this busy."

Perrie pulled her onto her lap and shrugged. "I guess it was a good idea that I dragged you out of bed then. And it's okay, because while you were doing your work, I was doing mine." She said, pushing a couple of sketches towards Jade's view.

"Wow, you did all of this?"

"This shop was way too small for today, and it could only get busier and busier during the holiday seasons, Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day?"

Jade nodded. "The good thing about flowers is that there isn't an off season. I really like this though." She said, staring at the plans.

"I was watching you today"

"What?"

"I watched you today, working. I've never done that."

Jade shifted uncomfortably. "Well good, it's a little creepy."

"You know you smile to everyone?" The blonde asked.

Jade laughed, "Yeah, it's called customer service. What's your point?"

"It's fascinating."

"Smiling?

"No, to see what you do. It's more than selling plants and pretty roses. It's -"

"Life." Jade finished. "Every flower, plant, arrangement that leaves this shop becomes a part of someone's important event. Whether it's a wedding, or a funeral, or a party for your boss, or even if it's just to look at on your dining room table, it's a part of your life."

"And now it's a part of mine." Perrie smiled.

She wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck. "I got compliments on my engagement ring. Says I'm one hell of a catch," she smiled.

In that moment, Camila slipped into the back room and grabbed her Polaroid, and started snapping photos.

Jade turned and shielded her eyes from the blinding flashes. "Cut it out," she complained.

"And look at the size of that rock. You did good," she focused on Perrie's glow. Apparently, love suited her."So it worked. You're engaged. I knew it'd work."

"Knew what would work?"

"Come on, you really think Perrie could come up with something as romantic as that?" She pointed to herself all smug and proud.

Jade directed her eyes at Perrie who simply shrugged. "If I told the usual crowd, the secret wouldn't be a secret, and I needed you to be surprised."

"And come on, now. We need photos for the scrapbook. Smile! Happy. You just got engaged." A series of flashes and shutters from the camera followed. "You guys are too cute together, it puts everyone to shame."

"Okay, I got to go. I have a late meeting on-site." Perrie pushed her up, and smiled at her. "See you tonight?"

Before Jade answered, she turned to find Camila swooning in the corner. "Don't you have anything else better to do?"

"And miss this?" Jade glared at her friend and coworker.

"I guess there's a couple of fake papers conjure up." She said, leaving the two.

Jade smiled, and wrapped her arms around her new fiancée. It was weird. Fiancée. "I better see you tonight." She whispered, her breath hot against the blonde's.

"Is that a threat?" Perrie asked, her smile widening.

"Let's just say that there'll be consequences if you're late." Jade pressed against her, and really kissed her.

Out of nowhere, Perrie's beeper went off, ruining the moment. "Oh, I really got to go. Or we'd have to kick out Camila and close down the store. But I will see you tonight. Five minutes early."

Jade laughed when Perrie pecked her cheek and ran out the store.

"Is it clear?" Camila stepped out and saw Jade flush.

"I'm engaged." She said, her eyes watering.

"Oh, sweetie. Come here," Camila walked on over and hugged her friend. "I better have a part in your speech." Camila laughed.