160 — Big day.

When I finally managed to fall asleep, the sun had already risen. But that was no problem for Julian... as soon as he let go of those bombastic words, he fell into a deep sleep. His strong arm remained on me, holding me in a spoon while his heavy breathing tickled the back of my neck and possibly my chest.
I was anxious… my heart was fluttering and uncertain. My father didn’t react in the best possible way to my relationship with Julian, but I can’t blame him for that. In fact, I think he responded better than expected. His cold shoulder to his best friend was understandable... and I confess, I also expected him to resent me.
But things have finally started to settle down, I think. Julian and Daddy seem to be on good terms, but I’m scared that the news of my pregnancy will upset this little bit of progress. No, it can end things for good. I’m not going to lie… the thought of it scares me.
My father is the only family I have left. Although I’m confident and happy with the steps that Julian and I are taking, getting engaged, having a child, building *a home*... none of this can replace my spot as his daughter. I don’t think he ever really realized how grateful I am… how much I love him, and how much I treasure our relationship… it’s better than I imagined in those hypothetical scenarios from my childhood.
I want him to know that... I really want Dad to know that I’ll always be his daughter, that I’m glad he’s my father, and that I want him to be a *grandfather.* The little gift on the table is proof of that. I want to do everything right this time to make sure he knows how I feel.
Slowly, I approach the table and pick up the small rectangular box wrapped in silver paper and tied with a red ribbon. My eyes rest there for a moment, and I find myself stroking the end of the ribbon for a while… until footsteps reach my ears and catch my soft eyes.
A discreet smile rises to my lips as I see Julian standing in the doorway, wearing a beige suit that matches the color of my dress, with a vest of the same color and a white shirt. His hair is combed back, with a few strands falling on his forehead, giving him a youthful look that really makes my heart beat faster.
“I’m almost ready, love. I just need a few more minutes to put the jewelry on.” I say, looking over my shoulder.
“You look gorgeous.” He says sincerely, the corner of his lips turning up in an even more gallant smile. “I really am a lucky man… just look at my fiancée.”
I can’t help but smile like a fool and turn my eyes to the mirror. The off-shoulder embroidered dress with tulle really suits my body. It’s not tight at the waist but fits my curves well. It’s long and almost drags on the floor, very comfortable. It’s also a beautiful… Cathy has good taste.
“Um, yes, *my fiancée* is the most beautiful woman in the world.” He says with a joking tone, but his eyes are firm and sincere.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I say in the same tone, noticing him approaching through the mirror. He has his hands behind his back, and his steps are calm and confident, typical of Julian Adams.
“Of course, I’m going to brag about it every chance I get. I’m not just the luckiest man in the world — I’m the happiest.”
He stops behind me, and his hand brushes across the front of my shoulders, which the dress doesn’t cover. I shiver slowly, even though his touch sets me on fire. His sneaky smile makes me swallow hard, especially when he places a kiss on the curve of my neck.
“Are you nervous?” Julian asks, making me sigh.
“I look nervous, don’t I?”
“A little.” He chuckles. “But that’s lovely.”
I twist my lips and pout.
“Everything will be fine,” Julian says quietly, then lays another kiss on my skin and pulls away, making me miss his warm breath.
Suddenly, Julian rests his body against my back, letting me feel the firmness of his abs. His hand touches my chest, moves up my collarbones, and finds my throat. His smile widens a little more, my body heats up, and a tickle settles in my lower belly as I expect him to hold my neck.
But he doesn’t. In fact, Julian pulls his hand away once again, and I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. But that’s for the best... we don’t want to keep my father waiting.
“I guess anything goes on that pretty little neck of yours, huh?” He says, drawing my eyes to the mirror again, and I catch a glimpse of something shiny, very shiny. As he fixes the diamond necklace around my neck, gently pushing my hair aside, my eyes widen.
I touch the necklace, feeling each of the small rows of diamonds that look like shooting stars, side by side until it meets the row of three diamonds in the center: a large oval surrounded by small diamonds that resemble points of light, a round one just below, also set, and a small diamond at the ends. It’s so shiny, so mesmerizing that my lips simply fall open, but no words escape.
Julian fixes my hair again, letting the brown waves slide down my bare shoulders and enhance the beauty of the necklace.
“This is...”
“A present.” He strokes my earlobe with his thumb, catching my gaze through the mirror again. There’s something seductive about the way he caresses my ear, the way his green eyes seem darker tonight... It’s definitely a breathtaking sight.
I open my lips to find the words, but Julian surprises me again. He puts an earring in my ear, making my eyes widen slightly again. Then, he tucks a lock of my hair behind the other ear and slides his thumb all over my helix until it stops on the lobe that awaits the other earring.
As soon as Julian has finished, he looks directly into my eyes through the mirror, touching the earring that pairs with the necklace, an oval-cut diamond set with a point of light at the end. He’s very attentive, but soon, a discreet smile plays on his lips, bringing me butterflies.
“Yes, very pretty indeed.”
“I love it,” I say after sighing, my heart beating very, very fast.
“I mean, diamonds are nice, but you...” Julian brings his lips close to my ear and says quietly, closing his eyes. “You’re so much more.”
I give a little giggle and turn around slowly, placing my hands on his chest, under the suit that matches my outfit, feeling his heart beat just as hard as mine.
“Such a smooth-talker,” I say with a mischievous smile, moistening my lips slowly, exploring each corner with my tongue in one slow movement. Julian’s eyes watch intently as his smile widens.
“What can I do? I’m naturally charming - ouch!” He feigns pain when I pinch his arm, and I try to pretend I’m angry, but I can’t, as his smile infects me. “Just for you, babe, you know that, don’t you?”
“Uh-huh, funny you say that... Should I remind you what my father used to call you?”
He twists his lips, “That’s in the past. I’m a one-woman man... a very hot one at that.”
“So you’re with her because of her looks?” I raise an eyebrow, fighting my giggle.
“What can I do? She’s tempting even when she’s wearing so many clothes.” Julian brings our faces closer together, almost mixing our breaths. “But I have to confess, if I’d known she looked so beautiful in a gala dress, I’d have done something different for our date. I still have a lot to learn.”
“I’m sure she’s happy with what you’ve done and wouldn’t change a thing... She must have loved the proposal with all her heart.”
“Do you think so?” He raises an eyebrow too. “I hope her father thinks like that. He booked a table at a really expensive restaurant, so it’s a big day, you know?”
I press my nails a little harder into his chest, and with a smile, I give him a light kiss on the lips.
Julian tilts his head back, adding distance between our months... “Easy, I have a fiancée.”
I squeeze his black tie, tightening the knot, and he gasps. “Pretty loyal, huh?”
“I told you, I’m a one-woman man,” Julian says with a laugh, then takes my hand in his, intertwining our fingers but bringing the back of my hand up to his mouth for a light kiss.
“A smooth-talker indeed.”
He laughs, still with his lips against my skin, then pulls away.
“No matter what you say to me, it will all sound like compliments to my ears.”
Hah, really... No wonder he’s so popular with women. With that face, those eyes, that body, and that deep, low voice saying those things... any woman would get butterflies in her stomach... *and tickles too.*
“But we should go... I don’t want to keep my father-in-law waiting a minute longer.”
“Father-in-law? I want to see if you have the nerve to call him that face-to-face.” I say with a laugh, breaking away from him to pick up the gift I’ve prepared especially for this special evening.
“Is that a challenge?”
I look over my shoulder, holding the gift carefully.
“What are you willing to pay if I comply?” He moistens his lower lip with a mischievous smile.
“Whatever you wish.” I let the words sound out subtly, but I don’t hide my sly tone.
“Uh-huh, you know how to mess with my head.” Julian scratches his stubble. “I have very high expectations to match up with such a petulance.”
“Are you afraid of Dad’s punches?” I ask with a laugh, and he shrugs his shoulders.
“Oh yeah, I am, no bother to admit. You don’t know your father’s punches!” He comes closer, holding out his hand. “But for you, I’d take every one of them.”
I give him a loving smile while my eyes soften.
“Shall we, babe? He’ll be impatient.”
I firmly hold the gift that will change everything and take Julian’s hand, looking directly into his green eyes, which are now shining brightly.
“Yes, let’s go.”
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[...] New York’s traffic seemed to cooperate with this moment, as did the night sky that’s obscured by the city’s lights. The end of autumn brings a cold breeze that could chill my skin if it weren’t for Julian’s strong arms holding me and the warmth of his body so close.
Julian guides me into that fancy and extremely luxurious restaurant that is certainly six stars because five doesn’t seem enough. I confess to feeling a little out of place. But *my fiancé’s* firm hand holding mine is enough to dispel all these silly worries.
We enter the restaurant and make our way up to the second floor, led by an elegant man in an expensive suit. My eyes catch every detail around me... the cascading chandeliers that seem to sparkle like the necklace around my neck, the gold-framed works of art, and even the small vases with red roses arranged around the place. It’s so stunning that I only realize I’ve reached the table when Julian stops.
My eyes meet Dad’s, who immediately stands up from his seat like a perfect gentleman. He holds out his hand and gives me a warm smile as his gaze softens.
Julian gives me a reassuring squeeze, and I hold out my hand for Dad to take... the left one, exactly where my engagement ring is.