Draw Me In (39 page)

Pausing,
eyes closed, Leo smiled, a look of pure contentment cloaking his face.

“
We ran into one another once in Italy
in front of the statue of David. When I saw Julie, I had been thinking about
how we were there just staring at this incredible figure, but that most of us
hardly knew anything about the man responsible for it all. I wasn
’
t praising Michelangelo for his
genius; I was simply appreciating the work of art, the end result. And
truthfully, that hardly seemed fair,
”
Leo said.
“
So
if you see me and congratulate me or read another article about my journey or
my story
—
whether
that be related to my battle with cancer or even my successes in business
—
know that she
’
s the one behind it. That it
’
s her dedication and her hard work and
her blood and sweat and tears that have made me who I am today. She once said
that I was her muse.
”
Leo looked down to me over the ledge of the podium. The pleat of his shoulders
bunched as his arms slunk forward onto the stand. I hadn
’
t realized it, but my hands were
clutched tightly to my chest. I kept them there, hovering just over my heart.
“
But she
’
s the one who created the man
standing before you right now. And if I know anything about art, which she
’
ll probably tell you I don
’
t.
”
Laughter filtered through the room,
some loud and raucous, others a stifled giggle.
“
I know that an artist pours their
very soul into their work. And that
’
s
what you, my love, have done with me. And my soul thanks you every single
second of every single day for choosing our love to be your life
’
s greatest work.
”

 
The hesitant pause of quiet gave way to
an explosion of praise as everyone in attendance rose to their feet, palms
meeting palms in an appreciative display of applause. The project manager of
Leo
’
s
new charity came up to the stage to begin her talk on how to donate to his
latest venture as he made his way through the crowds and down to our table.

I
was already standing just like everyone else, and when Leo reached me, he swung
me into his chest and pressed his mouth deeply onto mine. I hadn
’
t bothered to wipe the tears from my
eyes and my slick skin pressed onto his cheeks and it was honest and emotional
and real.

“
Did you get the box?
”
he asked, eyes glinting like a child
’
s.

I
cringed a little in apology.
“
I
didn
’
t
open it.
”

“
Since when do you not open my gifts?
”
Leo pulled his head back and laughed
and his shoulders bounced up and down with the motion.

“
I don
’
t need any more gifts from you, Leo.
You
’
ve
already given me all of you, and there
’
s
no way you
’
ll
ever be able to top that. You really don
’
t
even need to try.
”

He
smiled, that heart-stopping grin that changed my world all the way on the other
side of the world just a few years ago. I could never have imagined that this
is how it would all turn out. My dreams weren
’
t big enough back then. My canvas not
large enough.

“
Have I told you just how much I adore
you?
”

I
giggled, pushing a hand onto his solid chest. I could feel his muscles pulse
against my palm as I pressed in harder.
“
Yes.
In fact you just told a room of about a thousand other strangers, too.
”

“
I
’
d tell the universe if I could,
”
he breathed into my hair, all low
and raspy. I snaked my hand around his neck and held his face inches from mine.
I
’
d memorized that face years ago, but
every time I looked at him, I discovered something new.
“
I
’
m honestly the luckiest man on earth
to have someone like you choose to love someone like me, Julie.
”

I
didn
’
t
need to answer him, because Leo knew exactly how I felt. He would always know.
I
’
d shown him every day just how much,
and I would continue to show him until the day I died. He was my muse, and that
wasn
’
t
a one-time sort of thing. He was my daily inspiration. To be a better person.
To be a better wife and mother. To love to the fullest and face each day, a new
sketch just waiting to be drawn.

As
he said, our love was my greatest work.
 

And
this was our masterpiece. Leo and me and our sweet Isabella.

But
when it came down to it, this was one work where I couldn
’
t rightfully take all of the credit.

Because
looking back
—
at
our whirlwind history and the hopeful future now mapped out before us
—
Leo had always
been, and would always continue to be, the true artist behind it all.

THE END

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

When
I began writing
Draw Me In
, I didn
’
t know that Leo would have cancer. It
truly wasn
’
t
part of the original plan for the story. I knew he had a secret
—
that there would be
something to keep them temporarily apart. But the more I thought about it, and
once I settled into the initial surprise I first experienced, I couldn
’
t imagine the story any other way.

Because
cancer
is
a surprise.

And
certainly not a good one.

In
the fall of 2007, my father experienced some unusual back pain. He was always a
big bear of a man
—
larger
than life
—
and
I
’
d honestly never known him to be sick
or ill before. But what felt like a pulled muscle ended up being Stage IV
kidney cancer, and within eight months, it took his life. It was a fast, brave
battle, and throughout the good majority of his treatments you
’
d never have any idea he even had
cancer. But it changed me, losing the man that first taught me how to love,
losing the person that showed me what it was to be strong even in the face of
fear. My dad had always been my hero, but through his journey he became my
warrior.

Dad
never had the chance to know me as a writer, but his strength and his story
have influenced so much of what pours out through my fingers and onto the
keyboard. So writing Leo
’
s
story was a cathartic process for me. I needed to write a cancer story that embodied
hope. I needed that happy ending.

Somehow,
in some way, Julie and Leo
’
s
happy ending gave that to me, and I
’
m
forever grateful for these characters for that gift. It
’
s my hope that they
’
ve given even just a small gift to
you as well.

If
you enjoyed their story, I would love if you would take the time to leave a
quick review on
amazon.com
and
Goodreads
. And if you would like to read other
contemporary romances of mine, please check out
Demanding
Ransom
and
The
Rules of Regret
.

Stay
tuned for Walker
’
s
story,
Play the Part
, available
summer of 2014.