Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“You said you wanted to go to Dubai as soon as possible.”
“Not fucking tonight,” I gasp as I throw my laptop into my bag. “I’ve got to get home.”
“To her?” Jenny folds her arms angrily.
“Yes, to her. I told you a million times, Jenny. I’m in love with Juliet. We are getting married.”
“Then what the hell am I doing here?” she cries.
“Right now . . . you’re being the most selfish person I’ve ever met.” I throw my hands up in the air in surrender. “My father fucking died yesterday, Jenny, and here I am dealing with you carrying on and trying to kiss me and get me to fly to the other side of the world away from my family.”
“You don’t have a family,” she spits.
The venom.
“Yes.” My anger rises. “I do. I have my family, the one I chose: Juliet and Blake and Antony.” My eyes hold hers. “And I used to have the best PA in the business.”
Her eyes well with tears. “Used to?”
“I’m done, Jen.” I shrug. “You can’t work for me anymore. I’m transferring you. This is not acceptable behavior.” I walk toward the door.
“You can’t leave me. I quit,” she yells.
I keep walking and hold my hand up in surrender. “Good.” Fuck off.
Juliet
I sit on the front steps in the darkness, my optimism slowly fading.
I keep picturing Henley in that hospital bed that day, his father lying beside him, asleep with his head on his chest, Henley’s arm protectively around him.
I get a vision of Henley carefully shaving his father’s face and whipping him with the T-shirt as he helped him dress. The way he used to help him shower and read him the morning paper.
The way he visited him every single day. The way they laughed together about everything and nothing.
Never to happen again . . .
I know his dad didn’t remember him, but that doesn’t make it any easier or any less significant. The loss is still so great.
My poor beautiful Henley.
I can’t imagine what he’s going through. I can’t even pretend to.
I’m so worried that I feel sick in the stomach. What if Henley does something crazy? Like, really crazy . . .
Fuck.
I drop my head into my hands in despair. I can’t stand the thought of him on the other side of the world. He can’t go. This can’t be happening.
A car comes into the street, and I glance up to see that it’s a black Range Rover.
What?
He’s home.
He pulls into my driveway, and with tears in my eyes, on autopilot, I stand. He gets out of the car, and his face falls as he sees my tears. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“Are you okay? I’ve been so worried.”
He pulls me into his arms. “I am.” He kisses me softly. “Now that I’m with you.” He holds me tight, and I can’t help but cry tears of relief against his chest.
My big, beautiful man, after all he’s been through.
He did it.
He leaned into the light . . . and made it home.
Epilogue
Twelve months later
I sit at the kitchen counter and smile into my coffee like the cat that got the cream, because I did just that.
Henley James, the biggest prize of all. The most beautiful man with the biggest heart. He adores me as much as I adore him.
What a whirlwind of a year, the happiest year I have ever had. My name is Juliet James, and I am married to the love of my life.
We got back just yesterday from our honeymoon, a month in Italy.
It was incredible . . .
Filled with love and laughter; the sun, the moon, and the ocean; and everything in between.
And I thought things couldn’t get any better, but fate has other ideas.
It just did.
Henley’s car pulls into the driveway, and I bounce up to greet him at the door. “Hello, Mrs. James.” He smiles sexily as he pulls me into his arms and kisses me. His tongue gently swipes through my open mouth.
“Hello, husband.” I smile against his lips.
His hand grabs me roughly on the behind as he walks me backward into the house. “Today was long without you.”
“Without sex, you mean?” I smile as he kisses me.
“Yep.” He throws me backward over the couch, and I bounce with a laugh. “Wait.”
“Wait what?” He smiles darkly as he takes his suit jacket off and throws it over the chair.
“I have news.”
“I already know it. You’re about to be fucked.”
“No.” I laugh, and I hold up the pregnancy test to him.
He stills and looks down at it.
“You’re going to be a father, Hen.”
“What?”
“Our own family has already begun.” I take his hand and put it over my stomach. He splays his fingers out tenderly.
“Are you sure?” he whispers.
I nod.
Through tears, his eyes search mine. “Oh, Juliet . . . I love you so much.”
“And I love you . . .”