Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
And the two people Tiffany pulls up both say the same thing—there was never any indication that they were dating.
No ring.
No stolen kisses.
No secret smiles I know too well.
Tiffany finally turns to me, the smile on her face undaunted by Vanessa steadily deflating.
“Tell us your story,” she says. “How do you feel about these allegations?”
“Well, I know they aren’t true, for one. Anyone as work-focused as Shepherd doesn’t have time for a relationship. And trust me, he needs some serious persuading to relax.”
The easy laughter that follows is sudden.
I prod his leg. “But he's very sweet about it. We didn’t plan this. It just sorta happened, like love always does.”
“How did you two get together?” Tiffany asks.
“Um. Otters?” And I tell them the story of our camping trip, taking Shepherd’s hand as I recount how we couldn’t stand each other until that weekend.
“But even then, we still had our doubts. We needed everything that happened with Adriana Cerva to see the truth.” I give Shepherd a soft smile. “Plus, he gets major points for loving my dog.”
“Well, what more can a man do?” Tiffany laughs. “So your relationship happened after the allegations?”
“I had a crush on him almost from the beginning,” I say. “Who wouldn’t? I think he took a little longer to come around, but in the end, he did.”
“So you pursued him?”
I cock my head as I look at Shepherd thoughtfully. “No. I think we both came together when the time was right.”
Tiffany turns to Shepherd. “And no ring this time?”
“Not yet,” he says after a moment. My heart races as he continues, “I’m here today because I’m ready to get on with my life, and I think, deep down, Miss Dumas is too. I’m willing to drop all defamation charges if she’ll agree to let this go.”
Tiffany turns back to her. “Vanessa? What do you say?”
The silence is deafening.
I think she knows she’s cooked. The evidence is crystal clear, and with Adriana going down and Meghan's statement, she has even less of a leg to stand on with her lies.
She knows it and so does the world.
So does Tiffany, whose smile is steady and unrelenting.
The next question is going to be devastating.
“Is there any particular reason why you claimed Shepherd Foster pursued a sexual relationship with you? And if there isn’t, why not just take the olive branch?”
“I... I didn’t come here for this. The nerve of this man, cornering me like this after everything, after—I simply won’t be put on the spot!” Vanessa’s expression falls as she stands unsteadily.
I find Shepherd’s hand.
After so much misery, it should feel good to see her humiliated like this.
It actually doesn’t.
I feel sick.
Her hands ball into fists as she storms off stage, wiping at real tears. The cameras follow her.
It may be what she deserves.
But I don’t have that smug sense of satisfaction or victory I expected.
“Tiff, here’s her reason. People do stupid things when they’re hurt,” Shepherd says. His hand is so warm and steady around mine. “She had illusions about us falling in love, and I tried to talk her down. I don’t suppose she ever thought it would come to this. Don’t suppose she wanted it to, either.”
I nod. “It’s not something I hold against her.”
“Well, that’s that, folks. It’s all up to the lawyers now, but I think we know where this is going. I’m wishing you both the best, and thanks so much for joining us today to clear the air,” Tiffany says, looking between us like she doesn’t understand what just happened either.
I know I don’t.
Not until two days later, when Shepherd’s lawyer gets a note that says Vanessa is retracting her claims, effective immediately.
It feels like the end of the beginning as I drop my phone and leap into his arms the second he walks through the door.
The whole time we kiss, Molly wags her tail, thumping the nearby chair like our little celebration has its own rhythm.
25
A Little Fateful (Shepherd)
Life is a messy damn blur and I’m loving every smear of it.
For the first time in forever, there’s a reason to leave work early.
Hannah has already had enough of my slacking and she teases me relentlessly, of course, but I make no apologies.
I’ve simply become the guy who leaves at five o’clock sharp unless he has a loaded gun pressed to his head.
Hell, I barely answer my phone anymore on weekends barring an emergency.
Mostly.
Monday to Friday, seven to five is my life in the tower, hashing out high-tech camera systems and adapting drones for peace.
The rest of my time, like my heart, belongs to Destiny Lancaster.
“What do you think?” she asks, blotting at the ice cream on her nose.
This weekend, we took a drive up to Anacortes and stopped off at a small-town ice cream parlor. It’s this old-timey place with hipster flavors like curried Elvis and midnight chocolate plum.