Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26677 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I smile wanly.
“Plus, at least I’m not around my half-naked mother anymore.”
Mason nods seriously.
“Yeah that too, but Chelsea, I hope you know that I was being honest about what I said in the library. I’ve fallen in love with you and our relationship has become far more than I ever envisioned. It’s actually a little like those romance novels you read, although without the shirtless hunks on the cover of course.”
I giggle.
“You’re handsome enough to be one of the cover models!”
My boyfriend grins and takes my hand.
“Okay, well we’ll have to get a fan too so that my hair blows in the wind. But I’m serious, honey,” he says, squeezing my small palm within his own. “Everything I said to Elsa is true. I want to be a permanent part of your life, and the baby’s life too.”
Tears fill my eyes as I sniffle a bit.
“Really?” I murmur. “You do?”
My man caresses my cheek with his thumb, a tender look in those blue eyes.
“Yes, absolutely, sweetheart. I love you so much, Chelsea, and the thing is that I’ve loved you since the very beginning, even before this frickin’ free use arrangement started. I was crushing on you when you were gardening like a sweet, innocent thing out in the yard, and I would have stopped at nothing to have you. I did stop at nothing to have you,” he adds in a dark tone. “It got a little away from me, but I want to make amends. I want you to know just how much I adore you, and I want us to be a family,” he states in a firm tone.
I smile at him tremulously with tears in my eyes.
“Do I get a say in this?”
Mason immediately swoops down to kiss me.
“No, absolutely not. You’re mine,” he rasps. “You and the baby both.”
With that, I sling my arms around his broad shoulders before pulling him in for another passionate kiss.
“Good,” I whisper. “Because I want to be yours. I’ve been yours since the moment we met, Mr. Richards. I love you.”
With that, we seal the bargain with one more passionate kiss, our lips and bodies reiterating what we’ve already spoken with words. After all, our relationship started on sketchy terms, I won’t deny that. I offered my pregnant body to the CEO in exchange for free room and board, but Mason took it all and then some. Now, I’m ensconced in his arms and surrounded by his love, and I wouldn’t have it any other way
EPILOGUE
Chelsea
A month later.
“Yum!” I murmur happily as Mason feeds me a piece of fresh pineapple. It’s so sweet, and it goes perfectly with my slightly spicy ramen noodles, which are topped with a fried egg, cilantro, and my favorite: ground-up cheese doodles. The orange crumbles look a little weird in the bowl, but lately, I find that the neon powder goes with every type of food and insist on having them with everything.
Fortunately, my boyfriend is more than accommodating. He’ll grind up cheese doodles for every meal and sprinkle them liberally on my food, even if Mason’s handsome expression is one of horror as he does so. Still, Mason does whatever keeps me happy, and the truth is that this man makes me so happy.
“Here you go, sweetheart. Last piece,” Mason growls as he feeds me a final chunk of pineapple. “Thank God because I think the pineapple juice was starting to attract ants,” he kicks his leg a few times, staring balefully at an ant that fell out of his sock.
I giggle as I watch him stare daggers at the small insect. Who knew such a tiny bug could get under a big man’s skin? But that’s just the way my boyfriend is. He’s not much of an outdoors person, and probably never will be.
Still, I’m glad to be in the garden today. It’s sunny, with just a few clouds drifting in the blue sky, and we’re seated under a big magnolia tree in the corner. Bees buzz merrily over nearby rosebushes, and I swear, I even saw a hummingbird by the daffodils.
But then, my eyes slide to the cottage and I frown. It’s empty now because my mom moved out. It was for the best. Elsa couldn’t stay there any longer after that stunt she pulled. I mean, really? Stripping nude and sucking on her tits in front of us? That’s gross, not to mention crazy.
So yes, Mason helped her find a new apartment in Manhattan. At first, I wasn’t sure how this was going to work, seeing that rents in the city are high. But my boyfriend’s helping her with her bills every month. He said he’d do anything to get Elsa out of our hair, and I have to agree. Throwing money at this problem is the right thing to do, especially since I’m closer than ever to delivering.