Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
We break apart after ten beats of my heart and he’s smiling. “How’d that go?”
“I think you terrified them.”
“Good. I’m guessing they’ll agree with anything I say for a few months. After that, it’ll be back to playing the game.”
“What will you do with all this new power?”
“I’m not sure. But whatever it is, Hayle Construction’s going to grow. We’re going new places, Tara. We’re blazing trails.”
I laugh lightly but inside I’m twisted like a pretzel. “I’ve been wondering. Now that you’re officially installed as the chairman of that board and Hugh’s gone, which means you’re leading the darker side of the business… does that mean our contract is concluded?”
He lifts my fingers to his lips and brushes his mouth across them. “I think so, yes.”
“We’re finished then.”
“You earned what I promised. The property will be yours.”
“And I meant it when I said I won’t demolish the house and your mother can stay there as long as she wants.”
“That’s kind of you.” He tilts his head, staring into my eyes.
I stare back, not sure what to say. It’s over, our agreement is finished, and yet… I don’t feel like this is settled. Like there’s something still lingering.
“Where do I go from here?” I ask him, unable to help myself. “I feel so lost. My whole life was spent in those gardens and now that Hugh is gone and you’re back and your father is dead, I just—I don’t know. I feel like I don’t need to pay the price for Cait anymore.”
“You don’t need to pay a damn thing to anyone,” he says quietly. “But I’ve been thinking about what’s next too. And I keep meaning to do something.” He moves me back into the hall and drops to one knee. I frown at him as he takes my hand and slips the engagement ring off my finger. My heart flutters and he stares up into my eyes, my handsome husband, my gorgeous Kellen.
“I love you,” he says and I feel like my chest explodes. Those words have been hovering in my mouth for weeks and weeks and I’ve wanted to scream them into the desert but I haven’t been able to do it. Now, hearing it from him, it’s like waking up. “I love you, Tara, more than I ever thought I could. I don’t want to let you go. I don’t want to end this. Stay married to me.”
“I love you too,” I say, fighting back tears as he slides the ring back onto my finger, smiling huge.
“You’re my wife. I want to do this for real. Let’s have a wedding, an actual wedding.”
“But we’re already married.”
“Fuck what the paper says. We’ll skip the ceremony and go right to the party. What do you think?”
“Yes, absolutely yes.” I laugh and he stands and hugs me, lifting me up into the air. I laugh again as he puts me back down and kisses me, holding me tight. “I love you, Kellen. God, you woke me up from a coma I didn’t even know I was stuck inside of.”
“And you made me realize I’m more than a killer and more than a collection of scars and tragedies. I need you, Tara. I need all of you and I won’t let you go.”
I kiss my husband, full and deep and without hesitation, and for the first time in my life I know—I’m doing the right thing.
Chapter 35
Tara
One Year Later
I stretch my legs and sigh as the sun sets over the back gardens. The awning casts a long shadow over the lounge chairs and Goldie sits in her seat with her tea and smiles contentedly. We don’t speak much on our nightly sunset watch party, but we do drink tea and enjoy a comfortable silence for twenty minutes or so. I started this a while back when I realized Goldie wasn’t getting out much, and it just became our thing after a while.
“A good one tonight,” Goldie murmurs, smiling at the pinks and oranges flaring across the sky. “Cait would’ve liked it.”
I start, surprised. We never talk about Cait. Goldie hasn’t mentioned her daughter once, though it feels like Cait’s always there, lurking beneath the surface.
“I think she would’ve too.” I clear my throat and place a hand on my swollen belly. “Did I tell you that we know the baby’s sex?”
Goldie’s eyebrows raise. “No, you didn’t mention it.”
“It’s a girl, and I was thinking we’d name her Caitlyn. Maybe she’ll be a Caitie.”
Goldie’s smile is dazzling and she blinks back tears. “I think that’s nice. What does Kellen say?”
“I haven’t asked him yet, but I know he’ll like it so long as you’re okay with it.”
“I’m very happy you’re honoring my daughter’s memory. You were always a good friend, you know.”
“I try at least.”
“Well, dear.” Goldie pats my hand and wipes her eyes. “A very good sunset.”