Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
"I love that."
"And I am retiring. It's what I've been working on."
"They said you've been investing and buying other companies."
His brows pull together. "I have invested in a few companies I sold off," he admits. "Others are a bit tricky, but it's all coming together. I didn't want to worry you with the details until I had a full plan. I want to make sure I get employees into positions and some projects to certain people."
"I understand that.” Blake wants to do right by the people who deserve it. “I think they were trying to play on my insecurities, you know." I shrug, hating that. "That I wasn't first to you." I was never first with my parents either. "They were trying to convince me that you were only doing all of this because of your image. That being with me was good for all that." I wave my hand.
"You are my number one, and my image only matters when it comes to you and how you see me."
"Really?" I melt more into his side, ready to be back at the warehouse already.
"I don't want everyone to see me as this cutthroat businessman that can make any deal. I want to be seen as the man who stands by his wife and family at all costs."
“You are that, Blake. You’ve stood by me, even when I didn’t know you were doing it. Plus, who gives a shit how others see us anymore? We know who we are. What we mean to each other. That’s all that matters at the end of the day."
“You’re all that matters to me at the end of the day. As long as we’re together, everything else is in the details. Like buying a house in the countryside. If you hate the house, then we can try a penthouse in Paris instead.” He really does want to make sure I'm happy. I want that for him too.
“I’m sorry there was ever doubt on my end.”
“Hey, now." He presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “Don’t do that to yourself. Your parents love a good mindfuck. It’s hard to pull away from your family even when they’re assholes.” That won’t be an issue again. I never want to speak to or see either of them.
“You punched my father.” I suddenly burst into laughter.
"Your mother is lucky I didn’t ask Lauren to nail her for me.” I laugh harder.
"I kind of wish I had seen it." Instead, I was all passed out.
"Lauren is getting the surveillance from the cameras."
"Oh, for the police?" I ask. They'd simply let us go. I wasn't questioned at all about what happened.
"No, for her entertainment." I really like Lauren and her fiancée.
"We can play it at the wedding." Blake throws back his head and laughs, making me smile as I simply watch him. Making this man laugh is foreplay. I do one day want a small wedding, even if it's only Blake and me.
"How are you feeling? You passed out." He cups my face in his hands, his eyes searching it.
"My blood pressure is always low. I think the pregnant remarks my mother made sent me into a tailspin." His brows rise. "Not in a bad way. I had been wondering earlier."
"That's why you didn't touch the champagne." I nod. "You think you are?" The concern over me etches into his features.
"Pretty sure I am."
"You haven't had a period, and you were due a bit ago."
I stare at him. "Do you really know when my period is?"
"I make it my business to know these things." I'm not shocked by this, honestly. In fact, it might turn me on. I've been learning all kinds of things about myself over the last few months.
"We're making a stop," Blake tells Jack, the driver. "The closest pharmacy."
"Right now?" Excitement flutters through me. Jack is already busting a U-turn.
"Yes, right now." He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. "We can do anything we like. All you ever have to do is ask."
"I love you," I tell him. "I always have."
"And I have always belonged to you." Blake presses his mouth to mine.
If the universe has taught me anything, it's that love always finds a way. True love, that is.
Epilogue
BLAKE
YEARS LATER
My daughter picks flower after flower. Bailey’s little eyes inspect each one before she chooses it, making sure it’s ready to be cut. Our baby girl loves all things earthy.
Truly had picked well when choosing the home where we'd raise our children. The Orchard House was designed by one of the first prominent female architects. She lived there with her wife, who was the author of a famous suspense book series. The country home is filled with history.
There is more than enough room for our family to continue growing. While the house is priceless, it's the land and openness that we all love. When we started on this garden a few years ago, I could see that we too would fill it with our own memories and history.