Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Pain?” I can barely talk, I’m breathing so hard, but I have to check in with her.
“What pain?”
I smile and lean in to kiss her forehead.
“I love you. You’re so fucking badass.”
“I’m so much stronger with you,” she says, brushing her fingers down my cheek. “Now, clean us up so we can go back to snuggling.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
JULIET
“Can we just do this every day? Sex and cuddles? Like why do we have to work? Let’s retire now so we can actually enjoy it, you know?” We’re back on the couch, and I’m totally clinging to my man, running my hand over his chest.
“I’m down for that,” Brooks replies. “I mean, we’ll eventually go broke, but we can live on love.”
I smirk, and his fingers ghost over the shell of my ear, making me shiver.
“I’m donating the rest of Justin’s money.”
His eyebrows climb in surprise, but he’s quiet, letting me continue.
“You never said anything before about being mad or not wanting to use the money that I inherited for the house, or for our lifestyle, but I could tell that you didn’t love the idea.”
“I’d rather not use anything that came from him,” he admits. He’s not angry, but he stiffened up a bit, and I don’t like that.
“I’ve always felt the same way,” I reply with a sigh. “I hated using that money. Well, not the money from the sale of the house. I had no problem using that to start my business. To buy the building and get everything going. But the cash? It always gave me the icks. Connor had a good point when he said that money isn’t personal, and I was grateful that I had it for the repairs on the building after the flood. I was able to pay my staff, so they didn’t have to find other jobs while we were closed.”
“Then keep the money, baby.”
I press my lips together, watching him. “I’m going to keep one million in an account specifically for the business. In case I have a down year or another catastrophe happens. Things like that.”
“For emergencies,” he says.
“Yeah. I like the idea of having a cushion. But honestly, I make enough at the restaurant to draw a decent wage for myself. I don’t need his money.”
“I make good money, too, you know. And we’re married, so my money is your money.”
“That’s just it. We do so well together. Just you and me. I don’t want to bring what he left me into our relationship. He doesn’t deserve that. He wasn’t kind to you. Hell, he wasn’t nice to me. And he would go absolutely ballistic if he knew that I planned to give the money to a women’s shelter for domestic violence victims in Seattle.”
I grin up at him.
“One last fuck off to him, then?” Brooks asks.
“It’s a perk. But also, that money would just sit because I don’t plan to spend it. It should do some good somewhere. I need you to know that I choose you and your feelings, what you need, always. You’re my priority. Our beautiful life together is my priority.”
He’s watching me with so much emotion running through those dark eyes, and then he’s framing my face and kissing the hell out of me.
“I love you,” I tell him.
“I love you, too.”
Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and Brooks kisses my forehead before he stands to answer it. I crane my neck around to see who it is, surprised when I see Chad standing there.
“Hi, Brooks,” Chad says, and then smiles over at me. “Sorry to interrupt you both at home, but Jules and I have been playing phone tag, and I was in the neighborhood.”
“Come in,” Brooks says, gesturing him inside. “Have a seat. Do you need anything?”
“No, thanks. How are you feeling, Jules?”
“I’m getting there,” I tell him with a smile. “Are you going out with Ava tonight?”
“Yeah, I’m picking her up from work in a bit, but I thought I’d stop here first. I have news.”
I lean forward, and Brooks sits next to me, taking my hand.
“You know, it’s interesting,” I say as a thought occurs to me. “I just realized that I haven’t heard from Nadine in a couple of weeks. All of the emails just stopped. I’ve been so busy with reopening the restaurant, and then the accident and everything going on, that I didn’t think about it. The restraining order must have worked.”
“That’s the thing,” Chad says, leaning forward and frowning. “There hasn’t been a restraining order. Jules, did you ever meet this Nadine Smith in person?”
“No. I didn’t have a funeral for Justin, and there was never a reason to meet her. Daniel said I didn’t have to.”
He nods slowly. “But you did meet Daniel in person?”
“Sure, of course. Several times throughout the years. He and Justin would drift apart and then come back together, the way some friends do. You know, you get busy with stuff, and don’t talk to your friend for a while, and then you’re like, ‘Hey! We should play golf,’ or whatever.”