Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“No, they didn’t, and I suspect they won’t once they realize I’m never coming out there. But I’m not moving to Boston, no matter what. I’m staying here. With you.”
“Gareth,” I say quietly, confused. “I don’t understand.”
He shifts forward, off his chain, onto his knees. He’s still holding my hand, clutching it tightly as he looks up into my eyes. “I need to apologize.”
“Apologize?” I look around, not sure what’s happening. “For what? I don’t get it.”
“I fucked up, Fiona. I didn’t know what I wanted until I met with Liam and everything clicked into place.”
“Liam? You mean that crazy Crowley guy?”
“The one and only.” He shifts closer. “I’m so, so sorry. I never should’ve pushed you toward the job. I never should’ve taken you for granted. I should’ve made it clear, from the start, that you are important to me, that whatever we’re building between us is important. I know it’s complicated, me and you, but it feels good, it’s the best thing I’ve had in my life in a very long time, and no matter how hard I try to push you away, I keep finding myself coming back. I can’t stop, Fiona. I don’t want to stop.”
My head’s spinning. It’s everything I’ve wanted to hear and more. I try to speak, but words refuse to come out.
This is what I need. Gareth here with me. I can forget about the job, about Boston, about the Crowleys. I can forget my parents, Cait, my burned-down apartment. I can forget everything, so long as he’s here with me.
But I’ve been afraid. He pushes me away, over and over, every time we start to get close. He pulls back, probably because of his past, or maybe because he doesn’t trust himself. I’m not sure why, but it doesn’t matter.
This is what I’ve been dreaming of.
I still can’t find words.
“Fiona,” he whispers. “You don’t have to forgive me, but I’m so sorry it took me this long to decide what I want. I didn’t see what was important, what my real priorities were, until recently. But now I can see them clear as anything. You’re what’s important. You’re my priority. I’m not going anywhere. Not without you.”
I blink back tears. A lump forms in my throat. “Gareth,” I croak.
“It’s okay,” he says, wiping them away. “I know I fucked up. You can keep being angry with me. If you want to leave, I won’t blame you. If you’re not ready for more—”
“I’m ready,” I blurt out. “God, I’m so, so ready for more.”
His face lights up. A smile spreads over his lips. “You mean that?”
“Gareth, damn it, what are you waiting for? Can you just kiss me already?”
He laughs, but he leans forward and obeys. A short peck, a lighter brush, a longer press, and finally, a kiss, a real kiss, a slow and delicious kiss. I hold him, pulling him against me until he stands, lifting me up, carrying me to the couch where he deposits me in his lap. I straddle him, digging myself down, wanting to be as close to him as I can possibly get.
“You’re trouble, Fiona Kane,” he whispers, smiling huge. “But god, I love you.”
My body feels like electricity jolts into my fingertips. A pulse, another pulse, another. Joy runs into me, wild and free.
“I love you too,” I say, laughing, unable to believe my luck. “You’re really staying? You’re really not going?”
“Really,” he says. “I promise. I won’t go anywhere without you, not ever again.”
I chew my lip, trying not to smile. “You know, we haven’t been on any actual dates or anything. Maybe we should take this slow?”
“Fuck slow,” he says, hand in my hair, pulling my mouth to his. “You’re my wife. I’ve lived without you for long enough.”
I kiss him, fall into him, feeling like finally, finally, something’s gone right.
Chapter 48
Gareth
Orin Crowley does not sound happy.
I’m back in my Dallas office. The new secretary is outside my door—a young man named Brian. Janine said he came highly recommended. We’ll see about that.
“I’ll be straight with you, Kane,” he says, and I note that I’m not Gareth anymore. “I thought we had an understanding. You come to Boston, you work for my family, you get access to power you never dreamed about before. Do I really have to spell it out?”
“No, sir, you don’t,” I say, looking at the window. Thinking about my wife at her office right now. My real wife. “Unfortunately, Fiona got a job here in Dallas, a job that I can’t ask her to leave. I either stay here with her, or we do the long-distance thing, like I mentioned. I decided long distance won’t work. I won’t be leaving Dallas after all.”
Orin grunts, his annoyance obvious. “That’s not acceptable.”
“It’s the way things are. I wish it worked out differently.”