Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
If I only had my Paige. My life, my woman, my perfection. She gives me more purpose than I ever thought I’d have. I feel like something locks up tight inside of me and I can stand taller, walk stronger, run faster.
I have my woman, my love, my light.
I kiss her again and taste her, taste my future.
I’m never letting that go.
18
Paige
Two Years Later
I can hear the sea birds squawking out over the bay as I stretch and open the door to the veranda.
The light drifts down lazily from the early morning sun. There are several yachts out on the ocean and I wave to them, although I know they can’t see me. I suspect I know who they are, but can’t be sure from this distance.
Doesn’t matter. I’m sure they’re friends either way.
I put a hand on my belly. Six months pregnant and not much longer to go. I can’t wait for it to be over, but I hate the idea of wishing away time.
I just want my baby. I want my family.
Leon’s moving around inside but I stay where I am. I breathe deep of the fresh salt air and smile broadly.
It took me a long time to feel like Monaco was home. I’m not sure it really is yet, not entirely at least. But we’ve been living here ever since we made that trip two years ago. We came, admitted our love, and started building. We haven’t left since.
I’m picking up on the local language. It’s a lot like French but not quite. The locals all make fun of my accent, but it’s lighthearted anyway, since they all speak such dreadful English.
“Coffee?” Leon asks, poking his head outside. He’s shirtless and stunning, muscular and incredible. I step to him and kiss him gently.
“Just a little,” I say. “And not that espresso.”
He grins. “I know. Pregnant.”
I kiss him again and he disappears inside.
I turn back to the ocean and lean on the railing. We have our own little cottage near the cliffs at the edge of town. I don’t even know how much this place cost but I bet it was incredible. Everyone around here is rich, absurdly rich. That’s just Monaco for you. Everyone is either rich or on their way to being rich. I swear, I don’t think anyone wants for anything in this place. Even the “normal” people are wealthy by American standards.
It’s like paradise. I guess that’s why they work so hard to make sure everything is strictly controlled.
Luckily, the hotel has gone forward without a hitch. I think it’s because I’ve gotten along with Charlie so well. We’ve become friends, weirdly enough. I mean, she’s the princess of this country, basically the second most important person after her husband, but she’s just another person.
She’s sweet and funny and kind. We get along really well. I don’t see her as much as I want, maybe once a month, but that’s a lot compared to other people, I guess.
“Here you go.” Leon appears next to me, a little cup of coffee on a saucer. “Milk, sugar.”
“Thank you.” I take it, sip it, then kiss him again. “Do you ever think about home?”
He frowns at the question. “What’s bringing that on?”
“I don’t know,” I admit.
“Well, I honestly don’t think about it,” he says softly. “I mean, I think this is home. You’re here, our baby will be here. New York is just… where the business is now.”
I laugh lightly. “That’s the perfect answer, you asshole.”
“I know. I’m the best.”
“It’s true though. I feel the same way. It’s like America doesn’t matter, or wherever we are doesn’t matter. So long as we’re together. Is that strange?”
“I don’t think so,” he says, shaking his head. “I guess I miss some things about America. Some of my friends back home. But I wouldn’t give this up.”
“I wouldn’t either.”
He sits down on a little chair and stretches his legs out. “Tell me, what do you have planned for today?”
“Nothing,” I say, grinning. “Like every day.”
He laughs. “Want to tour the hotel?”
I cock my head. “I didn’t think it was ready.”
“It’s not. We still have another year of work, maybe less, depending on how the contract negotiations with the union goes. But it’s in good shape right now, if you want to see.”
“I’d love to see it.” I laugh and sit down next to him. “God, it’s weird. I’ve made so many decisions for that place but I haven’t actually been inside yet.”
“I haven’t either,” he admits. “I just got the call last night. We’ve seen it from a distance but now we’ll really get to walk through.”
“It’s exciting.”
“It really is.” He leans across the space and kisses me. I feel that spark, the same spark I always feel when my big Daddy kisses me. Two years, one baby, and we still have that intense physical chemistry. “Just one thing though.”