Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
“Hey. Let him do his job. He only has one of her.”
I nod, and she giggles. By the time she makes her way to my side, I feel a lot better. She truly looks like a goddess. “Who gives this woman to his man?”
“I do. Take care of her.”
“Always.” He slips her hand in mine and I feel at peace. We say our vows and slide on our rings.
“I love you, Marilyn Beaumont.”
“I love you, my husband.”
“Let us welcome Mr. and Mrs. Julien Beaumont.”
The guests cheer and clap, blowing bubbles as we exit with pictures going in full force. I’m happy, but I have a secret that I need to share with my bride.
Jack leans in and whispers, “Save it for later. Let her have this happy memory.”
“I hate having a lie between us.”
“I know, but she’ll be crying on her wedding day.”
“True.”
“Time to twirl your bride around.” I do, until Jack takes over.
The wedding is almost over, and my wife smiles sweetly as I pull her in for another dance. “You’re so lucky that I know that you’re trying not to break my heart.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“The fire.”
“You know?”
“Yes. I received a text and then I saw you and Jack talking earlier. You kept it from me so I wouldn’t be upset on my wedding day. That’s sweet of you, but how are you? How much damage is from the kitchen oven?”
“Kitchen oven?”
“Yeah, it’s only a small fire, right?”
“Baby, who sent you the message?”
“You’re going to be mad. I don’t know how he even got my number.”
“He?”
“Damon?”
“Damon? The fuck from the bake-off.”
“Yeah we were classmates, but like I told the girls, he never had my number. My brother made it clear that I didn’t give it out to men for a good reason.”
“I love your brother more and more every day.”
“What about me?”
“You’re my queen, my everything. I live for you.”
“I need to speak with Myla’s husband.”
“He’s over there.”
“Give me a minute, love. Go sit with Petra, please. I need a word with Jack.”
“Oh, and when did you receive the message?”
“It came in before I woke up this morning, so I don’t know. Here’s my phone.” I kiss her lips.
“Thanks, love.”
The bastard could blow up my bakery, and that’s fine because we’re here. No one was inside, but that’s only because I had it closed down for the impromptu wedding and he had no idea. He thought we’d be inside by the time it went off. I hope they give him attempted murder charges.
I talk to the guys, and it’s clear this bastard was hoping she knew about the fire first. He knew she and I were in Paris, but not that all of my staff were going to be here as well.
“We have evidence on top of whatever you can gather from your cameras on that Damon asshole.”
“You know he’s related to the dean, right? I’m guessing that’s how he got her number and why he’s so eager for revenge,” Myla’s husband says.
“I’m betting because he wanted to fuck my wife. I will kill the bastard if I get my hands on him.”
“What makes you think that?”
“He told me that when I met the little pencil dick. He was pissed that I swooped in and stole her away before he could keep staying in the friend zone.”
“Yeah, Myla never liked that guy. I saw him lurking by them once, and she told me he was interested in Marilyn. I said it was clear she had no intention of giving him more than a pencil to borrow.”
“Yeah, well, the asshole will pay big time. Marilyn thinks it’s just a small fire.”
“She doesn’t know there’s no fucking building at all? That a couple of windows in other buildings were blown out?”
“Nope. I didn’t have the heart to hurt her yet.”
“Break it to her now. The night is over.”
“Okay. I’m taking my wife to bed.”
“Wedding night or not, I don’t need to hear that. She’s still my little sister.”
“Well, pervert, I wasn’t talking about sex. We’ve had a very long, busy day and I’m sure your sister isn’t feeling too good, especially after the news I’m about to break to her. Goodnight.”
I walk over to my wife, and seeing the fatigue in her eyes, I don’t bother to ask for permission as I scoop her up into my arms and carry her away. “Say goodnight, Mrs. Beaumont.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispers against my chest.
“Fuck, Marilyn.”
“I missed you last night.”
“I missed you too.”
“Can we save whatever bad thing you’re going to tell me for tomorrow? Let’s save tonight.”
“Yes, my love.”
Epilogue
Marilyn
“It’s coming along nicely. I bet you can’t wait to get in there and grab a sweet treat,” a man says, looking at my rounded belly. I know the second Julien notices he’s going to want to jump through the brand-new glass.
“Yep,” I answer, pressing my lips closed, cheeks puffed out in annoyance. I stare at the sign, liking the look of the new bakery, La Marguerite. Today’s the building’s final inspection before we can officially open. This is a new location because we didn’t want to have the memories of the old one in our minds. The sight of the old one sent me into tears and into the hospital, and that’s when we found out that my husband had done what he’d promised. I had a little bun in the oven. It’s not so little of a bun now. Almost nine months now; I’m due any day, so I didn’t want to miss this. I’m not allowed to bake anymore, but I can sit, watch, and sample finished products, of course.