Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I press a kiss to her forehead. “For what it’s worth, I don’t have too much more experience in relationships, either. But I know you’re too important to walk away from. And I won’t. Not ever. Not as long as you want me to stay.”
Her eyes go wide. “Forever?”
I nod. “That’s what I’m saying.”
She slides her hands up my chest and lifts up on her tiptoes. “Forever.”
I slide my hands up her back and sweep my lips over hers, savoring the moment. This is the last woman I’ll ever kiss, and I can’t wait to begin forever with her.
Efa’s mine now. She’s the woman I gave up my anonymity for. And I’ll happily keep giving up whatever she needs me to, now and until the end of time.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Efa
We walk into Ben’s suite at the Mandarin Oriental, and my gaze is immediately drawn to the gold-leaf ceiling. “You know you’re cheating on your own hotel by staying here.”
“Market research,” Bennett says. “I just couldn’t go back to my apartment.”
“But Nadia’s been caught. And anyway, you’re on the cover of Forbes. I hate to tell you but your cover is officially blown.” I grin at him, and then can’t stop grinning, because being with him, knowing we have a future together, feels almost too good to be true.
“I know. It’s not that. I just don’t want to go backward, you know?”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Do I?”
“I chose my old apartment because I was hiding. It was an out-of-the-way building with a private entrance. The security is unrivaled. It doesn’t seem like a place I belong anymore. A place we belong.”
How did this guy go from dickwad to mushball?
How did I turn into this heart-eyed gal who’s prepared to emigrate for a guy?
“A place we belong?” I exhale and try to imagine what it will be like living in New York. “My sister isn’t going to be happy that where I belong isn’t next door to her in London. You know my brother-in-law lives opposite his brother.”
“I can’t wait to meet all these brothers-in-law. If they even exist.”
I laugh. “You’ll meet them. We’ll have to go over at some point. I actually need to call my sister and fill her in on all the bits I’ve not told her.”
“All the bits?”
“Like how I’m in love with this reclusive tech billionaire and he’s making me stay stateside.”
He flops down next to me on the sofa and reaches for my waist. “Get your cell. Let’s call her now. No time like the present.”
“It’s eleven. I’m not sure she’ll even be up.”
“Then we’ll leave a message.”
A flutter of excitement skates over my skin. I love that he’s so willing to meet my sister. “Okay.” I bring up my phone and start a video call to Eira.
She answers on the first ring. “Hey! How was your last day?”
I wince. She’s so looking forward to me coming home. “Well, I have a funny story to tell you.”
I glance over at Bennett, who’s grinning at me. I reach up and cup his jaw, swiping his chin with my thumb. “I might not be coming back tomorrow as planned.”
“What? But I miss you! Did you get a job at Fort?”
Bennett and I lock eyes. “Better than that.” I press my lips together, scared about what I’m about to admit. “I’m in love with the CEO, and I’m really hoping that he’s going to marry me.”
“What?” she screams.
Dax shushes her in the background. Poor Guinevere. I hope she didn’t get woken up.
“Are you kidding?” she asks.
Bennett shifts so he’s in frame. “Hi, Eira. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh wow, you’re not kidding,” Eira says. “But you were joking about the marriage thing, right? You’re twenty-one.”
“If she wants to wait, we can wait,” Bennett says. “But married or not, we’re together now. I want to be with her for the rest of my life.” I lean into Bennett, trying to get closer. Will I ever not want to be as close to him as possible?
Eira turns, and I can tell she’s looking at Dax. Knowing him, he’s not following what’s going on. He’s probably focused on a medical journal or something.
“It’s still you and me and Dylan,” I say, my voice breaking. Bennett takes the phone from me, keeping the screen on me but freeing up my hands. “Just like when you found Dax and Guinevere. Being with Bennett doesn’t change that.”
“Except you’re so far away.” This time it’s Eira’s voice that cracks.
“If you think about it, it’s just like living in Scotland and coming up and down on the train. It’s only a six- or seven-hour flight.” Before I can tell her how I can come back to London periodically, Dax comes into the shot.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asks. He probably wants to get to bed and have this conversation another time. Except I don’t want to leave my sister upset.