“I like this dress,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Green suits you.”
“I am Jade, after all.” She liked the dress too. It was more feminine than she was used to wearing, with a flared skirt and tight, sleeveless bodice. It put her out of her comfort zone, but when she saw Sebastian’s reaction when he first saw it, she knew it was the right choice.
Evening mountain music was all around them, provided by nature, and by some miracle today was cooler than the entire summer had been, keeping the mosquitoes away. Heat would be on the menu tomorrow, but she would take the small reprieve and enjoy being out here with Sebastian.
“When are you leaving tomorrow?” he asked.
“Early. I want to spend as much time as I can with Mom before her surgery.”
“I can go with you,” he said. “Put Evelyn in charge ofThe Times.”
She lifted her head and looked at him. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine. The doctors are confident the transplant will be a success. Logan and Tameka will be there too.”
He met her gaze. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll only be gone a week.” Or longer, if there were complications, but she was trusting that there wouldn’t be. “You can survive without me.”
Sebastian shook his head. “I don’t know how I ever did.”
Oh, this man. She kissed him again, then reluctantly moved off his lap. She had to head back to her apartment in Clementine and pack for her trip. Once Mom was released from the hospital,she would come back.To my home.It was amazing how quickly Clementine had become home. She’d moved here at the end of June, and since then she and Rachel, along with Flora’s help, had worked on the shareholder plan while Sebastian continued to run the paper. They’d gotten a surprise last week when Raymond Clark, Kalista’s father, had agreed to invest in the paper, with the caveat that it stayed the same. Sebastian assured him that it would.
There was one other surprise she’d learned only recently. Sebastian started working on his second novel again, and when she was at his surprisingly tidy bungalow, she’d seen the pages in his typewriter. When he revealed that he was bestselling-thriller author Jaden Caxon, she couldn’t believe it.
“Everyone in my office read your book,”she said.“Charlotte had a conniption for years when the follow-up didn’t come out.”
“I’m hoping to rectify that,”he said.“I’m inspired now.”He paused.“Did you read it?”
“I didn’t have time.”She walked over to his alphabetized bookshelf, saw the novel, and slipped it off the shelf.“I will now.”And she had, and it was amazing. She would do everything she could to encourage him to finish this one.
“Don’t leave,” Sebastian said. “Not yet.” He took her hand and led her inside. After sliding the patio door shut, he faced her but didn’t say anything. He just shifted on his feet, looking nervous.
“Sebastian?”
He blew out a breath. “The last time I told you this, it didn’t end well.”
Now she was concerned. “Told me what?”
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing her chin. The look in his eyes was different but just as toe-curling. Not bedroom eyes... but ones filled with love.
“I love you, Jade.”
She could barely breathe as he kissed her with exquisite tenderness. She looped her arms over his neck, her heart bursting with joy. “I love you too.”
His smile reached into her soul, and she melted against him. She’d lost Sebastian Hudson twice. Now he was hers forever.I’m never letting him go.
Epilogue
One year later
SEB’S VIEW PART DEUX
It’s with great sadness
I lost track how many times I started this
There comes a time in every man’s life when he must
Nuts.” Seb yanked the paper out of his typewriter—gently, as he didn’t want to mess up his Royal—and balled it in his hand. He tossed it on the desk and grabbed another sheet. The former page had plenty of space left, but maybe a fresh blank one would spark some inspiration.
