“Oh, I assure you, I had no malicious intent. I was just doing my job.” He ran his thumb across my lower lip. “If I recall correctly, you were the one who was mouthy.”
My breath hitched. Ihadbeen in rare form.
“Maybe I just wanted to get you out of your car to see if you were as hot as you used to be.”
“And was I?” I inched closer.
“Mmm-hmm. Even in the ridiculous outfit you were wearing, just like now”—he tugged on one of the strings from my hoodie—“super sexy.”
I grinned and put my hand on his inner thigh. He let out a small groan and then reached for my arms. In one swift motion, he pulled me onto his lap. I ran my hand down his chest. “It doesn’t matter what I noticed in high school because I am highly aware of you now.”
In a low, sexy voice, he said, “Wow. If only my fourteen-year-old self could see me now.”
“Forget about him. All that matters is this moment.” I ran my fingers through Pete’s hair. “You’re not the only one falling in love.”
His smile practically took over his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but I placed my index finger over his lips. “Enough talking. Kiss me already.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. He cupped my face in his hands and pulled me close. The raw emotion I felt as his lips touched mine and our tongues met was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life, and I never wanted the moment to end. I wasn’t honest with Pete, though. I wasn’t falling in love with him. I had already fallen.
Epilogue
One Year Later
As sunlight streakedthrough my bedroom window, I reached over for my phone and checked the time. 7:30 a.m. I was surprised and happy to see it was so early. Unlike the old days, I didn’t check my emails as soon as I opened my eyes.
Though we never recovered all the fifty-five thousand, true to his word, Charles didn’t kick me to the curb. Instead, he gave me away. Unconventional, I know, but that is how I roll.
The morning light caught the diamond on my finger, and little rainbows reflected on the ceiling. I stared at them, mesmerized. There was plenty of time to think about work but…later.
I twisted over to face my sleeping husband. He stirred and then smiled at me when he realized I was already awake. As always, I melted.
“Come here, you,” Pete said in a gravelly voice as he pulled me into his arms for a kiss. “Merry Christmas, beautiful. Have you been up long?”
I ran my fingers through his chest hair and then down to his scar. “A little while.”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Trying to enjoy the calm before the storm?”
“Yeah. I’m shocked Clara’s still asleep. I would have thought she’d be up with the sun. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens her presents.” I knew I went a tad overboard at the toy store, but… I loved the little girl beyond words, and I knew she felt the same way about me.
I glanced at the picture on the dresser of our little family, taken this June at our beach wedding. I know, it was superfast, and probably crazy to rush down the aisle, but it felt right. I had wasted enough time playing everything safe. By far, this had been the happiest year of my life!
Our wedding was small, intimate, and incredibly romantic, just as I had always dreamt it would be. Only our closest friends and families attended. While Clara stayed with his parents, Pete and I dashed off to Italy for two glorious weeks. We spent our mornings tangled in each other’s arms, the afternoons biking and lounging on the Amalfi coast, and in the evenings, we dined under the stars.
Lauren and Sydney were still bickering about who should get credit for getting Pete and me together. Lauren felt the honor was all hers. She claimed if she didn’t almost kill me busting her moves on the dance floor, Pete and I would never have gotten to know each other.
While she had a point, Sydney was the one who secured the Long Island beach for our big dayandwas responsible for Pete coming to my house that special night. She deserved the bragging rights in my book. Although I would never admit the truth to Lauren.
I propped myself up on my elbow. This year we had a lot to celebrate and a big announcement to make. “I’m excited to cook and finally host a holiday for a change,” I added. “Always heading down South got old a long time ago.”
For the first time in more years than I could count, my sister and her family, as well as my mom, would be celebrating in New York with me. They’d see our new house for the first time. Pete and I sold both our homes and bought a new, bigger one in the same town where we’d be able to make our own memories.
Not only was Pete’s family joining us, but Caroline’s parents would also be stopping by for dessert. I was a nervous wreck when I met them for the first time. I couldn’t even imagine how hard it must have been for them to see Pete and Clara with another woman, but they shocked me and welcomed me with open arms. I was so fortunate.
“Today will be amazing, like you,” Pete said as he stroked my cheek. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look like you have something on your mind. Are you still worrying about my mom?”
This guy!He was so astute and could often tell if something was troubling me by how I said the word “hello” when I answered the phone.
“Yes,” I said cautiously. It was crazy, Caroline’s mother had made me feel more welcoming into the family than Pete’s mom. Karen Ennis was always polite but far from warm. I couldn’t shake the feeling she still harbored some ill-will toward me from the time Pete and I were kids.
