“I don’t care what they think, and if it’s all right with you, I’d like to reserve the right to possibly change my mind in the future about marriage.”
“You can reserve all the rights you need to be comfortable in this arrangement.”
“I want to make you comfortable to do anything you want, whether it’s full-time motherhood or going to school or pursuing a career.Whatever makes you happy.But I do have one request.”
“What’s that?”
“I’d rather you not work at the Whisky.I’ve spent far too much time in bars and clubs, and it gives me hives to think about you being harassed by men while you’re working.I wouldn’t have a minute’s peace knowing you were fending off morons—or actual creeps.”
“I need to be financially independent.”
“Youarefinancially independent.The money your parents left is yours.I could set you up with the woman who manages my accounts to help you if you want some advice.I’ll cover the day-to-day stuff, so you don’t have to worry about any of that.”
She bit her lip as she considered what he’d said.“I’m worried I might someday find myself back in the same situation I was in before—financially, that is—if this doesn’t work out.”
“Thanks to your brother and your parents, you’ll never again, for the rest of your life, be in that situation.But no matter what happens between us, I’ll always be there for you and the kids.That’s my solemn vow to you—and one I’ll keep no matter what.”
“Even if I do something terrible?”
He gave her a side-eyed look.“What do you have in mind?”
“Nothing at the moment.”She laughed at the face he made.“But life has taught me to prepare for all scenarios.”
Julian turned to face her, tucking a strand of her lovely hair behind her ear.“I don’t want you to worry about anything ever again.Whatever happens, we’re in it together.I’ll never leave you stranded or scared or uncertain.I think you’ve proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that you can more than take care of yourself and your kids.How about you let me take care of you going forward?Let me make your life easier while you make mine worth living.What do you think?”
“I think that meeting with a divorce lawyer is going to turn out to be the best thing I ever did.”
Smiling, he kissed her and then held her as close as he could get her on the bench.“I think you’ll turn out to be the best ex-client I’ll ever have.”
ChapterThirty
Hours later, Julian made sweet love to her in his bed, and for the first time since she lost her parents so suddenly, she felt like she’d truly come home again.Denny had done what he could as a grief-stricken twenty-year-old to finish raising her, and Gabriel had given her a temporary respite that hadn’t lasted.
And then there was Julian.
When the last thing she’d been looking for was what she now had with him, there he’d been, so handsome, calm, competent and gentle with her and her kids at the tender moment in which she’d concluded she had to leave Gabriel once and for all.
“I had no idea what I’ve been missing my whole life,” Julian whispered as he pushed deep into her and held still, driving her wild as only he could.
“Without the condom?”After she mentioned that she was on long-term birth control, he’d told her he’d never once had sex without a condom, and that this might be quick.Fifteen minutes later, there’d been nothing quick about it other than the two orgasms she’d already had.
“That’s incredible, but so are you.You’re what I’ve been missing.”
She curled her arms around his neck, lost in a kiss full of all the things she hadn’t known she was missing until he came along to show her.
“I love you, Isla.I’ve only said that one other time, but even that… That was nothing like this.”
“I’ve only said it to one other person, too, but this…”
“This iseverything.”
On a day when she might’ve been dwelling in the pain of the past, he’d shown her a future bright with love and commitment and the promise of a happily ever after that they’d write for themselves, with their own rules.
“Come with me, love.”
“I don’t know if I can again.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
