Epilogue
Jackson
One MonthLater
“You want to grab a drink tonight?”Ethan asks as I sign the last contract of the day and sit back in the black leather chair. He grabs the papers from in front of me and places them in a manila folder. “Or do you have plans with Zara?”
“I think you know the answer to that.” I grin as I check my watch. “Our fourth official date is tonight and I don’t think she’d be too happy if I canceled to grab a drink with you.”
“What time is the date?” Ethan asks, his blue eyes mischievous.
“It’s in two hours.”
“So you have time if we leave now?” He grins and stands up. I watch as he walks to look out the window and stare at the New York skyline. “By the way, you never told me how everyone took the news that the engagement was off.”
I chuckle as I stand up and head toward him. “My grandma was over the moon until she realized that the reason it was off was because I was head over heels in love with Zara and wanted to give her the courtship she deserved.”
“And her parents?”
“I bought two hondas from her dad and sent him and her mom to Hawaii for two weeks. They love me.” I grin as he turns to me with a wicked smile. “What Ethan?”
“You need to tell me exactly how it went with her parents.” He tilts his head to the side. “They didn’t just show up from Florida and giggle when you said there was no engagement.” He turns to me and there’s a question in his eyes. I know that he wants to hear the drama. How her parents rushed into the house with wide eager eyes and open mouths. How my grandma loudly stated that the door to her room should be locked in case of theft. How Zara had told her parents the engagement was off and her mother had cried and told her off for giving the milk away for free. How I’d stepped forward and invited everyone into the room, aside from Charlotte and Luke and explained to them that I’d hastily pretended to be engaged to get my grandma and Louisa Augustus off of my back and to re-enter Zara’s life. How Zara had agreed to the role. How I’d alerted the New York Times right away so she wouldn’t back out. And how our feelings for each other had grown unbeknownst to either of us.
“I don’t think we have the time,” I say finally. “All you need to know is that Zara Hathaway is making an honest man out of me.”
“I knew you’d find love, one day.” Ethan’s voice is smug as if he was some sort of psychic that had predicted this back when we were at Harvard and both single eligible men.
“I guess I saw what you and Sarah had and wanted it for myself.”
“Bullshit.” He coughs into his hand. “You just finally met the one.”
“I did.” I smile at him as I think about Zara. “She’s pretty much perfect. Aside from the fact that she says she wants to date for a minimum of six months before she will allow me to propose to her. And she won’t live with me until we’re engaged.” I growl and Ethan laughs.
“I’m so glad Sarah was eager to move in with me. I don’t think I could have waited.”
“I mean, it’s not like I’m waiting for everything.” I wink and we both burst out laughing. The door opens and we hear a discrete cough behind us and I look around. Edith is standing there with a bouquet of roses in her hand. I frown as she steps forward, a whisper of a smile on her wrinkled face. She beams as she makes her way to me and hands me the flowers.
“These are for you, Jackson, to give your lovely lady.”
”You didn”t have to get Zara roses, Edith. Do you think I”m not romantic?”
”I wanted to give them to her from me, to thank her for putting a smile on your face.” She pauses. ”One that reaches your eyes and your heart.”
”Are you saying my smiles never reached my heart?”
”I”m saying that you had no heart to be reached before.” She turns to Ethan and takes a deep breath. ”You”ve done your family proud, Ethan. You are a honor to work for and so are you, Jackson. You”ve both turned his company around and made this old lady very happy.”
”Are you trying to steal me from my girl?” I tease her and she laughs. ”Thank you for your kindness, Edith. You know that both Ethan and I adore you and your generosity and warmth.” As I say the words, I know them to be true. Edith may not be blood, but she”s family. Just like Ethan.
”Well, that”s all for now.” She says beaming. ”I promised my granddaughter Sadie that I”d take her to the park tonight.”
”Have a good night, Edith.” I watch as she leaves the office and closes the door behind her. There”s silence in the room as Ethan and I stare at each other. ”Did you ever think we”d both be in love like this?” I ask him, thinking back to this time last year, when our sole focus had been on work and then having fun.
”Never in a million years.” He shakes his head. ”Not only did I not see love coming. I didn”t want it either.” He shakes his head. ”Don”t tell Sarah that.”
”She already knows.” I laugh. ”Just like Zara already knows that I couldn”t even commit to a vacation destination before her, let alone a woman.” I smile as I think about her and the way she makes me feel. It”s weird knowing that I matter to someone. That she cares about me and what I do.
”How”s her cupcake stuff going?” Ethan asks and I groan at the question. Zara”s finances are the one source of contention between us still.
”She”s selling at that bodega that her friend Lenny owns.” I frown as I think of the man I know has a crush on my woman. ”And she”s gotten into a couple of small grocery stores. She”s not making much money, but it”s enough to pay the bills. And I guess Lila is interviewing for jobs right now.”
”Lila”s her actress friend?”
”Yup!” I nod. ”She”s great. I actually asked her if she wanted me to introduce her to some directors I knew but she said no. She wants to make it on her own merit. I respect that.”
”That”s cool.” Ethan nods. ”So they”re all still living in that apartment?”
”Yup.” I let out a deep sigh. I do not want them living there. I do not want Zara there. I want her living with me, but she”s determined to prove to me that our relationship isn”t about my money. Which I already know. ”She exasperates me, Ethan. She will not let me move them into an apartment. She will not move in with me.” I shake my head. ”However, her sister Elise did take me up on an offer to audition for a new reality TV show. Surprise surprise.”
”What about the kids?” Ethan asks. ”Luke and Charlotte, right?”
”Zara and I are going to babysit them when Elise is filming. I convinced Zara to move in with me for that month. The kids will have their own rooms, of course. They drive me crazy, but I love them.” It dawns on me how much they both mean to me. So much that I”ve already set up 529 college accounts for them. I want them to set up for life because they deserve it. I was grateful that Zara never fought me on those accounts.
”You really do love that girl, if you”re letting those rugrats live with you.”
”I love her.” The words flow freely from my mouth as I gaze at Ethan. ”Now let”s go and grab a drink instead of standing here like two pussies going on and on about how much we love our women.”
”Why don”t we invite them?” He grabs his phone. ”Sarah loves Zara and I know would love to spend more time with her.”
”You want to gatecrash my fourth date?”
”I want it to be a double date.” He grins. ”See what she says.”
”Fine.” I grin and grab my phone and call Zara. She answers on the second ring.
”Hey honey,” her sweet melodic voice warms my heart. ”How was work?”
”Good. Ethan got back from his business trip this morning.” I explain. ”And he asked if we wanted to join him and Sarah for drinks and dinner tonight. I told him it was our fourth official date and that--.”
”Sounds fun.” She cuts me off. ”I would love to go on a double date, but there”s just one hiccup.”
”What is it?” I ask her. ”Is everything okay?”
”I kinda promised Lila, we”d hang out with her.” Her voice is soft. ”I know it”s our fourth date, but she”s been feeling a little lonely and you know she”s my best friend and I just didn”t want her to be alone tonight.”
”She can come as well. The more the merrier.” I smile into the phone. ”You know I love Lila. Why is she lonely? Didn”t that guy Hank ask her out?”
”Jackson! Hank is awful. We do not want her seeing that loser ever again.”
”Okay, I didn”t realize.” I say quickly. ”Do you want me to find someone she can go on a date with?”
”No, she wouldn”t be into that.” She sighs. ”She wants to focus on finding a job right now. She feels like she needs to be able to pay her way.”
”But I”ve paid for the apartment for the next year. I can pay the bills as well, so you can all focus on your dreams.”
”Jackson, no.”
”But you”re my girlfriend and she”s your best friend and I have 750 million dollars in my trust fund. Trust me when I say I can afford to front 20 grand.” I am frustrated by Zara”s stubbornness. I love her for it, but I want to make her life easier and that of her best friend.
”Jackson, I love you, but we”re still getting to know each other. I don”t want there to ever be any doubt in your mind about me.”
”There isn”t.” I sigh. ”I just want to take care of you. And love you. And make love to you. And kiss you all day and night.”
”Are we spending the night at your place?” She asks softly and I smile to myself. As much as Zara doesn”t want to move in with me yet, she still loves staying at my place. And I make it a point that we don”t spend a night apart. We might be taking the engagement slowly, but I know I don”t want to wake up in the morning without her in the bed next to me.
”Yes, why?”
”I was going to wear the lingerie that Elise got me.” She giggles. ”See if you like it.”
”I”ll like it just fine when it”s on the floor and I”m inside of you.” I growl and then hear a loud coughing. I look up and see Ethan glaring at me and I burst out laughing. ”Hey hon, I have an audience here. I”ll text you the address of the restaurant and my driver will pick you and Lila up in about an hour okay?”
”Sounds good. Thanks, Zeus.” She giggles as I growl again.
”That”s what you”ll be calling me tonight.” I hang up and glare at Ethan. ”Don”t say anything.”
”Would I?” He winks. ”What”s she calling you tonight? Tarzan?”
”Now that would be something, wouldn”t it?”
Zara”s handis warm in mine as we sit at the table, listening to Sarah tell us about how she accidentally manifested Ethan into her life. I already know the story, but I can tell that Zara is mesmerized by the tale and Lila hasn”t stopped laughing.
”I can”t believe you wrote an ad for a billionaire and got one.” Lila giggles. ”Maybe I need to write one as well.” She looks over at Zara. ”You”ll have to help me.”
”Oh, so you want a billionaire now?” Zara laughs. ”Hopefully one that doesn”t suck you into the vortex.”
”Stop it.” Lila”s laughter is louder now as she throws her head back. Her shoulder-length light brown hair shimmers in the light and her blue eyes are merry. ”And he can suck and suck all he wants.” She slaps her hand on the table and I watch Sarah and Ethan exchange an amused smile.
”Any more wine?” I ask as I signal to the waiter. ”Do you want anything else to eat?” I ask Zara. ”Some dessert.”
”Aren”t you my dessert?” She teases me.
”Yes, but I also know that you love a little cake and ice cream before your final course.” I reach down and run my fingers up her thigh. ”They have chocolate molten cake on the menu.”
”How did you read my mind?” She shakes her head, and I laugh at the wry smile on her face. ”I do want the cake, but I was going to go on a diet.”
”You don”t need to go on a diet.” I lean over and kiss her cheek, before turning her face and kissing her on the lips. ”You”re beautiful as you are. Absolutely perfect.”
”You”re only saying that because you love me.” She makes a face, but I can tell she”s happy from the glow in her eyes. ”But fine, I will have the cake. You have to share it with me though.”
”I will share anything you want me to.” I run my fingers up her arm and grin as I feel her shiver. I love the way Zara responds to me. Her reactions to my touch turn me on just as much as when I see her naked body. ”I”m hoping I can convince you to share my apartment with me soon.” I say, and because I can”t stop myself, I pull a key out of my pocket. I”d intended on doing this in private on our fourth date, but I couldn”t hold it in anymore. ”This is a key to my apartment. I want you to come and go as you please and move in some clothes.”
”Jackson.” Her eyes are wide as she grins. ”What?”
”I love you, Zara. Everyone here knows it.” I look around the table. ”I want us to grow our lives together. I want my home to be your home.”
”But I”m not...” Her voice trails off and she looks at Lila.
”It”s fine.” Lila offers her a warm smile. ”You don”t have to say no because of me. You don”t have to stay in the apartment until I find a man. I don”t need you to financially support me, Zara. And I don”t need you to live with me forever. Your man wants you. If I had a man, I would already have been out.” She gives Zara a pointed look, but I know that”s not true. She”s saying it because she wants Zara to be happy.
”You can move in as well.” I say, without thinking. ”If you want. I have plenty of room. Elise can live in the apartment with the kids and a fulltime nanny.” I look over at Zara and I can tell that she doesn”t love that idea. ”Or they can also move in with us.” I stare at her. ”If that”s what you want?”
”I don”t want to move my entire family in with you, Jackson.” She shakes her head. ”That”s not fair.”
”Your family is my family, my darling. And family comes first, remember?” I gaze at her and watch as her expression changes.
”You remembered what I said?”
”I remember everything you”ve ever said to me.” I nod. ”You kinda came into my life like a whirlwind and swept me off of my feet. and carried me away to the land of men who desperately love their women and just want to make sure they are happy.”
”I love you, Jackson.” She squeezes my hand. ”I want to marry you. I want you to be the father of my babies.”
”Just say when.” I grin at her and wonder if it”s too soon to pull out the engagement ring I”d bought for her the previous week. I look over at Ethan and he just grins at me and shrugs. I know that”s his way of telling me that it”s up to me. For a moment, I think about it, but I know it”s still too soon. Plus I know Zara will want me to ask her dad”s permission first because she”s old fashioned like that. And I want to do things the right way. I want the moment to be perfect. And while right now is perfect for me. I know it”s not perfect for her. ”I love you, Zara.”
”I know.” She touches the side of my face tenderly and leans forward to kiss me. ”I”ll be ready soon.” She says with a whisper against my lips. ”I need to make an honest man out of you.”
”And I need to put a baby in that belly.” I reach over and rub her stomach and kiss her hard. ”I cannot wait to start practicing for our first baby.”
”How about we start practicing tonight.” She reaches down and squeezes my thigh and my I growl into her ear.
”Uhm, hello. I”m still here.” Lila makes a face and looks at Ethan and Sarah. ”I know I”m the fifth wheel here, but there is not enough alcohol in me to listen to you two drooling over each other.” She laughs loudly. ”I think I”m going to have to start some sort of club,” she giggles. ”For single women who have to watch their best friends all loved up.” She shakes her head. ”The third wheel club.”
”Feel free to have the meetings at my apartment. Not.” I wink at her and we all burst out laughing. Zara grabs my hand again and we sit there and engage in group conversation again. Though both of us knows that we can”t wait to get back home. I love these moments more than anything. I love Zara. I love my life. I love that I finally understand what it is to be living. There is no life without love. And there is no love without Zara. I”m just grateful that she”s brought the joy and happiness back into my life and I”m going to spend the rest of my days making her laugh and safe.