Chapter 16
James’ Island
One week later
“You haven’t slept much, have you?” I ask, cracking an eye open and touching his bare chest.
The morning light tumbles in, a breeze sweeping the floors, bringing in the scent of the ocean.
The water stretches out in front of us, glimmering in the distance and merging with the horizon.
His eyes are trained on the water as the sun ascends.
Arm folded beneath his head, he stares vacantly at the ocean, his expression blank, his mind adrift.
“What’s missing, James?”
“Nothing,” he says in a breath.
I’m not so sure that’s the truth.
He slides his fingers into my hair and loops his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.
“This is a beautiful place,” I murmur, taking in the waves breaking against the shore.
“You could spend some time here writing.”
“Yes, I could, but not now. I don’t want to be away from you.”
He places a kiss on my hair, and rests his hand on my chest, his touch tender and settled.
“I never thought I’d say this to you, but I have a hard time imagining my life without you,” I say.
He kisses me again.
“I feel the same.”
His voice is smooth and mellow.
“And yet something’s missing...” I say, looking up at him, trying to catch his gaze.
Silently, he looks at me, a secret buried in his eyes, and no sign that he’s willing to share it with me.
“You know... I tried to make an offer on my parents’ house,” I say.
The ghost of a smile slides across his lips.
“And?”
“It’s gone. Someone had bought it already.”
“Hmm... This is how business works, baby. First, you spot an opportunity, and then, you act quickly. What held you back?”
“I didn’t know if I wanted to move back there, and I made my decision based on what I knew back then. That’s a good business practice too, isn’t it?” I ask, smiling.
“Do you know what else is a good business practice?”
I look at him.
“Thinking ahead,” he says.
“Meaning?”
A smug smile tinges his lips.
I push up on my elbow.
“No. No, you didn’t.”
He tips his chin down.
“Why would you buy my parents’ house?”
“Because it was a good buy. You would’ve known it too had you not been blindsided by your emotions.”
“Oh, please,” I toss at him, grinning. “Are we talking about emotions? You paid two times the value of my company to buy David out.”
He smiles, amused.
“That was different.”
“How?”
“It just was. I got something more valuable than the company,” he says, giving me a soft wink. “And it wasn’t twice as much. Yes, he could’ve asked for more because he knew I’d buy it no matter how ridiculous the price, but he was smart enough not to do it. He wants to do business with me in the future.”
A few moments pass.
“So... About the house. What are you going to do with it?” I ask.
“It’s yours. I didn’t buy it for me, although it was a great deal. I could flip it and resell it for a better price.”
I flick my hand up.
“Whatever…” I say, shifting my eyes away from him, concealing my smile.
He touches my hair, and I shift my focus to him, rest my head on his shoulder and study him.
“What else do you see in the future, Mr. Sexton?”
A warm smile enlivens his eyes.
“You being a very happy woman. Writing books. Messing with other people’s minds.”
I push up on my elbow and shake my head, grinning.
“I’m not messing with people’s minds.”
“Oh, yes, you are.”
“How can you tell? You haven’t even read anything that I have written.”
“Speaking of that… I want to read your new book.”
Blood rushes to my face.
“I don’t think it’s a good pick for you.”
A grin tugs at his lips.
“And why’s that?”
“It’s pure smut.”
A chuckle vibrates in his throat.
“It’s definitely for me.”
“Do as you wish but consider yourself warned. And just so you know, it’s pure fiction. Any resemblance with––”
“Shut up,” he says, laughing.
He rolls on top of me, making me fall to my back.
The sheet slides off, our skin caressed by the warm breeze. Our eyes stay locked as our smiles fade.
I spread my legs under him.
“Maybe one day, we’ll spend some time on this island, and I’ll write the story of us,” I say quietly.
“Maybe,” he murmurs. “I’d love to read that book,” he adds, seriously this time.
Slowly, I run my fingers across his cheek.
“What if one day, I want to have your babies?” I ask.
He searches my eyes.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he says quietly, a soft smile arching his lips.
He muses over something, a thought flitting through his eyes.
“If you ever have my babies, I’ll make sure you never need to pull away like my mother did because of my father’s choices. I’ll also make sure that nothing bad happens to you or them, and you live a good life, filled with beautiful memories,” he says.
By the time he finishes talking, my eyes are blurry with happy tears.
“Why do you have to make me cry?” I say, grinning.
He gives me a tender smile.
“I didn’t want to make you cry, baby. You asked me, and I told you the truth.”
Propped on his elbow, he runs his fingers across my cheek and drinks me in.
Slowly, he lowers his mouth to me and kisses my tears away while I snake my arms around his neck and pull him into me.
Smoothly, he enters me and becomes one with me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy...” I murmur as he slowly moves, sliding into me over and over again.
“Me neither,” he says as I get lost in him.
* * *
RAIN
Christmas, New York
This is my first book signing in New York.
It was my idea to start the book tour at the bookstore where I used to work. The place is under new ownership, and Candy and Angel no longer work here.
The place has been spruced up a bit. The furniture has been replaced, and more lights were added.
A gourmet coffee house is part of the retail space now.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is mixed with the smell of new books, while the soothing music creates a cozy atmosphere.
A line of book fans forms inside the store before five in the afternoon.
Minutes later, I scribble down autographs. Embossed golden words shine across the covers of my books.
Owned, A Fairytale by L. Carter.
Some people linger a little longer, giving me their words of appreciation, while others want to take a picture with me.
“I didn’t think I’d be in your book,” a man says, inching closer to the table, sliding his copy in front of me.
I push my gaze up.
“David?”
A smile colors his gaze.
I push out of my chair, round the table, and hug him.
“How did you know I was going to be here today?” I ask, opening the book.
“Your future husband told me,” he says.
My eyes flick up.
“My what?”
He swivels his head and points to the street, where a tall, dark-haired man leans against his car and lights a cigarette.
My cheeks are warm with a blush.
“Did he really say that?” I ask, intrigued.
He flashes a grin.
“He didn’t need to.”
I lower my eyes.
With trembling hands, I grab his book and sign it for him.
‘To David. Thank you for throwing me a lifeline when I needed it the most,”
L. Carter.
He scoops up the book, a grin beaming on his face.
“Thank you, Red,” he says before placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you,” I murmur, visibly affected by him and his words.
He says goodbye to me and heads to the door.
My eyes stay on him as he stops in front of the bookstore and shakes hands with James. They share a smile and exchange a few words before David walks away.
Minutes later, I sign the last book, grab my coat, and slip out.
Snow falls from the sky as I lock eyes with James.
He holds his hand out for me, pulls me to him, and buries me in his arms.
His kiss makes my body hum with pleasure.
“Do you want to walk?” he asks.
“Sure.”
We stroll down Lexington Avenue and stop at our favorite bakery to pick up a box of cookies.
Moments later, we make the trip back to the building where we had spent that memorable week in New York last year.
He bought that penthouse this fall, and now it’s officially our New York home.
“Have you talked to David recently?” I ask.
“I ran into him at the auction. Why?”
A mysterious smile lines his lips.
“He said you’re my future husband. Is there something I don’t know?” I ask, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and looking at him.
He pulls to a halt.
“Do you have someone else in mind?” he asks, amused.
I look at him, intrigued.
So it’s true.
He searches my eyes before sliding his hand into his pocket and fishing something out.
His fist is closed around it.
I move my gaze from his hand to his face.
“No. I don’t have anyone else in mind…” I murmur, getting distracted by his smile.
He lifts his hand.
My gaze dips, a stunning pink diamond ring sparkling in his gloved hand.
“James… Oh, my… What is that?” I ask, my hand flying to my mouth, my eyes widening with surprise as I take in the stunning piece. “Are you serious?”
This must’ve cost him a fortune. And I mean a fortune.
Nervously, I look around.
Laughing, he flicks his chin and points to the armored car following us discreetly.
“This is what David wanted to tell you. We ran into each other at the auction where I bought it. The buy made the headlines because it’s the most expensive jewelry purchase of the decade,” he says casually, looking down at it.
Lost for words, I freeze in the middle of the sidewalk as he removes his glove and mine, and slides the ring onto my finger.
The beautiful rock catches the light of a nearby lamppost.
I hardly breathe, my eyes darting back and forth between him and the ring.
He observes me in silence.
“You said you didn’t believe in marriage...” I murmur.
“I still don’t, but the diamond was a good buy,” he says, smiling.
“You are crazy,” I say, not believing my eyes.
He laughs wholeheartedly.
“You already knew that.”
I slowly shake my head, my eyes dipping to the ring again.
“Is that a yes?” he asks.
I glance up, speechless.
“You want me to throw something else in it?” he asks, teasing me.
I find my voice, fill my lungs with air, and let out a scream of joy, winding my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
“So, it’s a yes…?”
“Yes, it is, Mr. Sexton. You got yourself a deal,” I say, grinning.
Embraced, we kiss under the lamppost, soft flurries landing on our shoulders.
“I love you,” he says softly, his breath warm against my lips.
“I love you too, baby. My heart is yours. It’s always been yours,” I murmur, my voice heavy with emotions.
End of Book 3