Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“Says the millionaire.” I tease him, but I haven’t done so bad myself. Some of my investments have really paid off over the years. I even bought my house outright.
“Eh. A little higher than that.”
I slow blink at him, which drives him nuts. That, and my golf clap. “Multimillionaire?” I should have started here since I already knew the basics. He’s Haywood legacy, after all.
“A little more than that.”
“Jesus, Cooper, if you say billionaire . . .”
“I didn’t have to. You did.”
“Billionaire?” I can’t process having that amount of money. My clients can, and some do, but it’s like Monopoly money to them. Me? Yeah . . . I’m blank about what someone does with that much to spend frivolously. “Don’t you think a wife should know these things? Especially when your wife is a financial analyst.” I might give him a hard time, but out of all the investments I’ve made, he’s the one who’s worth the most to me.
“You said you didn’t want to talk about money before the wedding.”
“Because I thought, as I stated then, you were crazy for not wanting a prenuptial agreement.”
He kisses my shoulder. “If I can trust you with my life, Story, I can trust you with my money. Anyway, that’s why I’m telling you.”
“You’re lucky I married you for your big . . . heart, ya charmer.” We finally settle in to watch the movie, one we saw years ago in a theater together before we knew each other, and with our son sleeping upstairs. “I love you, Cooper.”
“I love you, Story.”
Epilogue
Cooper
Four Months Later . . .
* * *
Money couldn’t fill the void my family left behind. The lawsuit couldn’t heal the damage done.
Putting a ring on the love of my life came close. Finding out I have a son and getting to be in his life is right up there as well. Sitting on a bench in Central Park watching Patrice spend time with them both? Sounds cliché, but it’s priceless.
Story runs back and plops down on the bench next to me. “I’m too tired to run today.”
“You’ve been putting in too many hours.” I hate sounding like that guy, but she’s been running herself into the ground for the past four months.
“Between trying to figure out my next collection to taking over clients for a co-worker who left last week without warning, Reed’s new tuba ambitions, and being a doctor’s wife, I’m wiped.”
I wrap my arms around her shoulders and let her rest against me. “Not to add to your load, but I’ve been thinking about our wedding.”
“What about it?” she asks, turning to face me.
“It was just down at the courthouse, which is great with me, but I don’t want you to have any regrets. Do you want something bigger?”
“I didn’t marry you for anyone else. I married you because I love you. Anyway, we had everyone we loved there. It was a small group, but a mighty supportive one.” Lila and Lou, Patrice, Jake, and my best man, Reed. It’s a tight-knit group. “But because we got married so fast, we never did get a honeymoon. I wouldn’t mind a fancy trip.” She slides over and plants herself on my lap. “What do you think about that?”
I still feel bad I couldn’t take one after the vows, but I couldn’t get the time off. Now, I’ll do anything, including quit if I’m forced to, to give her this trip. Rubbing her hip, I ask, “Where do you want to go?”
“Wherever you are.”
“Charmer. I’m right here with you. I always will be.”
She smiles, tipping her head back in the sunshine.
I’ve fucked up more times than I can keep track of and set my world on fire just to watch it burn. But it was Story, this magnificent woman, who showed me how beautiful life can be, and always believed in me, even when times were tough.
What a wonderful life she’s given me.
“What about the Maldives?”
Her hazel eyes with bright gold centers find mine. “Too long of a flight.”
“The Bahamas?”
Tightening her arms around my neck, she says, “Oooh, I can get on board with that.”
“I’ll make the arrangements. You don’t have to do a thing.”
She waggles her eyebrows. “Now you’re talking my language.”
“We need to talk,” we both say at the same time, our heads jerking back in response. Once the shock wears off, we laugh. She says, “You go first.”
Shit. I’ve been nervous about this for a long time, not sure how she’s going to take the news. It’s probably best if I just rip the bandage right off. “My parents added an amendment into the settlement.”
Her body tenses. It always does if either of those subjects comes up. She sighs with a roll of her eyes. “Can you tell me?”
“I’ll tell you anything. Nothing will ever keep me from sharing with you.” I gulp despite that being absolutely true. “But you might want to brace yourself.”