She pulls her hand away. “I’m scared, Jake. I’m scared this isn’t you. I’m scared you’ll wake up one day, realize what a mistake you’ve made, and run away.”
“I know you’re scared. I know I’m to blame for all that insecurity, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“You hate the factory. I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“You were right about everything you said about that job, which is why I’ve put the business in the market.”
“You’re selling it?”
“I already have a buyer. My lawyer is drawing up the contract as we speak. It’s just a question of formalities.”
“What about Yousef? I know you, Jake. I know how much you hate yourself for disappointing him.”
“When the sale of the factories goes through, I’m reimbursing him for his losses, with interest. There will be enough money left to start a new business. I’ve put a lot of thought into it, and I think the restaurant franchise idea is feasible, but instead of starting it abroad, I want to start it here, in Rensburg.”
“You think that can work?”
“The figures add up.” I also have a damn good gut feel, and I’ve learned to listen more to my heart. It seems my pretty little wife gave me back my mojo. “I’m not the only one with faith in the concept. Yousef has committed to invest in the project. When it pulls off, he’ll make quite a bit of money, more than he would’ve made if I went back to Dubai to work for him.”
“And he’ll be compensated,” she muses.
“Exactly. A win-win for everyone. You see, ginger, where there’s a will, there’s always a way. I choose you. Every time.”
Her blue eyes mist over as she stares at me, her feelings written all over her beautiful face, but instead of making her vulnerable, it makes her strong. Her love and compassion are what attracted me to her from the start. She taught me how to be strong in turn, how to lay down my demons and fight for love. She showed me all of herself and taught me who I am.
It’s sadly belated, but I get up, move to her side of the table, and go down on one knee. I want to give her what I didn’t the first time, what she deserves. “Kristi Pretorius, will you wear my ring?”
Her smile is tremulous. “Forever.”
“Then give me your hand.”
She holds out her left hand that’s been naked for far too long. Taking the ring from its encasing, I slip it onto her finger, where it belongs. It sparkles with a pretty shine that says mine.
“I love you, Jake Basson.”
I take in her face, imprinting every detail. “I know.”
I know everything that matters.
I know she loves to play house, and I love to come home to her.
I know she loves roses, and I like pancakes.
Chapter 24
Kristi
I’m putting the last touches on the Christmas tree in what used to be the lounge of Jake’s childhood home. With a quick glance around, I check the tables to make sure everything is ready. They’re set with crisp, white tablecloths, silver cutlery, and crystal glasses. Heavy roses, their petals wide-open and their perfume ripe, tumble from cut-glass vases on the side tables. Classical music plays softly in the background. Soon, the room will be alive with the sounds of conversations, the clinking of glasses, and the voices of children. It’s like one, long, never-ending, happy lunch, only better than the ones in magazine pictures because these ones are real.
My mom bustles through the door with Eddie on her heels. Her face is glowing with enthusiasm, her steps no-nonsense, even in her new heels. As our events manager, she’s in her element, taking care of anything from group bookings to assisting with travel arrangements for our guest performers. Eddie is our procurement manager, and he’s doing a damn fine job. His tight fist serves a purpose after all. We have zero wastage. Our chef has received several awards for his innovative African fusion cooking. Pared with the best of South African wines and top-performing artists, we’re booked up months in advance. Jake has already published a recipe book and has a television show lined up in the new year. He sold several franchises around the country, and this month his first international one in Italy.
“Why are you still on your feet?” my mom chides when she spots me by the tree.
“Get down.” Eddie rushes over and waves me down from the chair I’m balancing on. “Get down from there now.”
He takes my hand and helps me down while I suppress the urge to sigh.
Eddie clicks his tongue. “Silly woman.” He grabs the star from my hand. Taking my place on the chair, he attaches the silver star to the top. “There.” He rests his hands on his hips, looking happy with himself. “Like that?”
It catches the light from the chandelier, shining happiness into the room.
“Perfect,” I whisper.
My mom takes my shoulders and steers me to the futon against the wall. “You should sit down. Rest while you can.”
A can pops.
“Here.” Eddie hands me a ginger ale. “Drink it all.”
“Yes, sir,” I mumble.
“Did I hear my name?”
I look toward the sound of the voice and pause. Jake stands just outside the door with Noah on his shoulders. He’s wearing a white shirt and black slacks with the kind of casual ease that doesn’t make the tailored fit look formal. His chest is broad under the shirt, the hollow in his throat an enticing dip that makes me recall the sculptured hardness of his body under my fingertips. The tickle of his happy trail on my tongue is a memory that makes me shiver.
Ducking low so he doesn’t bump Noah’s head on the frame, he prowls to me. “You shouldn’t be on your feet.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell her,” my mom says.
“You should listen to your mother,” Eddie adds. “Mothers know best.”
When Jake smiles, it’s meant only for me. It’s one of those private gestures that heats me from the inside out, that makes me feel like I’m the last woman left in his world.
He lowers Noah and places a palm on my big belly. The act is tender, possessive. “How’s my princess doing?”
“Kicking.” I move his hand to the right spot. “There. Can you feel it?”
Grinning, he addresses my stomach. “Go easy on your mama, Bella. She still has to carry you for three months.”
“You done playing?” I ask Noah. “Let’s go wash up. It’s almost time for lunch.”
“Actually,” Jake says, “Noah and I came to tell you something.”
“Yes?” I look between the two men in my life. “I’m all ears.”
“Tell her, Noah,” Jake says, crossing his arms in a proud father stance.
“Dadda,” Noah says.
My heart misses two whole beats. I’m so overcome with emotion I hardly focus on the word. Breathless, I place a hand over my heart. “Say that again.”
He looks up at Jake. “Dadda.”
Jake beams. “I think he said daddy.”
“Yes.” I don’t even try to fight my tears. It’s futile with my hormones. “I believe he did.”
My mom crouches down and hugs Noah. “This is the best Christmas present ever.”
“We need to celebrate,” Eddie says. “I’ll get champagne and more ginger ale.”
Jake glances at the can in my hand. “Still nauseous?”
“Just a little.”
He kisses me tenderly as Eddie goes off in search of drinks and my mom takes Noah to the bathroom to wash up.
“Now do as everyone’s been telling you,” he says, pulling me down next to him on the futon, “and sit down.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, sir.”
He lifts my feet onto his lap. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“I’ll say it more often then.”
He takes off first one then the other shoe, somehow making the simple act seem sensual, as if he’s undressing me for his private pleasure.
“I love you, you know,” he says as he starts massaging my feet.
&nbs
p; “Yes.” I smile. “I know.”
He looks around the room. “We’ve come a long way.”
I don’t have to follow his gaze to know what he sees, because he’s looking at the past.
He abandons my feet to cup my jaw, his thumb brushing over the scar on my cheek. “I’m glad it worked out.”
“It was a good idea.”
Knowing a house of this proportion in Rensburg wouldn’t sell, Jake turned it into a boutique hotel and restaurant. Like his father, he provides many of Rensburg’s inhabitants with a means of living, but he achieved so much more. When the restaurant became popular, Jake put Rensburg on the map like the brick factory never could. Tourism is booming. The influx of visitors resulted in the revival of many shops, as well as a new arts and crafts market.
“Turning something morbid into something happy is always a good idea,” he says, “but that wasn’t what I was referring to.”
I know exactly what he was referring to, but I say, “Tell me,” just to hear it again.
“I’m glad I caught you a second time.” He trails his fingertips over the swell of my belly. “I might have to do it again.”
That makes me ecstatically happy. I’ve always wanted a big family, and Jake is a great daddy. “I’d like a few practice runs before you catch me again. I don’t want to miss the trip to Rome.”
“As many as you like.” He kisses my lips. “And I’m not going anywhere without you.”
I nestle in the crook of his arm, enjoying the warm protection of his body and the beauty of his choices.
Some choices take you back to square one. Jake’s choice brought us full circle.
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you very much for joining me on Kristi and Jake’s journey. If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a short review on your favorite review or vendor site to help other readers discover the book. Every review makes a huge difference.
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Hugs,
Charmaine
Also by Charmaine Pauls
Standalone Novels
(Dark Forced Marriage / Revenge Romance)
Beauty in the Broken
The Loan Shark Duet
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Dubious
Consent
Box Set
The Age Between Us Duet
(Older Woman Younger Man Romance)
Old Enough
Young Enough
Box Set
The Seven Forbidden Arts Series
(Paranormal Romance)
Loving the Enemy
Pyromancist
Aeromancist, The Beginning
Aeromancist
Hydromancist
Geomancist
Necromancist
Scapulimancist
Chiromancist
Man
Krinar World Novels
(Futuristic Romance)
The Krinar Experiment
The Krinar’s Informant
Book Blurbs
Standalone Novels
(Dark Forced Marriage / Revenge Romance)
Beauty in the Broken
They put me behind bars. Today, I’m walking free, and they’re going to pay.
They stole what was mine. I’m taking it back, and more.
I’m not interested in their properties or shares. I don’t want their small change. I want my enemy’s biggest asset – his beautiful, mentally unstable daughter.
But if she thinks I only want her for her money, she’s sadly mistaken.
The Loan Shark Duet
(Dark Mafia Romance)
Dubious (#1)
I’m a loan shark. Breaking people is in my blood. The Haynes’s were supposed to be a straightforward job. Go in and pull the trigger twice. One bullet for Charlie, one for his sister. But when I saw Valentina, I wanted her. Only, in our world, those who owe us don’t get second chances. No way in hell will my mother let her live. So I devised a plan to keep her.
It’s depraved.
It’s immoral.
It’s dubious.
It’s perfect.
Just like her.
Consent (#2)
When Gabriel broke down my door, he took over my body and life. Never with force, but always with clever manipulation. He stripped me of my independence, my defenses, and my clothes and turned me into an addict. My addiction is him.
Once, I had dreams and a future. Now, I have fears, scars, and insatiable needs. I’m damaged beyond repair, but if I’m to survive the most dangerous man in Johannesburg, I can’t allow him to break me, because broken toys are destined for the garbage dump.
Box Set (Book 1 & 2)
The Age Between Us Duet
(Older Woman Younger Man Romance)
Old Enough (#1)
Society says I'm too young for her. What do they know? It's not my age that matters. It's my experience. I’m everything she never knew she needed. Meeting her was no coincidence. How and why our paths crossed are every shade of twisted and wrong, but she’ll never know. I'm taking those sinister secrets to my grave. I’m keeping her forever, no matter what it takes.
Young Enough (#2)
I thought I’d lost everything. My life was in tatters when a man half my age broke into my property and invaded my future. Our love is forbidden, but I’m single and he’s all the taboo I crave. For once in my life, why not? But what if I start wanting more than a fleeting love affair? What if his secrets will destroy me? I had no idea how much more I was about to lose.
Box Set (Book 1 & 2)
The Seven Forbidden Arts Series
(A Paranormal Romance Series)
A quick series overview
(Each novel reads as a standalone, except Aeromancist, The Beginning, which is Part I of Aeromancist.)
Loving the Enemy
(Free prequel novel, contains no paranormal elements)
With a price on her head, Lily shouldn’t trust anyone, especially not the handsome stranger who comes to her rescue.
Pyromancist (#1 Fire)
Joss kidnaps and uses Clelia as bait to catch a firestarter, but his desire for his captive compromises his mission.
Aeromancist, The Beginning (#2 Air, Part I)
Katherine becomes the lover of a mysterious Russian library owner for 30 days at an unforeseen and devastating price.
Aeromancist (#3 Air, Part II)
Lann couldn’t foresee how his 30-day contract would destroy Katherine’s life. Can he save her from the fate he’d unknowingly dealt her?
Hydromancist (#4 Water)
Maya isn’t supposed to like the ambassador, let alone sleep with him. Her only focus should be on killing him. Can she choose between love and loyalty?
Geomancist (#5 Earth)
When a drug lord takes Sean’s woman, a paradise island in the Caribbean Sea is about to turn into hell.
Necromancist (#6 Spirit)
Nine years ago, a poor and shamed Ivan took Alice’s virginity and left her cold. Now a famous rock star, he’s back for more. This time, he doesn’t only want her body. He also wants revenge.
Scapulimancist (#7 Animal)
To protect the elephants, ranger Sara has to reclaim Wayne’s land. Can she destroy the man she’s falling for to save the near-extinct species? Can she trust or love a man convicted of murder?
Chiromancist (#8 Time)
Bono must steal Sky’s secrets, but there’s one she’ll protect with her life. Is she strong enough to resist his assault when his choice of weapon is seduction?
Man (#9 Grand Finale)
Cain stalks his archenemy’s wife to find his elusive opponent, not knowing how his growing obsession with Olivia will change the rules and the battle.
Krinar World Novels
(Futuristic Romance)
The Krinar Experiment
When Drako’s space pod malfunctions over Johannesburg, his secret reconnaissance mission goes horribly wrong. Wounded in the crash, he’s captured by the South African Secret Service who sees an opportunity to strengthen their army and make a fortune by using the alien pilot in an unorthodox experiment. They send a female to tend to Drako’s injuries, a human girl with the pretty name of Ilse who’s sweet and caring. The perfume of her skin is like a drug, her blood an aphrodisiac. He can still smell her and taste her on his tongue. Her betrayal cuts deeper than the testing and torture. No matter. His escape is pending. When he comes back to Earth, it will be to find her, and when he does, he’ll show as little mercy as she did.
These are the events that led to the Krinar Earth Invasion. This is the untold story.
The Krinar’s Informant
Zavir is a guardian. He’s the best the Krinar has. His assigned vocation is to uncover the Resistance movements popping up around the earth, and eliminate them. New information about a fast-growing Resistance camp sends him to Costa Rica, home of the largest Krinar Center. His informant is a human girl. She wants to make a deal—her traitorous family’s lives in exchange for information—but Zavir doesn’t make deals, and he takes no prisoners. When the time comes to wipe out the secret organization, his pretty, innocent little mole will learn the truth. She made a deal with the devil, and the price is something far more tantalizing than information.
Catch Me Twice Page 34
