“The individuals who turn to our organization in times of need only want what we all want for our loved ones—safety and security. We human beings, regardless of our differences, are brothers and sisters charged to help each other. At My Sister’s House, we don’t help strangers. Because none of us are strangers. We’re all family.”
She spoke a bit more, then thanked her audience once again. The applause she received was only dull background noise as she made her way back to her table and her waiting family.
Trent hugged her, as did Marcus. “That was beautiful.” Then he added, “Did you see him?”
She knew exactly who he was talking about. “Yes.”
“Go to him, Mom.”
She needed no further urging. Aaron was waiting for her near the door to the balcony. “Remember this?” he asked, taking her hand and leading her out.
She smiled, filled with tenderness. “Oh, yes. Our first dance.”
As though on cue, music began to play. He took her into his arms and they began to sway.
Looking up into his eyes, she said “Thank you for coming tonight.”
“If you hadn’t invited me, I’d have crashed the party. Just like I did the first time.”
With the sweet melody drifting in from the ballroom guiding them, their bodies moved as one. They were like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Separately, they made no sense. Only together were they complete.
When the song ended, they slowly and dreamily drifted apart. Aaron took the white orchid from his lapel and gave it to her. “I wish it were a bouquet.”
The very same words he’d said to her that night years ago. Holding the boutonniere, she answered, “This is much more precious to me.”
He went still as he caught a glimpse of her left hand. Lifting it, he said “What’s this?”
She was wearing the diamond engagement ring he’d placed on her finger years ago, the night he’d asked her to marry him. “It doesn’t belong in my jewelry box. My hand’s felt naked for too long.”
His face lit with wonderment and hope. “Does this mean—”
“I never stopped loving you, Aaron. I almost convinced myself I had, but it just didn’t work.”
“I love you. Your speech tonight…about family. It hit home. I want us to be a family again, Claudia. We’ve wasted too much time. Let pride stand in our way. Can we try again? Whatever differences we had, whatever mistakes we made raising our sons, we can be proud of the fact they’re good men. They’ll go their own way, just like we did.”
She smiled at him, her heart swelling with love. Handing him her small clutch purse, she told him “Open it.”
“What?”
“Open it up and look inside.”
He did as she said and a moment later retrieved a plain gold band.
“I couldn’t leave it there alone in the jewelry box, but couldn’t bring myself to wear it, either,” she explained. “It didn’t feel quite right. But it will. If you’ll put it on me.”
As he slid the wedding band onto her finger, she said “I, Claudia, take thee for better or worse. There have been times you’ve driven me to distraction and scared the dickens out of me, but my life has always been more exciting and colorful with you in it.”
“I, Aaron, take thee Claudia, and ask you to take just one more risk with me. Give me your love, your heart, and I promise to always keep it safe.”
As they kissed, Claudia had every faith he’d keep his promise, just as she would keep hers. Because like all couples in love, this was one risk they’d take together.
<><><>
Thanks so much for reading The Billionaire’s Big Risk. If you haven’t read the others in the series yet, perhaps you’d like to check out Books 1 and 2 in The Billionaire Pact series:
The Billionaire Looks Back (The Billionaire Pact, Book 1)
A famous athlete turned billionaire. The woman he loved and left behind. When they meet again, will sparks re-ignite? Or will a long-kept secret tear them apart forever?
The Buttoned-Up Billionaire (The Billionaire Pact, Book 2)
He’s a billionaire whose wealth and power were determined from birth. She’s a free spirit whose life can fit in a rucksack. They should be adversaries…but can they look beyond their differences to find love?
If you enjoy sweet, heartfelt romance in a similar vein, please check out my holiday story, A Real Christmas (Holidays in Applewood, Book 1):
He's a lonely man who hates Christmas. She's a struggling single mom. As they rediscover the magic of the holiday, will they also find love?
Also by Christie Logan
The Billionaire Looks Back (The Billionaire Pact, Book 1)
A famous athlete turned billionaire. The woman he loved and left behind. When they meet again, will sparks re-ignite? Or will a long-kept secret tear them apart forever?
The Buttoned-Up Billionaire (The Billionaire Pact, Book 2)
He’s a billionaire whose wealth and power were determined from birth. She’s a free spirit whose life can fit in a rucksack. They should be adversaries…but can they look beyond their differences to find love?
The Billionaire’s Big Risk (The Billionaire Pact, Book 3)
When the billionaire bad boy fell for the level-headed, risk-averse working girl, everyone said it couldn’t last—and they were right. When a life-threatening accident forces them together again, will they get a second chance, or is love too big a risk to take?
A Real Christmas (Holidays in Applewood, Book 1)
He's a lonely man who hates Christmas. She's a struggling single mom. As they rediscover the magic of the holiday, will they also find love?
Dear Acquaintance (Holidays in Applewood, Book 2)
A divorcee who's turned her back on romance meets an open-hearted widower. Can a fake date lead to true love?
A Gentle Heart (Holidays in Applewood, Book 3)
An ambitious man chasing success. An innocent young woman looking for love. Will his need to get ahead at all costs mean breaking her gentle heart?
Star Spangled Second Chance (Holidays in Applewood, Book 4)
They were best friends before he left town without a word. Now he's back. Will her heart be broken again?
About the Author
Christie Logan writes sweet romance straight from the heart. She lives in upstate New York with too many pets, too many dust bunnies lurking under the bed, and too many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head. She thinks everyone deserves a happy ending and in her books, everyone gets one.
For more about her books, please visit her website:
https://christielogan.com/
Would you like to learn more about Christie’s upcoming releases and sales? Sign up for her newsletter here.
Acknowledgments
There are many people to thank for this one. As always, many thanks to my critique partners Denise, Holly and Nicki. Thanks also to the members of the morning critique sessions of the Central New York Romance Writers. Thank you, author ALee Drake, for the wonderful writers’ retreats at Thistle Dew. A very special shout out must go to Nadine and Wendy, two health professionals who very patiently answered my many questions. You ladies are great! And I am so grateful to Janine, who took time at the end of her busy day to educate me on many aspects of domestic abuse. A sincere thank you also to Jessie Gussman for all her help as a beta reader. Any mistakes that occur in the story are strictly my own.
Copyright © 2019 by Nona Raines LLC
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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