by Lisa Lace
“Now I know that’s complete bullshit. I always had a choice, and I chose wrong. All of the sacrifices to be a photographer were sacrifices I was willing to make until it came to letting go of you. That’s one sacrifice too many. You’re worth so much more to me than any career.”
I take a step closer to her and close my fingers around her other hand. I rub my thumbs over the back of her hands and hold her gaze. Sophie’s tears are spilling now, her expression wavering between anguish and a smile.
“I knew it before I even left, but I was too selfish and stubborn to admit I was wrong. I’m sorry, Sophie. You deserve better than the man I’ve been, but if you give me one more chance, I promise that I’ll spend every day trying to be that man.”
“Cole—”
“Listen, Sophie. I’ve made my choice—once and for all. I’ve already spoken to Dennis and David. I’m never going back to The New York Times. My time as a photojournalist is over. I choose you. Always.”
She stands there, speechless. My own words feel like they’re drying up, but I have more to say.
I lower myself to one knee. As I do, I pull out the ring box from my jeans pocket and open the case to present to Sophie. Inside is a diamond and blue sapphire platinum engagement ring that I bought with the paycheck from my last ever journalism shoot.
“Sophie Ellis, you’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. You are filled with the most amazing of human qualities that I never appreciated before. You are kind, selfless, patient, and far more loyal than I deserve.
“It’s taken marrying you, divorcing you, living ten years without you, losing you again, and having a near-death experience, to make me realize that I got it right the first time when I asked you to be my wife.
“The time I’ve spent with you has always been my happiest.
“I know that your time with me hasn’t always been the same. I’ve been selfish and inconsiderate. I’ve put myself and my career before you time and time again—but never again.
“I want to marry you, Sophie, and have the kind of marriage that you always dreamed about. Not an elopement, not a one-sided love affair, but something real and lasting. I don’t want to marry you just so that you can be my wife, but so that I can be your husband and do all the things a loving husband should. I want to protect and care for you. I want to help you achieve everything you’ve ever dreamed about. I want to go through life with you and be at your side when we’re old and gray with those four grown children and a dog.
“I’ve taken you for granted before, and I’ve been conceited when I’ve assumed you’ll be waiting for me, so I want you to know that I recognize how incredible you are, and how unbelievably lucky I was to have ever had you in my life. If you’ll take me, I’ll know that I am the lucky one. You are beautiful, inside and out.
“Sophie Ellis—will you marry me?”
She says nothing. She doesn’t even move.
Then, slowly, she pulls me up from the ground so we’re eye-to-eye. Her gaze searches mine, her eyes moving from side to side as she examines my face. “Are you serious?”
“One hundred percent.”
“You don’t want to be a photojournalist anymore?”
“I only want you.”
“And in five years, you won’t be itching to go abroad again?”
“That’s when you and I hop on a plane together and make our own adventures.”
“You’re not going to leave me when something better comes along?”
“Never. Will you be my wife?”
The moment is excruciating. My whole future hangs on Sophie’s reply, and nothing has ever meant more to me in my life.
Sophie looks down at the ring. “It’s beautiful.”
I take it out of its velvet lining and slip it onto her finger. “I never got you a ring the last time. I wanted to do this properly. A proper proposal, a proper marriage. What do you say?”
“I don’t want to marry you—”
My heart plummets to my stomach, but I swallow back my despair. I can’t blame Sophie for rejecting me. We’ve been here before, and I’ve abandoned her too many times.
“—unless we have a long engagement.”
My sunken heart soars once more, and I grab her hands in elation, my voice rising with excitement. “It’s a yes?”
She laughs. Her sadness has turned to joy, and the tears in her eyes dry as her laughter rings through the air. She nods. “It’s a yes.”
I wrap my arms around her and press my lips down over hers. She sinks into my kiss.
When we step back from each other, Sophie looks down at the ring gleaming on her finger and giggles. “Lena’s going to kill me.”
I grin. “I’ll do whatever it takes to convince your sister that I mean it this time.” I lock her eyes in a sincere gaze. “You know I really mean it. Sophie, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Epilogue
There are tears in Lena’s eyes as she zips up the back of my gorgeous wedding dress, then steps back to admire me.
“This is what a wedding should look like.”
It’s five years later, and I am dressed in the most beautiful white mermaid gown with a lace overlay and open back. My hair is down, but professionally curled and styled. My makeup has been done; my eyes feel flirty with lavender eyeshadow and long, heavy eyelashes.
I feel a tug on my skirt and look down to find my daughter, Ellie, lifting her arms for a hug.
“Come here, darling.” I pick her up.
“You’ll crinkle your dress, Soph!”
I smile. “That’s okay.”
I brush my nose against Ellie’s and she giggles. She looks so cute in her tiny little flower girl dress at only two years old. She has my nose and Cole’s eyes.
Lena picks up my veil from where it lies on a stand nearby. She lifts it above my head and fixes it in place, then arranges the lace around my shoulders.
“I have to admit, there were times where I thought you weren’t going to get here, but Cole proved me wrong. In the last five years, he’s shown how much he’s changed.”
I beam. “Hasn’t he? I couldn’t ask for more.”
“This time, it’s right. I know you’re going to be happy.”
“Me, too.”
Everything is perfect. Cole and I had that long engagement that I’d asked for, and after three years of being happy together, Ellie came along. We were not only a couple but a family now.
We got Ellie through her first year, and then I asked Cole when we were going to set a date for the wedding.
Now, here we are. It’s July. The sun is shining brightly, and we don’t have to revert to our backup ceremony indoors. I step outside to the beginning of the aisle in the gardens of the beautiful venue.
I see Cole standing under the floral arch beyond the rows of chairs where our friends and family are sitting. He’s dressed in a gray suit, looking a million dollars. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him; my first and only love, the father of my child, my best friend.
It took us a long time to get here, but I’m so glad I held onto Cole. In the last five years, he’s made me feel like I’m his whole world, and he’s been a devoted and wonderful father to Ellie.
What’s more, he seems happy. Every time he glances at Ellie or me, there is such love in his eyes.
He spots me now, and his eyes gleam again. His face breaks out into a huge, boyish grin. These days, he’s so much more relaxed and ready to smile. There’s no panic or rush. We have all the time in the world to be together, and we’re making the most of it.
Lena takes Ellie from me and brings her to our mom so she can join the other bridesmaids as the matron of honor at the front of the crowd. Then, the band strikes up a wedding march, and it’s time.
My dad slips his arm through my elbow and accompanies me up the aisle. As I pass by our guests, each of them is looking at me with complete joy. Mom is dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief while holding Ellie, and Dennis looks so happy I think
he might burst into song.
But nobody’s smile can match mine. I’m about to be Mrs. Cole Tanner. Again.
I come to stand in front of Cole. His eyes are filled with wonder.
“You look beautiful.”
I feel butterflies dancing in my stomach like they always do when Cole looks at me that way.
“We made it.”
The officiant starts reading the vows. We’ve been here before, but this time there’s more meaning in the words than there was ever before, because now we’ve been through thick and thin together, and I know that when we swear our loyalty and devotion this time, it’s the utter truth.
“Do you, Cole Tanner, take this woman, Sophie Ellis, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Cole’s eyes meet mine. His smile is soft. “I do.”
“And do you, Sophie Ellis, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
We exchange rings. Cole’s hand rests on mine after he slips the white gold band onto my finger.
“Then, by the power invested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
We kiss, and the crowd erupts into cheers.
“If you’d please make your way toward the East end of the gardens, there will be some photographs before the reception begins.”
The crowd starts to file away, and I turn to Cole, alone at last. My smile is so big it can hardly fit on my face.
“This is it.”
Cole wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close. “Here we are.”
“Ellie looks so beautiful today.”
“Maybe before long, she’ll have a little brother or sister to play with.”
I smile. “I’d like that.”
“We’ll see what we can do on our honeymoon.”
In two days’ time, we’re setting off on another adventure, retracing the steps of some of our favorite memories. We’ll be gone for three weeks to visit Italy, Thailand, and Fiji.
Last time, when we came back from our adventures, it was the end of everything. This time, it will be the start of the most beautiful adventure of our lives.
Ruined
A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance
Edward
Keeping his eye on the doorway, Edward furiously typed his codes into the computer, hacking into the mainframe at Central Federal Bank. If you knew what you were doing, new banks were easy targets for the first few months of operation.
Edward wasn’t especially proud of hacking into other companies’ computer networks, but it guaranteed business for his father’s company. It seemed that when a company found out how vulnerable their information was, they were willing to pay almost anything for additional security. Since Donovan Technologies offered just that, Edward continued to help with that area of his expertise. His father might not understand it, but one day, Edward would make the ex-marine proud of him.
When the Central Federal Bank logo appeared on his computer, Edward sat back and smiled, pressing his fingertips together in front of him. He worked a little of his magic, transferring large amounts of money from one account to another and then back again, just to let them know he had access.
He opened an email in their system and left an anonymous note, letting them know how easy it had been to access their information. He hovered the cursor on the send button, quickly scanning the email before clicking the button.
When he tried to escape out, his screen froze and then went black. He worked on hacking back in to be sure his connection was severed completely. Then his father interrupted, walking into his office. Edward quickly but nonchalantly closed the program and leaned back in his chair.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Edward said, looking his father dead in the eyes.
Reese Donovan dressed to impress, and his good looks and intelligence had paved the way for his success. Edward was the spitting image of his father as a young man—but his intentions were different. A little more altruistic—to his father, a little too soft.
“Edward,” his father prodded. “What are you working on?”
“A possible new account.” Edward briefly glanced at his computer before looking back at his father. Although his father was casual about the question, Edward knew better. He had a way of reading into little gestures of others very well. Edward was quite aware his father knew he was lying. But he’d rather be deemed a liar than a felon. “It seems the new bank that opened last week has some interest in ramping up security for their system. I don’t have all of the information yet, but I should by week’s end.”
“I wasn’t aware you worked in sales.” Reese’s sarcasm suffocated his words.
“Well, you know me. I try to help out where I’m needed.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Donovan?” Edward and Reese looked toward the door simultaneously.
Claire stood with her hand ready to knock, her eyes on Reese.
Edward noticed how Reese’s face relaxed. The ridges in his disposition smoothed out and a smile formed on his lips. A rare sight indeed.
“Yes, Claire?”
For a woman in her sixties, Claire’s beauty was timeless. She exuded sophistication and class, and her endless patience made her a perfect fit as Reese’s executive assistant. She reminded Edward of his mother—the way she carried herself and lent a helping hand wherever needed. Edward had no questions about why Reese kept her in his company and close to his side.
“You have your luncheon meeting today. If you want to be timely, you should get ready to go. The media will be there.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. Thank you, Claire.” Reese walked toward her, only speaking up once more before disappearing with Claire by his side. “Edward, I suggest you stop pimping the company like a flirtatious car dealer and get back to work. I’m going to need your reports by tomorrow.”
Edward didn’t remove his eyes from his father until he disappeared out the door. He should have been used to it, but the cutting tone still speared his heart.
He reached up and turned his screen back on, wanting to undo everything he just accomplished.
Armed with an impressive portfolio of client companies, Donovan Technologies provided firewalls, security protocols, and other cyber defenses to thwart people like Edward. But most people like Edward weren’t peeking into accounts to show off. Donovan Technologies provided not only cybersecurity but also an array of multi-level support for the businesses under their umbrella. Business Lenders Inc. had helped finance them, and Merge Inc. swooped in when they were failing, bought them, and sold them for parts. The three heads of Donovan Technologies snatched companies up by the mouthful, and if they weren’t strong enough to pass muster, devoured them whole.
He glanced over at a picture of his mother and father from when they were first married. They looked so happy. Edward was sure it was an act: his father standing straight and tall in his dress blues, his expression stern. The woman next to him wore an elaborate white wedding gown, her arm linked through his. A sunny smile that reached her eyes as she leaned into him for the photographer. He wondered how long she’d needed to rehearse for such a perfect pose.
He leaned back and thought back to a childhood nothing like the happy image on his desk. You obeyed him or suffered the consequences. Reese had always been stern. He hadn’t been a monster, but he was never affectionate, loving, or soft. More than once, he remembered watching his mother love that man and go out of her way to take care of him. She never begged him for affection, but Edward knew what the pain in her eyes meant. By the time Edward was twelve years old, she was done trying to win him over. Edward watched her leave.
When she left Reese standing in the living room next to his two boys, old enough to understand but still too young to change things, Edward knew his life had been forever changed. He was glad for his mother that she was finally going to find happiness. But it didn’t stop him from crying himself to sleep that night and wishing he had the courage to beat his father down.
> The truth was, he would never be able to take that first swing—and not because he was afraid of him. Yes, he knew Reese would throw him in a corner any time he came at him, but Edward loved his father to a fault.
No matter how Reese treated him and his brother Jack, he always looked up to Reese and admired his accomplishments. He liked to think his father had taught him how not to treat people by example, but even after so many years of the same struggles, Edward longed to impress Reese.
It was times like this that he admired his older brother. Jack didn’t give a shit. He seemed unbothered by the lack of affection. In fact, Jack was becoming just like their father.
Edward got up from his desk and took a break to clear his head. Grabbing his suit coat, he breezed out the door and headed uptown.
After a sandwich and a couple of beers, he was back in the office, with a better sense of direction. He settled back behind his desk just as a text came through on his phone. He lifted it from his pocket and opened it.
Reese: We need to talk. I’ll be back at two. Be there.
“You got it, sergeant.” He stared at the text, angry at his father’s disrespect.
He pre-screened his emails, then closed them down. Once he’d navigated to his favorite financial newsfeed, he saw what his father needed to talk to him about.
BROADEN MARKETS HACKED – SET TO RESTRUCTURE AND REBUILD
“Shit.”
They were only supposed to increase security, not change their entire system. Edward made a phone call to Broaden’s security team to make sure they were still closing the deal.
Edward looked up just as Reese walked in. “Okay, well, listen,” Edward said over the phone. “If anything changes, give me a call. I’ll give you priority status. I understand how vulnerable it can be. Good luck.” As he hung up the phone, he looked at his father, who was standing over him.
“Broaden?” Reese was not pleased.
“Yeah. They backed out.”
“That account was potentially worth a hundred grand.”
