I could understand that.
“John asked me not to go through with it. They were homophobic, and he was gay. This was news to me. On both fronts. John had never told me his sexual orientation, and I had never heard of this company doing anything homophobic, so even though John had asked me not to do business with them, I insisted we give them a chance, and he reluctantly agreed.”
I already had a feeling of where this was going.
“John wasn’t happy with me for weeks, but he willingly made an effort with the company.” Seth took a deep breath. “But John’s friends and his boyfriend, who I had just found out about, discovered who he was doing business with. They basically disowned him, and his boyfriend broke up with him.”
Poor John.
“He didn’t tell me any of this was happening, and I thought he had been having a rough couple of days. But then the president of marketing of their company told John that either he quit or they were taking their business elsewhere. I didn’t find that out until after John died. He had sacrificed everything for our business. For this company to turn around and tell him he had to quit the agency he’d started pushed him past his limit.”
I felt so bad for John. And for Seth.
“I knew that John had bouts of depression, but I didn’t know how bad it was. And this whole mess broke him. I found him at his home.” Seth cleared his throat. “It was the worst thing I’ve seen in my life.” He looked up at me. “And I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“I actually thought about quitting after that, but I didn’t. Instead, I fired the company and made sure that other potential clients knew where I stood when it came to LGBTQIA rights. I also learned that I needed to expand my horizons and that just because something doesn’t happen to me or just because I don’t see it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a problem or it doesn’t happen. That’s why I have no patience for people like Gene Ainsworth. He’s a bully and an asshole.”
“Thank you for telling me. You didn’t have to do that.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Seth
“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to. I want you to know how important you are to me.”
I had missed Tessa the last two months. When she ignored my calls and texts, I started kicking myself for giving Alexis the money for their bakery. I had known she didn’t want my money to help, but I’d had no idea she was going to cut me out of her life like that.
“You might think differently after I tell you how big I messed up.”
Wait. She messed up? I thought I was the one who had messed up.
“It can’t be that bad.”
She cringed. “I thought you were sleeping with Jill and had a baby with her all the while you were sleeping with me,” she spat out rapid-fire.
“Wow.” I hadn’t expected that. “That’s the reason you ghosted me?”
“Yes,” she admitted reluctantly.
“You actually thought I was that kind of person?” It would be funny if it didn’t hurt so much.
“I mean…no. But when I met Jill, she started talking about you going to her house the night before. You’d already told me you were too tired to come over. And then she showed me pictures of a baby who looked just like you and had your name as his middle name.”
“You didn’t think to ask more questions?”
“I thought she was your girlfriend or something. I wasn’t going to let her know the father of her child was sleeping with someone else.”
I ran my hands over my face in frustration. “Okay, but you could have asked me about it.”
She hung her head. “You’re right. I should have done that, and I was wrong. My only excuse is that I need to get over my plutophobia, but it’s just that—an excuse. I should have trusted you, and I should have trusted my feelings for you.”
I leaned forward and took her hands. “First, we all make mistakes. And second, what is plutophobia?”
That got her to smile, and it made me feel good to see that. “It’s fear of wealth.”
“They have a word for that?”
“They have a word for everything.” She met my eyes. “I’m sorry. If it helps, I feel like a total fool.”
I scoffed. “No, I don’t want you to feel like a fool.” I tugged on her arms to get her to stand and pulled her onto my lap. “I love you, and even though I’m hurt you would think those things about me, I don’t want you to hurt too.”
Her eyes widened. “You…” She took a deep breath. “You love me?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t have crashed just anyone’s grand opening.”
She flung her arms around my neck and hugged me. She rested her head on my shoulder. “I think I love you too.”
Rubbing her back, I asked, “You think?”
“My brain is still processing everything. I know I’ve missed you, more than I can hardly believe, and if I didn’t care about you, I wouldn’t have been so upset about what I thought I had found out.”
Surprisingly, this did make me feel better.
“I’m glad you missed me.”
“I’m so sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusions and didn’t talk to you.”
“I’m sorry, too, but I’m glad we’re talking now.”
Tessa lifted her head. “That’s the second time you’ve apologized. What did you do wrong?” she asked with a laugh.
“You know, giving the money to Alexis to secure this place. I knew you wouldn’t be thrilled, and this whole time, I thought that’s what you were mad at me about. I’m so relieved you’re not.”
She held up her finger. “Hold that thought.” She jumped off my lap and called out, “Alexis, can you come over here?”
She was bringing drinks over to some customers, and once she set them down, she came over to us. “Seth,” she said with her eyes wide. “You two are talking again.”
“Yes, I’ll explain later,” Tessa said. “I was all wrong about him and Jill. But the important thing I need to know right now is, did Seth give you money?”
Alexis bit her lip.
“That’s a yes,” Tessa said. “Alexis, why?”
“Because we needed the money, Seth was willing to help, and I went into it with a clear head.”
“You did?”
“Yes. Your fears and your feelings for Seth were clouding your judgment. But I’m not afraid of rich people, and I barely know Seth. Plus, we had a lawyer set up everything with legal documents.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I stand by my decision. Seth’s a good guy and probably the best investor we could have asked for.”
Tessa looked at me.
“She’s right. I am a good guy. Also, I’m such a good investor that you can keep your one percent of the profits. I did it for you, not the money.”
“Aww…” Alexis dropped her arms. “Tessa, if what you’re saying about being wrong is true, you need to marry this man right away. He’s the sweetest.”
“Did you hear that? I’m the sweetest.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. “You two need to get a room.”
Alexis laughed. “You’re funny, but I’m still part of the club, unlike you.”
Tessa’s mouth fell open. “How rude.”
“What club is this?” I asked.
“The United She-Woman Single Ladies with Our Vibrators So We Never Have Another Bad Date or Experience Romance Again Because Men Suck Club,” Alexis said.
My brow flew up. “That’s quite a mouthful.”
“That’s what she said,” a guy said as he happened to be walking by and heard my comment.
A woman coming from the other direction said, “What is wrong with you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he retorted and kept walking.
I burst out laughing. “Do you know those two?”
“Yes,” Alexis answered. “The woman is our friend Pru, and the guy, Sebastian, is a cousin of another friend of ours.”
“I’d like to meet the rest of your fr
iends,” I told Tessa. “That is, if you’ll have me,” I teased.
Alexis rolled her eyes. “Tessa will get over you being our silent investor. She likes you way too much to hold a grudge over a little thing like money.”
I grinned.
“Plus, you two are having a baby together. You’re going to be exchanging a lot more than money in the future.”
I furrowed my brow and tilted my head. “I’m sorry. I think I misheard you.”
Tessa closed her eyes and shook her head while Alexis’s eyes got as big as the cupcakes she made.
“I’m sorry. Someone needs me. Urgently. Gotta go.” Alexis took off as fast as she could go.
I looked at Tessa. “Is there something else you need to tell me?”
She held up her hands. “Surprise, I’m pregnant.”
I grabbed her waist and yanked her to me. I buried my face in her stomach. Even though I had teased my brother about coming to get Declan earlier, I really loved the little guy, and that little baby had made me realize how much I wanted kids someday.
I looked up at Tessa. “I’m going to be a father?”
She brushed her hand through my hair. “Is that okay?”
“More than. Marry me.”
She gasped and laughed.
“I’m not joking. Marry me.”
“Seth, we can’t do that.”
“Yes, we can. I love you, I want to be with you, and I want our baby to be with both of us.”
“This is nuts.”
“That’s not a no,” I pointed out.
“It’s also not a yes.”
“What’s stopping you?” I brought her back down to my lap. “I’m serious. What’s stopping you?”
“Won’t people think it’s too fast?”
“Who cares what other people think?”
“Even when it comes to your company? What if your clients think I’m a gold digger and that you’re a fool for marrying me?”
“If you’re worried, we’ll do a prenup. As for what my clients think, Tessa, you are way more important than my company or money. I’d rather be with you and broke than be without you and rich. I love you.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “I love you too.”
“Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
I jumped up with Tessa cradled in my arms and shouted, “I’m getting married, and I’m going to be a father.”
There was clapping and shouts of congratulations all around us. People took out their phones and snapped pictures of us.
I looked at Tessa and set her on her feet. “It looks like if I lose my company, The Purrfect Café and Bakery will keep us well fed.”
“How do you know that?”
“By the number of people taking photos of us, we’re going viral. Now, kiss me, so they have some good content to post on their social media.”
Tessa smiled. “You are such a good advertiser.”
“You know, if you need someone, I know a guy.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Tessa
“Close your eyes,” Seth said.
I put my hand up, so I wouldn’t see anything, and I felt him pick me up.
We’d gone to the courthouse to get married today with my brother and Seth’s brother, Dex, as our witnesses.
I’d refused to have a big wedding. Not only did I not want to wait months to plan it with the baby coming, but I also didn’t want people to think I was flaunting my soon-to-be husband’s money. It was going to take time for me to get over my fears.
But I was getting better. Seth had indeed gotten his attorney to write up a prenuptial agreement, but the only thing that was on there was that if we divorced, The Purrfect Café and Bakery was all mine. I tried to say no, but he wanted me to feel secure and safe. He also pointed out that this way, if the press asked us about a prenuptial agreement, we wouldn’t have to lie. I had reluctantly signed it but only because I planned to stay married to him forever.
And because I was trying to be better about Seth being able to afford things, I’d let him buy us a house. It had five bedrooms and four bathrooms, but it was around thirty years old. It needed some renovations, but I loved the feel of it, and as a bonus, we waited to elope until everything was finished, so we could move in.
I hadn’t seen it for about a month because Seth wanted to surprise me, which was why I had my eyes closed as he carried me over the threshold.
“Okay, you can look.”
I opened my eyes and gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
Everything was gleaming and looked up-to-date, but it also had a homey atmosphere. I’d made it absolutely known that I did not like the modern, sleek look. I wanted my children to grow up in a house that made them feel welcome. And Seth had delivered.
He set me on my feet as two figures came out from the adjacent room.
“My cats are already here,” I said.
“Your friends brought them over. And all your stuff is moved in.”
I turned around and kissed him. “I love it, husband.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, wife.” He clasped my hand. “Come on. Let’s go look around.”
He led me upstairs and then downstairs, apparently saving the majority of the main floor for last.
When we got to the kitchen, there was a wrapped present on the counter.
“Seth, you didn’t have to get me anything. Our wedding, this house, you—that’s all I need.”
He put his hands up. “It’s not from me. But now, I feel like an ass for not getting you a present.”
I kissed him. “I already told you, you’re all the present I need.”
There was a strong kick in my abdomen.
I looked down and rubbed my hand over my belly. “Yes, you’re all the present I need too.”
“I agree,” Seth said, pulling me into his arms. “You two are all I need.”
I turned so that my back was to him and picked up the present. It was a white box with a gift tag on it.
To: Tessa and Seth
From: Your business partner
“What would Alexis get us?” Seth asked.
I opened up the box and looked inside. “Oh my God. Alexis.”
Seth reached inside and pulled out a piping bag. “What is this?”
“Lemon frosting.”
“Okay, now, you have to tell me what the inside joke is.”
Epilogue
Tessa
Alexis shimmied her shoulders. “Did you like my wedding gift?”
Bree gasped. “I told Zack we should get you a gift even though you told us ‘absolutely not’ and that you’d ‘disown’ us if we did.”
I put my hand on Bree’s arm. “Don’t worry; it cost about a dollar to make.”
“I’m with Bree,” Pru said. “That’s not right, especially after we talked about getting Tessa one big gift.”
Alexis smiled. “I think you’re going to have to tell the group what my gift to you was.”
“Oh, yes,” Paisley said. “You have to tell us.”
I looked around the table at my friends. It was my first monthly dinner after becoming a married woman, and everyone wanted to know all the details of my life with my new husband.
“It was lemon frosting. That’s it. Nothing big.”
Isabelle scrunched up her nose. “Why lemon frosting?”
I told them all about when Seth had eaten the lemon cupcake at his office. “Alexis suggested I take lemon frosting on our business trip, so he could lick it off my body.”
“And since she wouldn’t take any on her trip to San Francisco, I thought it would be a perfect addition to a wedding night.” Alexis grinned.
“So, did you like her gift?” Paisley asked.
I remembered how Seth had stripped off my dress and put frosting on my nipples before licking it off and then on my pussy before licking me clean. After he had given me my first orgasms as his wife, I’d covered his cock with the lemony goodness, so I could suck my husband off. It was a nig
ht I’d never forget.
“Yes, we both liked the gift. We baked our cupcakes and used the frosting.”
Pru snorted. “Is that what you’re calling sex now?”
Everyone broke out in laughter, including me.
“It’s someone else’s turn,” I said. “No more about me.”
Bree and Paisley started talking at the same time and both stopped.
“You go,” Bree said.
“I don’t want to. My news is not fun.”
“Oh no,” Elizabeth said. “What is it?”
“My landlord is going to sell my house.” Paisley stuck out her lip. “I love my house. The rent is cheap, and it’s perfect for me.”
“Can you buy it?” Isabelle asked. “It can’t be that much to purchase.”
Paisley shook her head. “No. It’s going to be bulldozed and turned into a parking lot. Or something like that.”
“Oof. That sucks,” Isabelle said.
“It does. The worst part is, my landlord barely gave me any notice. I have to be out within two months. It seems like enough time, but it’s really not when you have to find a place to live and then pack up your life to move.”
“And I just sold my house,” I said. “You could have bought mine or at least rented it, if we had known.” My old place would have been perfect since I hadn’t had to sell it for the money. I’d only sold it because Seth and I didn’t need it anymore.
“Right?” Paisley said. “I doubt this deal is moving that fast. The a-hole probably didn’t tell me until he absolutely had to.”
“I don’t have much to offer,” Pru said. “But I can ask around.”
“I can too,” Bree said.
“Same here,” Isabelle and Elizabeth said.
“I can have Seth ask at work too.”
“Thanks, ladies. You’re the best.”
“That’s what friends are for,” I said.
“Enough about me. It’s not the end of the world. If I have to move in with my parents, I will. I won’t like it, but I will.”
Not Another Billionaire (Not Another Romance) Page 16
