by Gigi Marlowe
Yes. He had much to be thankful for this day. He had lost a lot in life. But he’d gained so much more. Billions were nothing compared to the boy in his arms and the woman at his side.
Chapter Twelve
Two months later Kylie walked beside Scott as they explored the grounds of Casa Loma in Toronto. Joseph ran ahead chasing a squirrel. This was their first trip together. Scott had spent a lot of time getting Joseph settled in his home and acquainting himself with his son. He had actively involved Kylie, who he’d flown by private helicopter every weekend she was available.
Scott reached out and grabbed Kylie’s hand, sliding his fingers in between hers while she admired the October sunshine and gorgeous fall colors that decorated the historic castle grounds.
“Joseph, slow down!” he called, and Kylie heard the peace and joy in his tone. She turned to him with a radiant smile and pressed closer to his side.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
He’d told her that often lately, and for the first time in her life, she believed it. She didn’t stop to analyze what about her appearance had attracted him or question whether he was being genuine or not. His love for her made her feel beautiful inside and out, and she had let go of all the self-doubt that had plagued her life. And that was a beautiful thing.
“Daddy, Daddy!” Joseph careened across the grass as fast as his little legs would carry him. “Bluebird! You see bluebird?”
Scott swung him up into the air as high as he could, and the little boy giggled with glee before Scott lowered him and nuzzled his nose into his neck.
“I love you, Jojo.” He exchanged a quick, silent look with Kylie that told her exactly how grateful he was for this moment, for this life. “Now, where’s this bluebird?” As Scott took off after Joseph on his bird-finding quest, Kylie used the sudden silence to think of all that she had to be thankful for. It was a long list.
Later that day after dinner at Richmond Station, a busy neighborhood restaurant in the core of downtown Toronto, Scott sat back with a happy sigh.
“I’ve realized something, Kylie.”
Joseph was still busy with his station burger, and Kylie nodded for Scott to continue as she reached across the table with a napkin to clean a glob of ketchup from the busy boy’s cheek.
“I was never truly honest with myself about my motives for funding orphanages. I see now that I was doing it to assuage me of my guilt for my perceived abandonment of Joseph.”
“Yes, Alex mentioned as much to me months ago.”
“So he saw right through me. It was my own personal atonement. I think I felt if I helped enough orphans, I wouldn’t be guilty of ‘orphaning’ my own son, in a way. Now that I’m on the path to redemption with Joseph, all the fallacies I believed before are coming to light. Since I’ve accepted the past, my future will have to be different. Don’t worry.” He laughed at the look on her face. “I’ll keep funding orphanages. But now I’ll be doing it with more pure motives. Not because I feel like I have to. Because I want to.”
Kylie examined the man she loved‒and loved him more by the minute.
“You’re the most humble billionaire I’ve ever met, Scott Ryan. And the most loveable.”
The smile he rewarded her with competed with the gloriously setting sun‒and won.
Kylie had never enjoyed the holiday season as much as she did that year. Scott and Joseph came up for a week before Christmas, staying at her place and touring all the Christmas sites in the city. Christmas Eve day Kylie’s parents came down, meeting them under the giant tree at the Rockefeller Center. They had met Scott and Joseph at Thanksgiving and loved them both instantly.
“Hi, Mom!” Kylie pushed through the crowds to the place where her parents stood admiring the glorious, massive pine towering over them with its shimmering, colorful lights. There really was nothing quite like Christmas in Manhattan, Kylie thought happily.
Mom turned with a smile, pulling Kylie’s dad with her. “There you are, honey. Where’s your escort?”
“Watching the ice skating. Joseph is dying to try it. Come on!” They exchanged hugs before Kylie led them to the overlook where Scott waited with Joseph up on his shoulders, too intent on the ice skaters below to notice the newcomers. Scott shook hands and immediately got caught up in a conversation with Kylie’s parents.
“Joseph? You want to skate with me?”
The little boy nodded, excitement taking over his face the same way it often did to his father, and he leaned over so Kylie could extricate him from his dad’s shoulders. Kylie created enough gestures for Scott to understand that she was taking Joseph to to the ice rink, and he nodded distractedly. Throngs of people pressed closer to the icy surface, and Kylie forced her way through with Joseph in tow. The attendant had quite a task to find skates small enough for Joseph, but at last he held up an appropriate pair, and Kylie helped Joseph put them on.
“You ready? Hold on!” She took off at a slow glide on the ice, staying to less crowded areas where she could go slowly with Joseph’s tiny hand in hers. His joyous laughter warmed her heart in spite of the cold, and as snow flurries began to descend upon the ice skaters, Kylie felt the need to pinch herself. Was this happy life for real?
After ice skating, the group walked the entire perimeter of Macy’s, stopping to enjoy each window display. Joseph laughed and exclaimed until he sagged in Scott’s arms, snoozing against his daddy’s chest while they walked to the waiting limo. Kylie motioned for her parents to get in first, then slid in behind them. Scott finished the group, carefully balancing the sleeping Joseph on his lap.
“What a fun evening!” Kylie’s mom exclaimed, looking around the limo with appreciation. “I could get used to this.”
When they arrived at Kylie’s apartment, Scott carried Joseph to the bed and smoothed him out. From the kitchen, Kylie caught sight of him bending over to place a kiss on his forehead in the darkened room. Fatherhood suited him.
He came back out and joined her parents around the small Christmas tree that adorned her living room while she made hot chocolate in the kitchen.
“So, I have a little something for each of you,” Scott spoke as Kylie handed out steaming mugs of chocolate goodness. He gave them each a festive envelope. Kylie’s dad got his open first.
“What’s this?”
“An itinerary,” Kylie said slowly, her eyes roaming over the information before she dropped it with a stare at Scott.
“What do you all say to ringing in the New Year in the Swiss Alps? My treat.”
“Yes!” they chorused together.
“Brrr!” Olivia shivered and brushed the snow off her coat. “I thought Philadelphia was cold!”
“Not compared to the Alps,” Kylie agreed, glad that Scott had brought Olivia and Oscar, too. It had been good for them to spend time with Joseph again, and they were enjoying the relaxation of the resort. Oscar, Scott, and Kylie’s dad spent most of their time skiing while Olivia and Kylie’s mom watched Joseph. Kylie split her time between the two groups.
“Are you sure you don’t want to hit the slopes? I can watch Joseph.” The boy scampered ahead of them down the hotel hallway. They had just come in from a snowball fight with him. “I’m not quite ready to go back out there, anyway.” Kylie had taken lessons the first day, and Scott still coached her as she tried out more advanced trails with him, but her legs were getting sore.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. You’re catching on really quickly, by the way. I saw you yesterday, flying down the mountain with the speed of light.” Olivia flashed her a smile as she slid off her pom-pom topped snow hat. “Scott picked a smart one.” She grew serious as they followed Joseph down the hallway toward their suites. “We watched Scott go through some very dark times, Kylie, and I can’t tell you how glad we are that he found you. You make him more happy than I ever thought he would be again. As his friend‒thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Kylie replied, and she meant it. “How are you and Oscar adjusting to the transition
with Joseph?”
A thoughtful look crossed Olivia’s face. “It was hard at first, I won’t deny it. I cried myself to sleep for about two weeks straight. But I know Scott deserves to have his son, and Joseph deserves to have his father. Besides, I’m Scott’s number one babysitter.” She winked, and Kylie was grateful for the woman’s buoyant personality.
That evening over dinner at a quaint restaurant in the Swiss village, Oscar cleared his throat. He held up his hand, linked with Olivia’s, as the table quieted. “We have a little announcement we wanted to share with our dear friends.”
Olivia looked like she was about to burst at the seams as she exclaimed, “I’m pregnant!”
Kylie’s parents clapped, and Scott jumped up and rushed around the table to give his friends a round of hugs.
“You have no idea how much this means to me,” he said as he returned to his seat.
“Well, we didn’t do this for you. Imagine how much it means to us!” Olivia teased.
“I know. But when I took Joseph, I felt terrible to deprive you two of the joy of a child. Now, after all your sacrifice, you get the happy ending you deserve.”
Kylie looked over the group, glowing with happiness. “This truly is a season for miracles, wouldn’t you agree?”
And they all did.
The next evening after dinner at the hotel, Scott led Kylie to the dance floor. She leaned into him, swaying with the sweet rhythm of the slow song when suddenly it stopped and in its place “Rocket Man” began playing into the room. She pulled away puzzled and looked into Scott’s face.
“I like this song, but it doesn’t quite go with the atmosphere in this hotel.”
“I agree. But it goes with our atmosphere. Wouldn’t you agree?” He swayed her to the perky tune for a moment before he stopped. “I have a confession to make. I requested this song.”
“You did? Why?”
“Because.” Scott let go of her and dropped to one knee, holding onto her hand. Kylie’s free hand came up to cover her mouth as her eyes welled up with the happiest water she’d ever felt in her eyes. “I want to be your rocket man forever. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, Scott.” She dropped onto both knees in front of him, heedless of the wrinkles that might result in her long, satin dress. She gave him a long kiss and finally pulled away to gasp, “Yes!”
As he slid a sparkling diamond onto her finger, applause burst out in the room, and Scott swept her up in her arms and danced her around the room.
“Where should this wedding happen?” Kylie already had an armful of wedding magazines her mom had procured somewhere in the Alpine village.
“Doesn’t matter to me, as long as you’re there.” Scott brushed a hand through her hair, but Kylie didn’t look up.
“How about London? In… August. That gives me enough time to plan. What do you think?”
“Whatever you say, soon-to-be-Mrs.-Ryan.”
“Hey, you’re the billionaire. Shouldn’t you be calling more of the shots?”
Scott drew her away from her planning and toward a window overlooking the awe-inspiring Alps that rose majestically all around them. So breathtaking. Like the woman beside him.
“Kylie, you have given me the second chance at love I never imagined possible.” He paused and looked deeply into her eyes. “I will love you forever…’to infinity and beyond!’ ”
As his arms held her tightly, Kylie felt like she was floating on clouds, incredibly thankful that she had given just one more billionaire a chance.
Thank you for Reading “Not Another Billionaire: A Clean Second Chance Romance”
(Book 2 of the Series: Billionaire Tech Tycoons & Titans)
I hope you enjoyed the journey into the lives of Kylie, Scott, Alex, their friends and family.
If you liked, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Reviews are especially important to newer authors, like me. I would be ever grateful. Click Here to Review*
Keep reading Happily Ever Afters!
Gigi Marlowe
The Series: Billionaire Tech Tycoons & Titans
(The Visions they Follow, The Causes they Fund, The Love they Find)
Her Billionaire Dilemma: A Clean Romance
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