“But, Henry…” She tries to protest, but I cover her mouth with mine and kiss her passionately. I stop just because we’re not alone in the balloon. “I can’t wait to take you home to bed,” I whisper to her, and she blushes adorably.
The balloon lands half an hour later. I am surprised to find my personal assistant waiting in front of the car chatting with my driver.
“Honey, let me see what’s happened. It’s serious if George came all the way here,” I tell her.
“George, what happened?” I ask.
He looks me in the eyes. “Mr. Kane, someone posted a picture of you and Miss Lucy in the hot air balloon. She claims to be Lucy’s grandmother. She posted a message on social media and claims that you have been engaged to Lucy since February. She wrote a story about how you asked Lucy to marry you on Valentine’s Day. She claims the wedding will be this May.”
I frown, but I’m sure he’s overreacting. “George, calm down. I’ll talk to Lucy. Remove the post and everything will be fine.”
He frowns. “Mr. Kane, several news outlets have already run the story.”
I swear under my breath. I fucking hate the press. “Yeah, that’s a problem,” I admit. “Let me talk to Lucy.”
Lucy is waiting for me next to the car, and she appears deep in thought. “Lucy, did you send that picture to your grandmother, baby?”
She frowns and looks at me in surprise. “What’s going on, Henry? Yes, I sent her the picture when the hot air balloon took off.”
I sigh deeply. I’m sorry I have to upset Lucy with something like this. “Your grandmother posted the picture and announced our engagement on social media. She claims that we’ve been engaged since February. That’s kind of weird, don’t you think?”
She holds her breath for a moment and then her eyes fill with tears. “I’m so sorry, Henry. Please don’t hate me!”
I pull back and look her in the eyes. A sinking feeling develops in the pit of my stomach. “Lucy? What’s going on?”
She avoids my gaze. “Grandma thinks we’re engaged because I told her so,” she says.
The news upsets me a lot, but I’m willing to hear what her reasons are for doing something so dishonest. “Continue,” I say. “I understand you told her we’re engaged, but what I don’t understand is why she thinks we got engaged in February? We didn’t even know each other back then!”
She blinks, and a tear slides down her cheek soon followed by another. “Grandma had a heart attack in March. The doctors said she would not recover. She was upset that she would die without see me find happiness, so I told her I was your fiancée so that she could die in peace.”
“You did what?” I exclaim. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “This whole relationship is based on a lie, isn’t it?”
She shakes her head. “It was at first, Henry. But that was before I met you. I know my actions seem like something a demented person would do, but I love Nana so much. It was just an innocent lie I told to a dying woman that’s snowballed into the ugly thing it is now. I tried to make an appointment with your assistant, but she refused. I heard you were going to that conference, so I went in the hope that I could just talk to you. But after I met you, I fell in love with you. I think I’ve loved you from the moment we met. That’s why I left that first night instead of sleeping with you. I didn’t want to do this to you.” Her voice cracks, and I’m tempted to just forgive her because I hate to see her upset, but it could all be an act. She could be manipulating me to get at my money, and the idea of that infuriates me. I love her, but she lied to me.
The news hits me hard. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I knew something was wrong, and I should have listened to my instincts. Lucy cries softly beside me, and it breaks my heart. I’ve only known her for a short time, but she’s managed to do something no other woman has succeeded in doing. She made me love her, and now she’s broken my heart.
I take her in my arms and kiss her hair. “My driver will take you home, Lucy. Our relationship—if that’s what you want to call it—is over. I never want to see you again. Tell your grandmother to post on her social media that we broke up.”
“Henry, please,” she cries. “I love you, and I don’t want to lose you.”
I shrug as I open the door to the car for her. “How can I believe anything you’re saying? You lied to me! My instincts were right about you.”
“Henry, please forgive me. I love you.”
“If you continue with this madness, I’ll have to ask for a restraining order,” I say with regret. I head to George’s car and get in, urging him to start the engine and take me out of here.
Lucy looks after me, and tears run down her cheeks. I can’t believe how she lied to me, but I’m convinced that I’ll forget her, even if it takes a lifetime. After all, I’ve loved her since I met her. Still, I try to convince myself, if she lied to me from the beginning, I suppose I don’t really know her at all. Maybe it was all in my head.
Chapter 7
Lucy
May came bringing me even more pain in my soul. I did such a stupid thing, and now everyone is mad at me. Grandma deleted the post regarding our engagement, and Henry hasn’t contacted me at all. Neither did his lawyers, so at least there’s that.
I miss him so much; I can’t sleep at night. I called him the day we broke up but didn’t try to contact him at all after that. He quickly changed his number, and I’m sure he’s completely forgotten about me. I don’t read or follow the news about him either. It’s too painful. I just told my grandmother and my mother that we broke up and that we were never engaged. Needless to say, Nana was very upset with me.
Lately, the days all blend into each other, and I think I’ve lost about 10 pounds in the last few weeks. Which is good, isn’t it? Everyone is happy when they lose weight. I don’t care but Henry loved my curves. I just want him back. I’ve tried to lose myself in my work, but my friend Lexi insisted on going out tonight.
She’s been busy lately with all her wedding stuff, and we haven’t seen each other a lot. She invited me for a drink, and I begrudgingly accepted. She feels guilty that she disappeared on me after her fiancé proposed.
Even so, I’m glad she’s happy. Lexi had a few rough years, and I’m glad to see her so happy now.
“I need a martini so bad. I’ve had a hard day,” Lexi says, and she plops onto the chair next to mine. She takes off her sunglasses and stares at me in shock. “Lucy, for God’s sake, what are you doing? You look like you lost a lot of weight since we last saw each other! Please, tell me you are taking care of yourself.”
“I’m fine,” I say. “Don’t worry.” I smile weakly at her and take a sip of water. “Show me that ring of yours,” I say, and her face lights up.
“I know what you’re doing,” she says. “I’ll let you change the subject, but please take care of yourself. You don’t want me to call your mom or your Nana and tell them how awful you’re feeling. And you should talk to Henry. I’m sure he’s miserable without you. That man adores you. He’s just mad at you right now!” She’s so insistent that I can’t help but wish she’s right—but she’s not.
“Henry doesn’t want to see me, Lexi. Please don’t mention him again!” I say, and I feel the need to go home and hide under the covers and cry.
She nods and holds out her hand, showing me the ring.
I’m shocked when a few minutes later Henry enters the bar. He’s so sexy my heart hurts. I know he’s noticed me, and I tell Lexi I want to leave because he doesn’t come by our table. If he’s expecting a date, I can’t bear to see that.
The waiter brings a bottle of champagne and three glasses to our table and informs me that the guy from the bar sent them.
A guy comes over and introduces himself as James. At first, I want to chase him away. I’m in no mood for male company, but I change my mind and invite him to sit at our table. Henry is acting like I don’t exist, so I can have a drink and talk to this dude. See how he likes it.
Lexi and I chat
for a few minutes with the guy and thank him for the champagne.
“Dude, get lost. She belongs to me, and I don’t share,” Henry’s says, his voice icy, and I glare at him.
James raises his eyebrow. “I don’t see a ring on her finger, so you get lost buddy. I heard her say you dumped her. From where I stand, she’s very much single, and she invited me to sit at her table, so I think you’re the one that needs to get lost.”
“Please, stop right now,” I tell them. “I’m not a toy you can fight over.”
“She’s mine, you asshole,” Henry yells at the guy, and I know he’s ready to punch him. I’m sick of their macho attitudes, so I grab my bag, and Lexi and I get up and leave.
I kiss Lexi goodbye and head for the subway when I feel someone grab my arm. I turn around to see Henry’s angry face.
“What do you want, Henry?” I ask coldly.
He looks at me as if he’s irritated, and he’s pissing me off. “That’s no way to greet me after all this time,” he says. “I see you’ve already moved on to the next victim,” he states. “You’ve apparently already replaced me.”
I look at him, wounded. “You’re a bastard, Henry Kane. You left me, so you have no right to ask me who I’m dating. I can date ten men at the same time if I want to. I’m free,” I retort.
I see him pale, and he grabs me and kisses me angrily. It’s not a tender kiss; he’s making his claim over me. “You’re not free, and you’ll never be again. You’re mine, Lucy!”
“You said you never wanted to see me again, Henry. Go away and leave me alone. Please.”
“You’re in my heart and my mind, and I can’t forget you, Lucy. Marry me, please. You can have the May wedding of your dreams. Just put an end to this pain and suffering. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat… I can’t forget you, baby. I love you so much,” he pleads.
“Marry me,” he says again. He falls to his knees in the middle of the sidewalk and takes a small box from his pocket.
“Henry, get up. Your pride has been hurt, but you don’t want me back. You should have called.” I sigh deeply. “Henry, I love you, but you’re just proving to me that you didn’t love me at all. I haven’t met anybody else yet, but Grandma told me you went out with a girl to a benefit party last week.”
“Honey, I love you,” he says. “Only you! I took my assistant to the benefit last week. Totally platonic.”
I look at him, suspicious but relieved. “Marcia?”
“Yes, sugar. Now, do you think you could maybe make up your mind. My legs are as numb as my sex life. I think I’ll die of blue balls if you don’t take me back,” he says.
I giggle when I hear him. “I’m thinking,” I say.
“Think faster,” he says, and he opens the box, showing me the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen. It’s a big yellow diamond, and I’m sure it cost him a fortune.
“Henry, I’ll have to walk down the street with this big rock on my finger if I take you back,” I protest. “I’ll need an armed escort for it,” I say with a laugh.
“Well, baby, it’s a good thing I can afford to pay for a bodyguard and a new ring if you lose this one. Please, say yes,” he begs me.
“You hurt me, Henry. But I’ve also acted insane, so I suppose we’re even. We’ll have to get married in May or Nana will have another heart attack,” I joke.
He chuckles. “Yes, baby, whatever you want,” he says and finally gets up. He takes me in his arms and kisses me until I can no longer breathe.
“God, I missed you so much.”
“So, about this big rock… You just happened to be carrying it in your pocket?” I ask him suspiciously.
He laughs. “I’ve been carrying it with me since I bought it last week baby. Lexi told me you two are going to be in the bar when I called last week to ask for help. I’m sorry I went full caveman on you but I lost it when I saw that jerk near you.”
“Don’t ever do it again,” I chastise him.
Epilogue
Lucy
May, one year later
Nana is ecstatic that I married the man of my dreams. She’s doing a lot better, and she loves Henry now. She was really upset with him for leaving me, so he had to work a little harder to win her over.
“Oh, Lucy, you are so beautiful,” Nana says. Mom is helping me with the veil, and my father is waiting outside to walk me down the aisle. Ever since I got back with Henry, my life has dramatically changed for the better. I realize now that pursuing my career as a lawyer and going through law school made me forget how to enjoy life.
This year has passed very quickly, and Henry makes me So happy. He hired a wedding planner who helped organize the wedding. Henry and I want to have kids, so we bought a house together, and the reception will take place in a huge tent in the backyard of the house where we’ll live. I can’t imagine a better place to have our wedding.
“Where are you going for your honeymoon?” Lexi asks. She’s my maid of honor, but I try not to rub my happiness in her face. Her fiancée dumped her three weeks before their wedding last year, and she’s been single ever since.
“Europe and the Maldives. Henry jokes that we’ll have sex every day to get me pregnant,” I whisper to her and laugh.
“I heard that,” Nana yells, and Lexi and I giggle. In the last few months, her hearing has deteriorated, so she always yells at us.
“Your father is waiting for you to walk you inside, my dear. You are so beautiful,” my mother says, and she hugs me tight.
I shed a few tears when I see Henry at the altar. I can’t wait to say, “I do,” and start my life with the man I love.
Henry smiles when I reach him. He kisses me on the cheek, and the priest glares at him. I giggle.
“You look wonderful, baby,” he says. “I’m so glad you lied to your grandmother. Something good came out of it after all,” he says, and I shoot him a grin.
After the reception, Henry takes me to the airport, and there is a private jet waiting for us on the runway.
“You’ll be the newest member of the Mile-High Club in about fifteen minutes, Mrs. Kane,” he says. We board the plane, and he takes me straight to the bedroom, keeping his promise, making me his wife.
“Welcome to the Mile High Club,” he says a little later. I lazily kiss him on his shoulder and look out the window.
“Look, babe, the sunset. It’s the prettiest thing I have ever seen,” I say.
“I wholeheartedly agree, baby,” he says, and he climbs on top of me.
My eyes grow wide. “Babe, again? How can you be hard again?” I ask him.
“You can’t get pregnant from the first try,” he says. “I’ve been hard since I met you, and I’ll never get enough of you.”
I frown. “Henry, I just stopped taking my birth control. It might take a while until I’m fertile,” I tell him.
He laughs. “That’s is the best news ever. We’ll just have to try harder then. Every day,” he says.
The End.
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His Summer Curves
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My doctor ordered me to take my first vacation in five years. Sandy beach, tropical sun, Zen mind.
My Zen flies out the window the moment I see her lush curves on the beach.
She’s sassy, seductive and sexy; like an itch under my skin and I won’t stop until I make her mine.
Even if she is the competition.
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The hot jerk renting the “Presidential Suite” is the guest from hell. Rude, demanding and difficult.
It doesn’t help that he’s hotter than the sun and asking me out on a date the first time he sees me.
I want to kick him out because the “do the nasty” with me jerk came on the island to put me out of business.
So, why do my knees shake when he kisses me?
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