Her fear melted away little by little. He was right. They were both so strong, they’d always held each other up and she knew going into a deeper relationship would be no different.
“So do we get the ring back on this finger?” he asked.
Josie nodded. “Yes. Let’s go back to your house since your family is waiting on you.”
“Our family,” he corrected. “They’re our family now, Jo, because you’re mine.”
Epilogue
Six months seemed like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things regarding legal doings and commercial sales, it was lightning fast.
Reese smiled. Lockwood Lightning was now officially under new ownership. Sam, Nick and Reese were in the moonshine business.
“This has been a hell of a ride,” Nick stated as he poured five glasses of moonshine and one glass of apple cider for his very pregnant fiancée.
The guys had signed papers yesterday and this morning they were making things official. Rusty had been so strapped for cash between the embezzlement, the lawyer fees and back taxes he’d “forgotten” that he’d had no choice but to sell. The guys offered more than anyone else would have and now they were all starting this new chapter as one unit.
“I’m glad I could be part of it,” Reese said, sliding his arm around Josie’s waist.
Since that day she’d come home with him six months ago, she hadn’t left. She’d sent for her things, moved in and they were officially planning a wedding. The weekly blogs were getting to be exhausting, but she was loving every minute of it and he wanted nothing more than to see her happy.
Nick doled out all of the glasses as they stood in a circle in the main tasting area of Lockwood Lightning.
“To new beginnings,” Sam declared as he raised his tumbler. “This is just the start of a new dynasty.”
“And with the resort opening in a few weeks, we are slowly taking over Tennessee,” Nick added.
“I’ll drink to that,” Sam laughed.
Silvia gasped. “Oh, no.”
Everyone turned to see her holding her side.
“I think I’m having a contraction.” She grimaced. “I mean, I think I’ve had them all morning, but this one seems strong.”
“All morning?” Nick asked. “And you’re just now telling me?”
She scrunched her face and handed over her glass. Josie quickly reached for it before it dropped.
“I knew this was such an important moment for you guys,” she defended. “But I’m pretty sure I need to get to the hospital.”
Reese nodded. “Go. We’ll take care of things here.”
Nick ushered Silvia out the door and Reese turned, catching Josie’s eye. She smiled and something he didn’t quite recognize glinted in her eye.
She tipped back the cider that had been Silvia’s and handed him her moonshine.
“You might want to do another toast to new beginnings,” she told him. “And I’ll take another cider.”
Her statement, her actions, finally hit him.
“Jo?”
Her smile widened and she nodded. “About ten weeks now.”
“Ten weeks?”
“Surprise,” she exclaimed.
Maty laughed and turned to Sam. “Don’t look at me. I have no news, but I wouldn’t mind getting a puppy.”
“Deal,” Sam agreed.
Reese took the empty glass from Josie and handed it to Sam. He pulled her against him and couldn’t help the tears that clogged his throat. All these years he’d thought about a family, but never knew where to start.
Now he knew.
The woman he’d been waiting for had been in his life for so long. She’d agreed to marry him for real six months ago and now they were going to start a family. Nothing could have made him happier.
“I love you,” he whispered into her ear.
“I love you, baby.” She held on to him and he thought he heard a little sniff. “We’re going to kill this parenting gig.”
He eased back. “We are,” he agreed. “But can we not tell your editor? I’m afraid of what she’ll have us do next for the magazine.”
Josie eased back, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she smiled. “We’ll hold her off as long as possible.”
Good, because Reese needed his family all to himself for now. He’d waited a long time and he finally had everything he’d ever wanted.
* * *
Meet all of the Lockwood Lightning brothers!
An Unexpected Scandal
Scandalous Reunion
Scandalous Engagement
Keep reading for an excerpt from Back in His Ex’s Bed by Joss Wood.
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Back in His Ex’s Bed
by Joss Wood
One
Beah Jenkinson exited the black taxi at the swanky entrance to Claridge’s, grateful for her long vintage cashmere coat. Ignoring the light drizzle, she paid her fare, tucked her designer clutch bag under her arm and sucked in a deep breath.
She could do this; she had to do this...
It was only dinner with one of the most important and elusive art collectors in the world.
And her ex-brother-in-law Carrick.
And her ex-husband, Finn.
Who also happened to be two of her three bosses. Not a big deal.
Liar. It was such a big deal...
“Good evening, madam.”
Beah returned the black-frocked doorman’s greeting with a distracted smile and walked through the doors and into the lobby of the impressive hotel. Allowing her coat to swing open, she resisted the urge to turn and check her reflection in the glass doors, to reassure herself that her off-one-shoulder, tight-fitting cobalt blue cocktail dress with its ruffled hem was suitable.
She knew she looked fine; she always did, and her dress was a perfect combination of business chic and dinner sexy. As per usual, she’d pulled her Orphan Annie curls into a tight chignon and she’d covered her much-hated freckles with expertly applied makeup.
She was thirty years old and looked like what she was, a woman confident in her body and her looks. She had an amazing career, a wonderful life. It was only when she was faced with meeting Finn Murphy that she felt like the insecure, clingy, desperate-to-be-loved young woman she’d been nine years ago.
So annoying.
Needing a minute to regulate her breathing, to slow down her over-fast heart rate, Beah ducked into the plush ladies’ room and sat on the edge of a velvet-covered stool, staring down at her classic nude heels.
Resting her head against the wall, Beah closed her eyes.
You can do this, Jenkinson. It’s just business.
Needing reassurance, Beah pulled her phone out of her clutch bag and hit one on her speed dial. It was early afternoon in Boston, but if she was lucky, her best friend would answer her call. Beah held her breath as the phone rang. And rang. Dammit, Keely was busy; she wouldn’t be able to talk Beah down from this ledge.
“Hi, Bee.”
Beah’s heart settled as air flowed into her lungs. Keely’s voice, as it always did, steadied her, made her feel connected. She’d met the small blonde through the Murphy brothers and they’d instantly clicked. When Beah and Finn announced their divorce, Keely had rocked up on her doorstep with wine, pizza, chocolates and open arms.
“Why are you here?” Beah had asked her, tears streaming down her face. “I thought the Murphys gained custody of you in the divorce.”
“Finn has his brothers. You need someone.
”
That’s what Keely had told her as she swept into her life. Although they lived on either side of the Atlantic Ocean these days, they were as close today as they’d ever been.
“Bee? Talk to me, honey.”
Beah straightened, leaned back into the chair and tipped her face up to look at the molded ceiling. “I’m sitting in the ladies’ room at Claridge’s.”
Keely waited for a beat. “Would you like to tell me why?”
Beah turned her head to the right, saw her reflection in the massive mirror and wrinkled her nose. She looked as pale as a ghost. “I’m about to have a working dinner with Finn, Carrick and Paris Cummings.”
“Ah. Are you feeling nervous?”
Not exactly. “Off-balance, maybe. I’m good at my job, Keely, and I meet clients all the time. And I speak to Carrick and Ronan a few times a week. Finn...”
“Finn what?” Keely asked, sounding amused.
“Finn—”
“Hold on a sec, Bee. My PA has a question...”
It was a temporary reprieve, but it gave Beah time to think. Memories tumbled as Beah waited for Keely to return her attention to their conversation. She’d been twenty-one and had left London for New York, excited to work in a new city. With honors degrees in both economics and fine art, she secured an internship at Murphy International—a world-renowned art auction house. Within days, she’d she met the brilliant, terribly sexy Finn Murphy, a stunning combination of geeky nerd and sexy jock.
A few months later she’d hurtled into marriage with the youngest Murphy brother, hauling along a cruise liner’s worth of baggage, all rational thought doused by their hectic sexual attraction.
Like moths to a flame, rivers flowing to the sea and stars burning out, her landing in Finn’s arms and in his bed had been inevitable.
Beah was terrified that on meeting him face-to-face again, history might repeat itself.
Since their divorce they’d both made a silent but concerted effort to avoid each other, even though they both still worked for Murphy International. Living on two different continents helped, and on the few occasions she’d needed Finn’s expert opinion on a painting or an objet d’art, she sent him detailed photographs or, if that didn’t suffice, he met the client on his own.
They’d made avoiding each other into an art form.
“Look, I know you can’t possibly be nervous about having a business meeting because you’re nothing like the girl you used to be,” Keely said, returning to their conversation. “You’re head of acquisitions, responsible for advising Murphy’s rich clients on their collections, about what they could acquire and what they should dispose of. You’re smart, funny and gorgeous.”
This was why every woman needed a best friend, someone to shore up her defenses when the cracks started to show. “You need to remember how far you’ve come, what amazing things you’ve done, Bee.”
Beah closed her eyes, happy to let her friend talk.
“You walked out of your marriage and soon afterward you moved back to London, joining Murphy’s UK office. You worked your tail off, clawing your way up the ladder to become one of the most powerful people in the organization. Murphy’s is lucky to have you, Bee, and that’s why they pay you the very big bucks, because they know your clients are loyal to you and will walk if you walk. Hell, you could open your own art consulting company right now and you’d have a list of wealthy clients as long as your arm.”
Yeah, about that...
“Um, actually, that reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Beah said, and asked Keely to switch to FaceTime. When Keely’s face appeared on her screen, she smiled at her brown-eyed, blond-haired friend. “There you are...”
Keely waved her words away, eyes bright with curiosity. “What? Have you met someone?”
Beah rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time to date.”
“No, you don’t make time to date because you use your busy work schedule as a shield. You think that if you keep busy, you won’t have time to feel anything for anyone.”
Okay, a bit too close to the truth. And not something she wanted to think about right now... “Do you want to hear this or not?” Beah demanded.
Keely handed her that patented, I’m-so-smart smirk. “Sure, go for it. But we will revisit this topic at a later date.”
Not if Beah could help it.
“Michael Summers. Have you heard of him?” After Keely shook her head, Beah continued. “He’s a prominent art adviser, consultant and dealer. One of the most respected in the world. He has decades of experience and is an art guru...”
Beah twisted her vintage flower ring around her middle finger. “He wants to retire and he’s looking for someone to run his business, to start taking over his client list.”
“You?”
“Me.” Beah nodded. “It’s a hell of an opportunity, Keels. He’s a legend and I’m honored he wants me to join him. But...”
“But it would mean leaving Murphy’s.” Keely tapped her finger against her cheek. “Could you still work with Murphy’s or would you be persona non grata?”
Beah tasted panic in the back of her throat. Murphy’s was the only place she’d ever worked, all she knew.
Beah pushed her fear away; she was just scared of the unknown. Change was never easy and she hadn’t signed an oath in blood or a lifetime contract to work for Murphy’s.
She was allowed to move on. “Not that they ever would, but they would be stupid to blackball me because a lot of Michael’s clients purchase art from Murphy International. They’d be cutting off their nose to spite their own face.”
“And I presume Murphy’s has had other employees leave, other salespeople, nicking their clients?”
“Sure, it happens all the time.”
“And Murphy’s has survived?” Keely persisted. “So in this context, you are not thinking of yourself as an employee but as a Murphy, as Finn’s wife.”
“Ex-wife.” Beah corrected, feeling the familiar pang in her chest. She’d loved adding Finn’s surname to hers. Beah Jenkinson-Murphy felt damn right.
Had felt right.
“If you were working for any other company, would you be hesitating?” Keely demanded, as forthright as always.
“Probably not. This is a hell of an opportunity. And an even bigger commitment. If I take this position, I might be able to schedule dinner with you in, maybe, five years or so. My life will go into hyperdrive.”
“Mmm, interesting.”
Beah knew that when Keely said “interesting” in that tone of voice, she had many, many thoughts on the subject. Beah glanced at her watch and grimaced. “Condense your thoughts into two sentences, Keels, or I’m going to be late.”
“Why haven’t you jumped at Michael’s offer if it’s so amazing, Beah? I suspect it’s because you are letting your personal feelings for your ex and his family cloud your judgment, which is strange because you profess to be very over Finn Murphy.”
Beah was over him. After nine years, she had to be.
“Also, apart from the prestige of working for someone of his stature, Michael’s offer also intrigues you because you’d be so busy you wouldn’t have time to think, to feel, to date. It’d be another excuse for you not to engage in real life.”
This? Again? Beah loved Keely, she did, but her best friend was both opinionated and stubborn. And sometimes, an attack was the best defense. “And you? Are you dating?”
Keely didn’t flinch at her accusation. “This conversation is about you, not me.” Keely cleared her throat and Beah knew her next words might have the potential to sting. Keely, forthright and honest, rarely pulled her punches.
“While I hate that you, and Finn, were hurt by your divorce, it was, in many ways, good for you, Beah. You learned to stand on your own two feet, to ask for what you want, to chase down a goal. Though I someti
mes do think you’ve become a little too independent.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Let me put it this way... I worry you push people away, that you don’t allow anyone to get close.”
Because that was what Finn had done to her.
“I’m close to you,” Beah protested.
“Mostly because I push and pry and keep pounding on the door when you slam it close,” Keely replied.
Beah couldn’t argue with her.
Over the past nine years, Keely had been her North Star, her compass point, her bedrock. She didn’t need anything more than to know she was standing in her corner. Keely’s friendship was the equivalent of having her own thirty-girl squad. “I have you, Keels.”
“But as fabulous as I am,” Keely replied with asperity, “I do not have a pair of big arms, a low voice and a non-female point of view. You need love, Jenkinson, and God knows, you need sex. When did you last go on a date? And for the love of God, do not tell me the last person you had sex with was Finn Murphy,” Keely demanded.
Beah shook her head. She’d had sex since divorcing her ex. Not often and not great sex, but it still qualified. Just.
Beah glanced at her watch and grimaced. If she didn’t hustle, she would be late and she was never late. She stood up and tucked her clutch bag under her arm. It was a fantastic excuse to end this frustrating conversation. “I need to go, Keely. My bosses won’t be impressed if I’m late, and Paris Cummings hates tardiness.”
“I suppose I should know who Paris is but I don’t,” Keely said, sounding peeved.
“Art collector, old money, a property developer. Reclusive and grumpy.” Beah said, heading for the door. Paris Cummings was an art collector she’d been pursuing for years, and she had to attend this dinner and help woo the stubborn collector to their side of the fence.
And that meant sitting at the same table as her ex-husband, pretending they hadn’t spent the best part of a decade avoiding each other.
Beah blew Keely a kiss and tucked her phone back into her clutch. She placed the bag under her arm and pulled an insouciant smile onto her face.
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