Megan says, “To all the guys at Hillrise, tonight is a celebration of your hard work and talent. I know you’re as proud of the Buttercup as I am, because she’s perfect. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I’d toast you with champagne, but I’m not allowed.”
She rests a hand on her belly, smiling, and everyone laughs.
My heart swells. I have to swallow a few times and take some deep breaths before I’m under control again.
Then I catch sight of the first car pulling up outside and squeeze Megan’s shoulder. She follows my gaze and claps in excitement.
“Oh! People are starting to arrive!”
“Already?” shouts Suzanne, instantly panicking. “Oh, fuck, let me make sure the caterer is ready!” She breaks from Coop and runs from the room, hands flailing, heels clacking against the floor.
“Wait for me!” shouts Megan, already following.
I pull her back by her arm and give her one final, firm kiss.
She looks up at me, breathless, happiness shining in her eyes. “I love you,” she whispers.
I bend my head to her ear. “I love you too.”
She’s gone with a laugh, spinning out of my reach. I watch as she runs from the room, hair flying, long legs flashing, ass like an apple in a pair of tight blue jeans. And I know with the same sixth sense that told me she’d be there at Cal’s Diner that night that I’ll love this woman forever. Whatever happens, she’s the true north my soul will always point to.
I’ll love her in every one of my lives.
Acknowledgments
My plan for this book, from the time I conceived the idea right up until I wrote the final chapter, was that Theo died at the end. He died in the hospital after the accident, his organs were donated, then many months later, Megan met the man who’d received Theo’s heart. Dramatic, right? But when it came time for Theo’s heart to stop beating, I couldn’t do it. My fingers just started writing the happy ending he and Megan deserved, and here we are.
I’ve always been fascinated with the topic of reincarnation. During the research for this book, I read some incredible stories about people convinced they’d led other lives. Stories of people who were drawn to certain places, had vivid, recurring dreams about things they’d never done or people they’d never known, developed unexplainable fears and odd habits after near-death experiences, or simply knew from the time they were born that they once were someone else. Many, if not most, of the world’s religions hold a belief in an afterlife at their core.
Fact or fiction, it sure makes for interesting reading. In one case, a three-year-old remembered being murdered in her past life, identified her murderer, and led police to the location of her former body.
The poor kid.
Thank you to my editor, Linda Ingmanson, for catching all my mistakes. Thank you to Teri Clark Linden for doing such a fabulous job bringing Megan, Theo, and friends to life. Thanks to Jay for helping me through the rough spots in the manuscript, and for not laughing (too hard) when I cried over my imaginary friends. Thanks to Najla Qamber for her beautiful cover design. Thank you to all the bloggers and reviewers who have been so supportive of my work.
And thank you to all my readers, for whom I’m incredibly grateful.
If we never meet in this life, perhaps we’ll meet in the next.
About the Author
J. T. Geissinger writes smart, edgy love stories with bad boys, strong women, and sex that will fog your Kindle. Her fifteen published novels span several romance genres, including contemporary, paranormal, romantic suspense, and romantic comedy.
She is the recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and is a two-time finalist for the RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America®, in both the paranormal and contemporary categories. Her work has also finaled in the Booksellers’ Best, National Readers’ Choice, and Daphne du Maurier Awards.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and her deaf/demented rescue kitty, Ginger.
If you enjoy J.T.’s novels, please subscribe to her monthly newsletter to get updates on new releases and participate in the monthly giveaways only for subscribers. (You can also text LOVESTORY to 66866 to join.)
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www.jtgeissinger.com
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