by Jeannie Moon
Taking a lingering sip from her tea, her aunt curled her long legs under her. “Hmm, what does he think?”
What did he think? She wasn’t sure. “He said what everyone else says doesn’t matter. He believes in me and that the marriage is between us.”
“Very true. You shouldn’t allow a lot of extra people into a marriage. It gets too crowded.” Her aunt smiled and raised an expressive eyebrow. “So why don’t you believe him? Has he said something or done something, to make you think otherwise?”
“Well, no, but . . .”
“But nothing. This is so difficult, Jenna. Giving yourself to someone is hard. You open yourself up to all kinds of risks, physical and emotional. Why do you think I didn’t get married until I was thirty-eight? But if you love him, if the love is deep and burning in your heart, you have to trust him.”
Trust him. God, she wanted to. More than anything.
“But more than that, you have to trust yourself.”
“Trust myself? I know how I feel. I love him so much, Auntie. I don’t know how I’m going to cope if he doesn’t want me.”
“Oh, honey. There’s your problem. You’re trying to protect yourself, but there’s no way to do it and be in love with someone. You have to take a leap of faith. Otherwise there’s nothing.”
“A leap of faith? I have a lousy track record. I don’t know if I . . .”
Oh. Damn.
“Ah-ha! See what I mean. This isn’t about Nate. This, my darling, is about you. You love him, but your heart is scarred and fragile, and you’re afraid to take a chance.”
And there it was. How awful was this? In protecting her own heart, she’d hurt Nate’s. In her quest to find a relationship without risk, Jenna finally understood that there was no such thing. There would be risk each and every time. And that’s the way it was supposed to be—because without risk, there could be no reward.
The doorbell chimed and echoed through the open space of the house. “Yeesh,” her aunt said. “Who’s out in this weather?”
When she left the room, Jenna thought that it was about time she was out in the weather. It was time to be ready for whatever life threw at her.
It was time to go home.
If she still had a home with Nate. It was very possible she’d messed up the best thing in her life because she was too afraid to believe that love like this could be real.
“Excuse me.”
Jenna froze, unable to move, but her heart picked up a steady beat for the first time in days. Nate. Turning, Jenna saw the man of her dreams. Tall and handsome, his hair was ruffled from the wind and rain, but never had anyone been such a welcome sight.
Planting her feet on the floor, Jenna gripped the chair cushion on each side of her, waiting to see what he might say. Nate approached, cautiously. “I understand,” he said quietly, “that you have a position you’d like to fill.” He held up a piece of paper. “I think I qualify for the job.”
He was holding her Boyfriend List.
God, she loved him so. And she was absolutely going to let this play out.
“Please, have a seat,” she said, motioning to the ottoman right in front of her chair. He moved toward her like he was going to kiss her, but stopped just short of making contact. His scent, his heat, filled the air around her.
Nate opened the list, and cleared his throat. “Now this says it’s a Boyfriend List, but I think I’d rather apply for the higher-level position of ‘husband.’”
“Skipping right over fiancé?” she asked.
“I think engagements are fine, but I don’t think being a fiancé is a prerequisite for the husband position.”
“Fair enough,” she choked out as she contemplated how lucky she was. “Please continue.”
He cleared his throat and straightened up, playing the part. She loved him so much. Jenna knew she should be begging him to take her back, and here he was, giving her all the control. Trying to make all her dreams come true.
“The first item is that I must be good-looking. I can tell you my mother is willing to vouch for me. She says I’m adorable.”
Jenna giggled, but the tears were already running down her face. He was amazing, and he was adorable. No doubt. How did she ever leave him?
“Number two is that I shouldn’t be a quitter. I don’t believe in giving up. It’s not in my nature. I will fight for what I want and for the people I love.”
Just like he was fighting for her at that very moment.
“That’s admirable,” she nodded. “Go on, please.”
“I should be protective . . . I will be. Until my last breath.” He paused, getting a little choked up himself. He’d put a lot on the line for her, including relationships that meant the world to him. That’s something that had to be fixed, but right now, Jenna was too in awe of the man she married.
“Sweet. Hmm.” He seemed to be pondering whether he qualified as sweet. “Do you prefer flowers or candy?”
“Puppies.” She grinned. She’d always wanted a dog.
“Oh, puppies?” He grinned. “I can do that. Puppies.”
He cleared his throat and continued. “Funny could be a weak spot, because my humor tends to be a bit dry, but I’m able to laugh at myself.”
Jenna grinned. Her heart was so full, it was taking all she had not to jump in his arms.
“Now, the next two seem to go together, that I like to hold hands and that I’m romantic.” He took her hand in his, and the contact was magic. “I love holding hands, but we have to fit.” Looking at their joined hands, he seemed satisfied. “It seems we do.”
He glanced at the list again. “I am athletic. I love physical activity.”
Jenna felt herself blush and Nate winked.
“I think this is going well,” he said hopefully. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“No. Go on. I’m very impressed so far.”
He smiled, and Jenna’s heart kicked into overdrive. “I am honest and I do stand up for what I believe in. I will never lie, and you have to know I will be loyal to the end.”
He stood. “Now, the next one requires a demonstration.”
“What?” Jenna forgot what was next until Nate hauled her up and grasped her head between his warm, strong hands. “According to your list, I need to kiss like I know what I’m doing. Here goes.”
The touch of his lips was gentle at first, warm, soft, sweet. He moved ever so slightly from one side to the other, creating a little heat and friction, letting the sensation build. Teasing her mouth open, their tongues touched and the fire consumed them. The kiss went on like only the best kisses do, with gentle touches, caresses, and the promise of all it could be. His hands went into her hair, hers went to his face, and Jenna knew there was no one else for her.
“You do that very well. I don’t know that anyone will ever be able to . . .”
He stopped her. “No one had better try,” he ground out. “Jenna, I do think you’re beautiful, and there’s no time or place when you’re more or less, you just are. I will tell you all my secrets for the rest of my days.” He dropped his head, coming so close they almost bumped noses. “I’ve missed you so much, baby.”
There was nothing in this life more precious than the love she had for this man and the child she carried inside her. The two were connected, and in all her life, Jenna had never felt more loved, protected, and cherished. Nate was everything she’d ever wanted or needed, and there was no doubt she was the same for him. And it was something she would never take for granted.
“I think there’s only one final requirement we need to discuss,” she whispered.
He nodded and locked eyes with her. And that’s when she saw it. Everything that she wanted when she was thirteen years old was converging with the rest of her life. Her heart, her soul, all of it was right there.
“I love you, Jenna. I lo
ve you with every part of me. I love you now and forever. Come home. Let’s grow our family and give each other magic forever.”
Jenna’s entire life was right there. In her arms was the man who would make her whole, and allow her to see past all the trips and stumbles she’d made before.
“I love you, too, Nate. I love you and I missed you so much.”
He held her close, and Jenna melted into the strength of his arms. They stood there in the glass room, with the rain and the river at their backs, and Jenna understood that even though there would be gray days, the light was inside the two of them.
“So,” he said. “About the job . . .”
Cupping his face in her hands, Jenna kissed him, and then kissed him again for good measure. If she’d ever felt unsure about him, ever wondered if love could be forever, she had no doubt in that moment. She would never doubt it again. “You’re hired.”
Epilogue
Nine months later
The large walnut table in the Reliance conference room had seen a lot of deals and milestones over the past few years. It was one of the first pieces of furniture Nate, Jason, and Owen bought when they actually moved their fledgling company to office space in Manhattan.
It was the one thing they brought with them to the new campus on Long Island because they’d had good luck around the table. They’d celebrated, worried, brainstormed, and made a lot of memories.
Now Nate sat there for the last time as a partner. It was time for him to do what he loved. To do what his heritage, his blood, and his heart beckoned him to do.
He was taking over Kylemore.
He’d agonized over the change. Even after the blowup in the Hamptons that day, the decision was hard to make. The nights he sat up with Jenna when she couldn’t sleep, too uncomfortable with their baby growing inside her, he thought about the kind of life he wanted for his children. The truth was, he wanted the life he had, that Jenna had. One that centered on family, around hard work, and doing what you loved.
When his father informed him that he wanted to take his mother to the Hamptons property permanently because the pace was slower and she needed to recover without the hustle and bustle of so many people all the time, he’d asked Nate to take over.
Finally, Nate had made a choice and pulled the trigger.
Owen and Jason were surprised because they thought he’d changed his mind, but neither one fought him. Their friendship of twenty years wasn’t going anywhere, and they’d made peace, settling their differences. He guessed his friends knew this change was always in his mind, even when he wasn’t talking about it. It was Owen who asked him what took him so long.
He was there today with lawyers, with his friends, with Harper, who had made the ride interesting, with the man who was taking over his position and buying a stake in the company, and with his wife and baby boy.
He signed paper after paper, relinquishing control of something he’d help build from the ground up. He thought he’d be more emotional, but the truth of it was he’d outgrown his usefulness here. Sure, he could crunch the numbers, he could manage the finances, but Reliance was poised to get bigger than they ever imagined, and they needed someone who wanted to manage something of that scope, something that large and powerful.
Tristan Wade was the perfect man for the job. The Brit’s business and finance background was, without question, exactly what the company needed. He was bold, brash, and smart. His attitude would piss off people all over the place, but he’d protect the company and grow it.
Nate was glad he was going to be a part of the company. They’d become friends through their love of horses and polo, and he knew he’d do right by people, because for all his attitude, Tris cared about people.
“This is the financial part,” one of the lawyers, he forgot which one, pushed a paper in front of him.
He was keeping a fifteen percent stake in the company and leaving with a billion-dollar cash buyout. A billion dollars.
Once the last paper was signed and the lawyers left the room, Nate set his eyes on Jason and Owen, who were on the other side of the big table. They looked shell-shocked. Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought. Owen, the big bad marine, blinked hard. “We can tear up the papers right now if you want to change your mind.”
“Excuse me,” Tristan said. “I don’t know if that’s possible anymore, mates. I signed mine, too.”
Owen glared at him. “Sure it is. I’ll just shoot you.”
Nate had to give Tristan credit, he didn’t flinch. “Is he always like that?” Tris asked.
Nate grinned. “Not usually, but I’m not changing my mind. And I’ll be around while you transition into your new position. Once Owen gets to know you, he won’t shoot you.”
Jason stood and grabbed a bottle of champagne from the cooler on the credenza behind him in spite of the early hour. He filled five flutes with champagne and one with sparkling cider for the new mom.
When everyone had a drink, Jason raised his glass. “We are going to miss you around here, buddy. But you’re doing what makes you happy. We couldn’t wish more for you.”
“Thank you.” Nate took a sip of his drink and settled his free hand between Jenna’s shoulders. He had so much to be thankful for. “How’s he doing?”
William Nathaniel Bayard was just a month old. Every time Nate looked at his baby or his wife, he couldn’t believe how lucky he was.
“He’s a champ. He’ll sleep all day and be up all night.” Jenna beamed up at him and he pulled her close. He always wanted them close.
They stayed at the campus for an hour or so, packing up his office, saying good-bye to people in his department and showing off his son. Jenna and Harper were comparing baby notes since Harper and Kevin’s baby was only a few months older than Will—two little boys who would grow up together and who would probably be best friends.
One of Nate’s assistants carried a box out to his car and Nate strapped in the baby’s safety seat. He’d traded his GranTurismo for a Mercedes SUV. It was a lot more family-friendly.
Once he and Jenna were settled in the front seats, he leaned over and kissed her. He kissed her again and again, not knowing if he was ever going to be able to stop. She finally broke the kiss, and her hand came up to touch his cheek. Sweet, gentle, loving.
Perfect.
“Are you okay with this, really?” Jenna had been worried about the change since he’d decided. She never wanted him to feel that he didn’t have a choice, that leaving Reliance was something she expected of him.
“No regrets,” he said. “If I’ve learned anything in this past year is that you can’t live wondering what if.”
“Embrace possibilities,” she said.
“Yeah. Basically I’m choosing to live the magic, the dream. With you.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s hard to believe I started this journey with the Forever Love Stories just shy of three years ago, and when I think I’ve thanked everyone, with each new book there’s someone else who has had a hand in the work becoming a finished product.
Thank you to my writing buddies, the #Fab4: Jennifer Gracen, Patty Blount, and Jolyse Barnett. I love that we’re on this journey together. To my plotting girls, and my wonderful chaptermates from CTRWA and LIRW, you guys make this ride fun.
Thank you to the team at InterMix, especially Jennifer Fisher, my lovely editor, who let me have fun with The Boyfriend List. My agent, Stephany Evans, is a constant support.
I am so fortunate to have a wonderful group of readers, and my street team, The Moonpies, are some of the nicest people in Romancelandia. Thank you, ladies, for being part of this crazy ride. To all of my readers, thank you for trusting me with your time. I love every letter, review, and comment you make about my books, and I am so very grateful to all of you for letting my stories be a part of your life. Thank you so much. Please do stay in touch and visi
t me at jeanniemoon.com
Finally, my darling husband and wonderful children keep me going and support me no matter what. You guys are my best things. I love you.
Keep reading for a preview of Leah and Tristan’s story in
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
The next Forever Love Story from Jeannie Moon
Available from InterMix in November 2015
Nothing hindered a quick getaway more than not being able to find your underwear.
Tiptoeing around the dimly lit bedroom, Leah Bayard was getting desperate. She looked all over the floor, under pieces of clothing, under the furniture. It had Leah wondering if she’d even made it to Tristan’s bedroom wearing her thong or if he’d pulled it off when they lunged at each other the minute they walked into his apartment.
No. His hands had worked their magic on her when she was shoved against the wall in his living room, but she had definitely been wearing her thong when he tossed her on his bed in a most wonderful caveman move. By then, her now missing thong was the only thing she was wearing.
The recklessness with which he pulled it off her didn’t seem to matter at the time, but now the temperature had dropped to just above freezing, and even though the wisp of black lace was probably the skimpiest thing she owned, it was better than going commando. Leah shivered at the thought, and with her hands on her hips, glanced around the room again. She’d found her bra lying on the coffee table, her dress in a puddle on the floor, and her shoes had dropped off when he’d thrown her over his shoulder . . . but where the hell was her thong?
“Looking for this, love?”
The deep voice that came from behind her filled the room with warm seduction. How did he do that? One word from Tristan Ward, and Leah was a puddle of goo. That was why she was trying to get away without waking him up. She was in a heap of trouble where Tristan was concerned. Since she’d first met him last summer, at the family July 4th barbeque, the man who was going to take her brother’s place at Reliance Software was never far from her thoughts.
