He ended the call and removed his ear piece and set it down on his desk before making his way towards me. His gaze had once again changed as he got closer to me, morphing from the beautiful shade of grey to the devilish black which told me only one thing: he was ready to pounce.
“How’s Daddy?” I asked as he stopped a step away from me.
“Good. Your mother is apparently driving him insane with all the talk of her grandbaby and she’s been decorating the nursery nonstop for the last couple of days. I think it’s safe to say she’s excited.”
“I’m glad someone is.” I sighed as he took the final step between us and placed his palms on my bulging belly. “I’m so damn tired.”
“Well, you were stubborn and decided against staying home for the last three weeks.” He rubbed slow circles over my bump.
“I couldn’t just leave everyone high and dry. There’s still so much to do.” I groaned, thinking about the workload I had waiting for me in the office.
“Yeah, like finally deciding on a name.” He rolled his eyes.
Yup, baby Black didn’t have a name. With us both being so damn stubborn, neither of us could decide on a name. We still argued daily about which name was best.
“Shut up and kiss me.” I threw my arms around his neck, realizing how little time we had before I needed to get back to the office.
“My pleasure, princess.” He smirked before pressing his lips against mine softly.
I groaned as he tentatively ran his tongue along my lips, frustrated with how he treated me like glass now that I was pregnant.
“Damn it, Gabriel! I won’t break,” I muttered against his lips before my eyes quickly widened with shock, a popping sensation gripping my attention. “Uh, Gabriel?”
I pulled back from Gabriel’s embrace to look down at my feet. The first time I had fluid running down my leg and it wasn't an effect from my husband. My little girl decided now, of all moments, was the time she was to make an appearance.
“Holy fuck,” Gabriel whispered, his gaze locked on to my water STILL leaking all over his office floor. “We need to get you to the hospital right now.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him. No longer was he the calm and collected man I’d married. Nope, Gabriel Black of Black Enterprises was running around his office like a mad man trying to collect everything he thought he needed before running out the door, leaving me standing in amniotic fluid.
“Gabriel!” I yelled, turning towards the open door where his head poked around.
“Yeah?” He panted, out of breath from his frenzy.
“Forget something?” I asked. He looked down at everything he was carrying, his brows furrowed.
“Cell. Keys. Wallet… No, I think I ha—” He paused, as I pointed to myself. “Oh, right. You should probably come with me.”
I chuckled as he guided me out of his office and yelled over to Rebecca before we stepped into the elevator, “We’re having a baby!”
I was literally crying with laughter by the time we’d gotten out of the elevator at the twentieth floor where Black Enterprises PR was. It was so out of character for Gabriel to be so… excited, flustered and energetic. But the moment we walked into my office, the first contraction struck and I was no longer laughing at Gabriel. Instead I clung to his hand for dear life as I panted through the pain.
“God damn it,” we groaned at the same time but were both chuckling once the pain had subsided.
“You’re back early.” Kylie said as she came into my line of vision. “Everything okay? Oh, hey, hubby. What are you doing down he…re. Shit, is it time?”
Kylie’s shocked expression had me rolling my eyes.
“Yes, Kylie. I think the puddle in Gabriel’s office is testament of the timeframe here. Call Quinn and tell him to get his fabulous, jetlagged ass to the hospital, your goddaughter has decided to wait for her godfather to land to make her appearance.”
Shortly after that, the commotion started. My husband panicked, I panted as the pain started up and Kylie flew around like a freaking bird, all while we made our way out of the building and into the town car waiting for us. Leo, who was usually silent, also went into panic mode.
Not long after arriving at the hospital, Quinn finally showed up, his suitcases still attached to him. Twelve long hours later, Cassy May Black entered the world.
“I love you,” Gabriel whispered as he cradled our daughter in his arms, tears rolling down his cheeks.
“I love you too.”
“How’s this for a happily ever after?” he asked, placing a kiss on my head as he handed me our daughter.
“This isn’t our happily ever after, just another amazing chapter in our story.” I smiled as I placed a tender kiss on Cassy’s forehead.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your life to read this book! I hope you were thoroughly entertained and enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
If you have any extra time, PLEASE leave a review on Amazon or goodreads, alternatively you can send me an email ([email protected]) so I can personally thank you.
I’m forever grateful for each and every one of you who read the words I put down onto the page, and I hope to be re-invited to your bookshelf with my next release.
Dream big, aim high.
Much love,
S.K. Hartley
To my husband and Little Dude – Thank you so much for your continued support and encouragement, even when I was locked away in the writing cave, you still stood by me and pushed me to turn my dream into a reality. I love you.
To my editor, Jenn – (Who is no doubt reading this right now) Thank you for putting up with my stupid tense issues, my overuse of comma’s, and my ridiculous addiction for over expressive adjectives. Thank you for being a friend and my awesome editor and supporting me with each of my manuscripts.
To Judi, my PA/Publicist & friend – Thank you for being so amazingly awesome, especially during a crisis. You’re an awesome friend and I love you for those virtual flying flip-flops you sent my way over the last couple of months with this manuscript.
To Kiki, my Publicist & friend - Without you, Once Upon A Time would never have gotten the kind of exposure I only dreamed of. Thank you for helping me smash some of my goals and for being an awesome friend when I just needed to chat.
To Cassy Roop, an amazing writer, friend and formatter! – Thank you so much for agreeing to format Once Upon A Time, I’m so grateful and honoured you’re designing the internal layout of it. Thank you for being an amazing shoulder to lean on as a friend and fellow author.
To Concierge Literary Promotions - The women who deal with the madness. Thank you for keeping me sane and giving this novel your full support from conception. You’ve truly made this writing journey much smoother.
To Harper Sloan, the unofficial Brit – Thank you for all of the support on Once Upon A Time and all the things in between. You truly are one amazing woman with such an incredible mind. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of Locke and for being able to say, “I told you so.” when he hit the NYT!
To Tara Sivec, a truly amazing woman - Thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to read this. You were the first person who came to mind when I started writing this. You’re an amazing writer and I’m so grateful to you.
To Lyra Parish, my Harry Potter sister - Not only do you understand my obsession with all things HP but you also inspire me with your words. The moment I saw teasers for Weak For Him, I instantly fell in love and knew I needed to read your work. Thank you for being a constant source of awesomeness!
To R.S. Grey - You may not know it but Scoring Wilder inspired me to write Once Upon A Time, allowing me to tap into my sarcasm and put it down on paper. You may never see this but know that you inspire me, my writing and my career.
To some of the most awesome people, some of who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and others I am yet to meet but love like crazy – JB Salsbury;
K. Bromberg; Katy Evans; Tijan; R.S. Grey; Rachel Van Dyken; Kirsty Moseley; Chelle Bliss; Kitty French; Aleatha Romig; Alessandra Torre; Cassy Roop; Teresa Mummert; B.A. Wolfe; Ker Dukey and K. Langston. You all inspire me every day, inspire me to be a better writer and an all-round better person.
To the blogs that work tirelessly to promote their authors – Eyecandy Book Store; ; Vilma’s Book Blog; Swoon Worthy Books; The Rockstars of Romance; Schmexy Girl Book Blog; Love N. Books; Natasha Is A Book Junkie; Kelly's Kindle Konfessions and so many more! Thank you for the work that you do, you’re all rockstars!
To my Heartbreakers – Thank you for supporting me. Your belief and support mean the absolute world. Thank you for being so awesome!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S.K. Hartley is a wife and mother to an oil soaked husband and a tomato sauce covered son by day, by night an International Bestselling Author who's first novel, Finding You, quickly shot up the charts in fall 2013, winning blog awards for the tear inducing writing and breath catching ending.
Since releasing her first novel, she then went on to release two more books in the series, Finding Me & Finding Us, proving that New Adult is vastly popular among readers and writers a like.
Located in the not so sunny North West of England, UK, S.K. Hartley deals with daily battles against Microsoft Office Word translations. Working as a British author who writes in American English is a challenge that's both frustrating and fulfilling.
When she's not doing all the above, S.K. Hartley spends the rest of her time interacting with her readers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and also via her newsletter.
Follow S.K. Hartley!
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