I was even starting to write. Just a little bit, but that was enough to make me feel happier.
Of course, I’d kept this to myself. I hadn’t even told Pru. I didn’t want anyone to know in case I failed. I would tell the world once I was certain that it was something I was good at, something I could actually succeed with. But I still had it all the same.
As we walked along, we chatted effortlessly, making me wonder why we’d wasted so much of our lives at one another’s throats. It was so silly looking back now.
But by the time we arrived at the restaurant, I couldn’t help but notice that Pru was acting increasingly weird.
“Okay, what’s up?” I eventually asked. “Do you have a new boyfriend or something?” I was suspicious; there was definitely something on her mind.
“No, of course not!” she exclaimed, far too dramatically. “There’s nothing.”
I stared at her for a few seconds, trying to make her crack, but she refused to meet my eye. In the end, I turned my attention back to the menu, deciding that she could tell me in her own time.
If she had someone, then I was happy for her.
“Okay,” she finally conceded. “I’ll tell you…”
But before she could get her sentence out, a familiar masculine voice broke out, grabbing our attention. “Bella?” he asked.
I turned to face him, taking in a sharp breath at the sight of him. It was amazing how deeply he could affect me, even now after I thought I’d begun to move on. He was just so damn gorgeous; he was almost painful to look at.
“Enrico?” I gasped, shooting Pru a look. Her guilty expression told me that this was what she’d been going to say, that she knew about this and was a part of it. “What’s going on?”
“I have something for you.” He smiled at me, sending my heart fluttering wildly. That smile would always get me, no matter how much I hated him.
He handed me a piece of paper, and as my eyes fell to it, my entire foundation shook. It was the painting of me, the one that he’d done all those weeks ago, finished, and it was beautiful.
All the arguments that I’d stored up for this exact moment, fell off my lips as I gazed at his work.
“Wow,” I finally said. “I love it.”
He’d captured something gorgeous in me, something cute and vulnerable, something I hadn’t even known was within me. It was the exact way that I wanted him to see me, and I couldn’t believe that he did.
It was almost too much.
Tears sprung up in my eyes, which I tried to blink away, but unfortunately this made them start to spill out.
“Bella?” he asked again, drawing my attention back to him. This time, when I went to meet his eyes, he was on one knee on the ground in front of me.
“Oh my…” I threw my hands over my mouth in shock.
I glanced over to Pru, looking for some help, but she was nodding enthusiastically at me. I could see in her eyes that she was trying to communicate with me that this was right. That it didn’t matter that it was quick, or that things had gotten messed up, and from her that was hugely important. She knew more about love than anyone I knew, and if she felt it was right… and if deep inside I knew that it was right, then it was probably right.
“Bella,” Enrico started once more. “We’ve been through more than most, and we’ll go through lots in the future I’m sure. But we’re strong. Together we’re strong, and I believe that we can do it.” He sent me a teary grin, and I felt my cheeks growing increasingly wet. “I think we can make each other better people. I think we can give each other the world. So I guess what I’m asking is will you make me the happiest man alive? Will you be my wife?”
His words touched me deeply inside, and I could feel myself melting. “Yes,” I gasped. “Of course I will.”
Then he picked me up and spun me around as we all broke out in a mini celebration.
*****
Epilogue
Enrico
One year later…
To say that our journey had been difficult was a massive understatement. Bella’s parents were angry that we’d eloped, my dad was furious that I didn’t want the business, and because of that we’d faced all kinds of financial struggles… but we were getting there.
Together.
“When are we meeting Pru and Brian?” I asked her from the other room in our tiny apartment.
A lot of things had changed for all of us. Pru had finally found the true love of her life, I had gained some success with my art career, and Bella had received a five book publishing contract for her romance series that was loosely based on us and all that had happened.
We were getting there, slowly but surely.
“In an hour or so,” she called back, causing me to hop up from the sofa where I was sitting to go and join her.
“That gives us plenty of time…” I strolled up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and placing kisses down her neck.
“Oh yeah?” she replied, rolling her head to one side. “For what?”
“For more baby making.” I murmured against her skin. We’d decided to start our own family a little while ago, and we’d been doing plenty of trying ever since!
She spun around to face me, pulling me in for a deep and passionate kiss. I immediately picked her up, wrapping her legs around me so that she could get a good feel of just how excited she made me. Even after a year of marriage, the honeymoon phase hadn’t passed. I still wanted her just as much as I did on that very first day.
“Oh God, you feel good,” she groaned against my lips, showing me that she felt just the same way about me.
That was enough to make me toss her backwards on the bed, before hovering over her.
“I love you, you know,” I said seriously. I wanted to tell her every single day, I never wanted her to forget how deeply I felt for her. After such a confusing road to get here, I needed her to really understand that I’d always be there, no matter what.
“I love you too,” she smiled sincerely.
Then, I began tugging at her clothes, needing her naked, and she was pulling at the material covering me too, just as needy.
As I plunged into her, and I watched her arch her back in pleasure, I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, she was the most beautiful woman on the entire planet. And she wanted me.
“Enrico?” she panted beneath me as I moved. “I have something to tell you.”
“What?” I moaned, wondering if this was essential to tell me right now, right in this moment, just as I was getting into it.
“I did a test today. I’m already pregnant,” she announced, with an excited edge to her voice.
“What?” I screeched, stopping what I was doing. “Are you serious?”
She flushed eagerly and nodded beneath me. “I’m serious. Our family is going to be complete at least.”
“Oh my God.” I pulled her tightly in for a hug. “That’s amazing. Just think… all from that one date…”
And then we burst into laughter, remembering the bizarre way that we’d met, and all that it had led to.
“To the future.” I smiled and kissed her.
“To the future,” she replied.
THE END
Bonus Story 42 of 50
Her Twin Billionaires
Prologue
Sawyer Bay was one of the most popular places to visit in South Carolina. It was a great place. Bailey Whitehall thought everyone should spend their childhood in Sawyer Bay, like she did. Whenever she looked back, it was like a golden time. She’d had the best school, the best church and youth group, and, most importantly, the best friends she could ever hope for: The Nelson twins.
Her mother had worked for the twins’ family at the large resort right on the coast. What had started as a little bed and breakfast became the crown jewel of Sawyer Bay in only a few years’ time, and the Nelsons became wealthy.
In time, the Nelsons purchased more land to expand and made good investments so that eventually they had set themselves up w
ith a fortune that most Sawyer Bay people could only dream of. Still, the Nelsons were not ones to throw away their family roots or southern ties, so even though they got wealthier, the Nelsons remained close to the Whitehalls. Bailey was close friends with the Nelson twins, Andrew and Jacob, all through childhood.
The three friends were near inseparable. Many even believed that Bailey was some sort of illegitimate daughter, as you rarely ever saw the boys without her. It was like that all through elementary school, middle school and high school. However, like all things, it was not meant to last.
It was the evening of their graduation. The Nelsons took the liberty of throwing a huge party for the twins and nearly half the town had shown up to wish them well. Naturally, a party for the twins meant a party for Bailey. Her mother didn’t want the Nelsons to go through the trouble, but Frank Nelson, the boys’ father, assured her that Bailey was like their daughter and that he insisted on spoiling her as much as he could before she went off to college.
The party was starting to wind down late that night and the kids were settled in a gazebo that looked out at the ocean. They all enjoying various sodas as they talked about their high school careers.
“I tell you what, I am not going to miss Spanish class with Senora Klien!” cried Jacob. “I swear, if I have to see her again…” Bailey and Andrew laughed.
“Oh shut up!” said Andrew playfully. “You spent most of your time sleeping in her class. That’s why you had to take your final exam. Don’t blame her for your mistakes.”
“He has a point,” said Bailey. “You really did almost screw yourself over.”
Andrew snorted. “That’s not the half of it,” he said. “Dad threatened to make him stay here and work at the resort for a year if he didn’t graduate with honors.”
Jacob shrugged his shoulders as he took a swig of soda. “So what?” he said. “I don’t need to know Spanish anyway. Absolute waste of my time.”
Andrew and Bailey looked at each other knowingly as they drank. The three sat in silence as the waves crashed a few feet away.
“So this is it,” she said. “The last gazebo night.”
Andrew sighed. “Don’t say it like that, Bails,” he said. “We all agreed that we’ll come back here every summer.” Bailey smiled and nodded, but she just wasn’t sure. Unlike Jacob and Andrew, who both were able to go to prestigious colleges, Bailey would be going to a small private school that her mother could barely afford.
Her father had walked out on them when she was only two and it was only through the grace of God, hard work, and the support from the Nelsons that kept her family going. While the boys would probably be learning the family business, Bailey knew her summers would be spent working at least two jobs to help her mom out.
“Just promise you guys will email me when you are in New York,” she said. “And that we’ll text, like, every day!”
Andrew smirked. “So keep things business as usual,” he said. Jacob laughed as he moved over to sit next to Bailey. He wrapped his arm around her and brought her close to him.
“Bailey, please!” he said. “You know as well as I do that we’ll be flying you up to the city to party with us every break we get!” Bailey giggled. That was pure Jacob. He always wanted the group to be happy even when the situation seemed grim. Andrew was definitely the realist of the two. Still, he cared about Bailey enough to know that she meant a lot to both of the boys and their lives. He held up his cup.
“Let’s have a toast,” said Andrew. “To eighteen years of friendship and many more to come.”
“Cheers to that, little brother,” said Jacob, as he and Bailey crashed their cups with his. Andrew rolled his eyes.
“We’re the same age stupid,” he said. “And don’t give me that whole ‘I was the first one out’ stuff!” The three broke out into a raucous laugh as they enjoyed what would indeed be their final night together for a long time.
*****
Jacob leaned over the balcony of his room in the hotel and smelled the fresh air of the early morning. He loved waking up to this view every morning and wouldn’t trade it for the world. He loved the cool breeze that would hit his skin, and smell of fresh air mixed with salt. It was especially nice when he could hear the soft whimper of a female companion from the previous night stirring from sleep.
It had been ten years since that night in the gazebo and life had not gone exactly as they planned.
Jacob had quit school after his first semester. While his grades were fine, Jacob could never grasp the reason for being at college. He and his brother were in line to inherit the family’s fortune one day, so what was the point of studying? While his father was disappointed in him, he was going to make sure that his son understood the value of hard work. The day he returned home was the day that he became an employee of his father and mother. He would work from the ground up until the day came when he would inherit. If he couldn’t learn from being in college, his father would teach him with a little on the job training.
Andrew disapproved, but Jacob did not care. He thought Andrew was just jealous that their father actually allowed him to drop out, while Andrew remained in New York studying business. Part of him believed that Andrew didn’t want to inherit the resort, since he’d received an internship from a firm in the city which transformed into a job. That was fine with Jacob. He loved the resort with all his heart and if this was to be his life, then he was truly blessed.
“Jacob?” called the woman from his bed. He smiled as he turned around to see her wiping sleep from her eyes. It was no secret that he was a bit of a player around the town, but that did not hinder him from bedding a girl every other night.
Jacob had picked up Nikki at a new dance club that Jacob had put money into. It was his way of showing that he did have some business savvy. The club was still new, but quite successful, and it allowed Jacob access to the many beautiful women who went there.
Nikki fastened the front clasp of her bra before putting on her silk panties. Jacob just leaned against the railing and smiled at her. She smiled back and blushed a little. Jacob thought she was very cute, and the things she could do in bed were more than exceptional. He knew he would have to invite her over again very soon.
No sooner had she found her pants, there was a knock at the door. Jacob was shaken from his reverie. He looked towards the door. No one was up this early besides his parents and a few workers; neither of whom would knock on his door to see if he was awake. Nikki put on her pants quickly as Jacob passed her.
“Relax,” he said. “I’m sure it’s nothing.” However, when he opened the door he realized that he could not be more wrong. Standing in his doorway in a shirt and tie was his twin brother, Andrew. Jacob smiled.
“What a surprise!” he said cheerfully. Andrew, however, did not look pleased to see him. He entered the room as Nikki finished putting on her top.
“New girlfriend?” he asked, annoyed. Jacob kept his smile up, but he knew he was in for it.
“Andrew,” he said. “We just saw each other after a very long time apart. Let’s not say anything we’ll regret this time.” Andrew looked back at Jacob and then at Nikki.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you…”
“Nikki!” she blurted out. Andrew smiled.
“Nikki. Nice to meet you,” he said. “Could I ask you to leave my brother’s room so I can promptly kick his ass for using our parents’ hotel like his own personal brothel?”
Nikki looked at Andrew disgusted as she stormed out of the room.
“See you around, Jacob,” she said furiously. Jacob tried to stop her, but she wrenched her arm away as she stormed out. Jacob sighed.
“Nice job,” he said flatly as he closed the door. “What are you doing here Andrew?”
Andrew snorted. “Figures you’d forget its Dad’s birthday this weekend,” he said. “I’m just here to celebrate.”
Jacob laughed. “You’re here to remind him who should be next in line to inherit,” h
e said.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Andrew said. “I forgot, that’s your job isn’t it? Isn’t that why you dropped out of school, so that you could claim something before your own father passed away?” Andrew looked at his brother in disgust.
Jacob put up his hands in mock surrender. “You broke the world record for starting up shit! I think that’s your best time yet!”
“Don’t try to play the victim, Jacob!” he cried. “You always do that and that’s the only reason you still live here; Mom and Dad feel sorry for you.”
Jacob hit his chest. “Wow bro,” he said. “That hit me. Right here.”
Andrew threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know why I just didn’t tell Ma that I couldn’t make it this weekend,” he said. “I told her that all that would to happen was that you would just piss me, off and sure enough you managed to do just that.” Andrew pushed past Jacob out the door.
“Then what the fuck did you come up here for?” he asked.
“It’s breakfast time, dumb ass!” he cried. “Put a shirt on and get downstairs to the kitchen!”
Jacob watched as his brother went downstairs. He knew he would not be able to control himself if he went down there now. Over the past few years, the bond between the twin brothers had weakened. The two wanted nothing to do with each other, but everything to do with the resort and the town. Jacob went to his nightstand and grabbed a cigarette and his lighter. He almost never smoked before breakfast, but he could tell that it was already turning into one of those days.
***
In all her years of living there and thinking it was the best place, Bailey knew it was only the Nelson twins that made it so. They were her best friends and without them, Sawyer Bay just didn’t feel quite like home. When she moved to go to school, her mother sold their old place in favor of a one-bedroom apartment. That meant that Bailey would have to truly be on her own while away at school in Georgia. She didn’t mind it, however. She grew to like her fresh new life. For the first time, she had female friends whom she could hang out with, and who understood her. They were not quite as entertaining as Jacob, but she appreciated the company nonetheless.
Pregnant to an Alien King Box Set Page 162
