Jessie Slaymaker's Rules of Engagement (The Jessie Slaymaker Series Book 2)
Page 25
In one swift movement, Jack had a hold of Jessie’s hand and had dropped to one knee in front of her.
‘Jessie Slaymaker, you are the only woman for me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?’ he asked with a shy smile as he popped open the ring box.
Inside lay a dazzling emerald-cut diamond the size of a fingernail. It was breathtakingly beautiful and had Jessie transfixed. Jessie’s first reaction was one of pure unbridled joy. This man wanted her, warts and faults and all. And then her face clouded as she realised he probably wouldn’t be quite so keen if he knew what all her faults were.
‘No,’ Jessie blurted out, and she burst into a torrential flood of tears. She’d been fighting the waterworks for the whole trip, but in that moment she couldn’t do anything to stop the flow.
‘No!’ Jack exclaimed, unable to hide his shock. It clearly hadn’t been the response he’d been anticipating. ‘But I thought—’
‘I can’t,’ Jessie managed to interrupt through her crying.
‘Why not?’ Jack asked, a frown furrowing his brow.
‘You won’t want to marry me when you find out,’ she blubbered.
‘Find out what?’ Jack asked seriously as he raised himself to a standing position again. He was shaking her arms gently, trying to decipher what it was she was trying to say. The sombre look on his face told her he was clearly thinking the worst.
‘I’m pregnant,’ Jessie blurted out at last, feeling an instant wave of relief wash over her now that she’d said the words, even if it did mean losing Jack.
Jack’s features went from uneasiness to surprise in a split second as he digested what it was she was saying. And then his expression seemed to become stuck in a single expression: pure shock.
‘I’m so sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean to be. I was on the pill and then I got sick and the antibiotics weakened the effectiveness of the contraception, but me being a complete tool I forgot that pertinent piece of information and now I’m having a baby,’ she rambled incoherently. ‘I seriously wasn’t trying to trick you. I would never do that.’
‘So why can’t you marry me?’ Jack asked deliberately. A slow smile spread across his face.
‘Because you said you’re not ready to be a father. I didn’t try to trap you, and I’m not trapping you into marrying me, just because I’m, well, you know, pregnant.’
Jack seemed to think on that for a moment. ‘But who else would I want to have children with?’ he asked. ‘If not with you, then who? All this means is that I have to share you with our child that little bit sooner. As you know I can be rather selfish when it comes to you, but I’ll just have to learn to be less so.’
‘So… your offer still stands, then?’ Jessie asked tentatively, needing the clarification, as she wiped away her tears.
‘If course it does, you numpty. I love you. All of you. And it’s as simple as that. But just to make it official…’ Jack dropped back down onto one knee and again took Jessie’s hand. ‘Jessie Slaymaker, will you still marry me?’
‘Yes, please! Of course I’ll bloody marry you,’ she answered happily, and stooped down to kiss him.
***
Jack had taken the baby news far better than Jessie had ever expected, especially considering the ugly precedent when he’d found out Sonia had been pregnant. Jessie had sensed he may have been a tiny bit caught up in the proposal moment, and it wasn’t until a good while after, when they’d returned to Hong Kong, that the penny seemed to actually drop. When it did, Jack went into a stress, fussing over Jessie, making sure her every need was met, and nervously preparing himself for his impending fatherhood. Judging by the way he cared for her, Jessie thought Jack had nothing to worry about. He was going to make a great dad when the day came.
All in all, Jessie’s life had been one hell of a roller coaster since she’d taken the plunge and moved to Asia with Jack. She’d been riding the wheel of fortune, experiencing all of life’s ups and downs. She’d missed out on her dream job, nearly split up with Jack, enjoyed some of the minuscule accommodation Hong Kong had to offer, got back together with Jack, and then lost her job. She’d nearly been kidnapped, then deliberately gotten herself captured to save Jack. She’d proved her arch nemesis Sonia Shum was far from the perfect princess she made out to be. She’d got herself engaged, and gotten herself pregnant. Though not in that order. Oh, and she’d found out her boss had been some kind of international forensic accountant super-spy.
No, her life since she arrived in Hong Kong hadn’t been at all what she’d expected. But despite all that had happened to her—all the surprises, all the detours, and all the mistakes she’d made along the way—she realised that she’d gotten exactly what she’d been looking for. She’d come to Hong Kong in search of an adventure and a challenge. And now, as Jessie surveyed not only everything she’d been through, but all the new experiences that now lay ahead of her, she couldn’t help but feel that her adventure and challenges had only just begun.
And she couldn’t be happier.
Dear Reader of Jessie Slaymaker's Rules of Engagement,
Firstly, thank you so much for getting your hands on my fourth, self-published novel.
Secondly, whilst the story is still fresh in your mind, it would be hugely helpful and immensely appreciated if you could post a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads (or both if you feel so inclined). Reviews really play a huge part in the success or obscurity of a book, so if you could spare a few moments that would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you once again, and until next time,
Jo
For upcoming information on new releases visit www.joiles.com
Follow me on twitter @joauthoriles
Acknowledgments
It was tough writing my first sequel, and on more than one occasion I wanted to delete every word I'd written and throw in the towel. But a big thanks to James who made me see that I could continue Jessie's story, and I'm really happy I did. Thanks again to David Gatewood for his edits. Lastly thanks to all the people pushing and encouraging me along by continually asking me what was going to happen to Jessie next.
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Author Bio
Jo Iles is a British novelist, living in Hong Kong. Following university she entered the wonderful and incredibly glamourous world of recruitment consultancy and quickly decided this wasn't for her. However, life got in the way and over three years later she was still doing the same thing. Something had to change. Jo and her boyfriend (now fiancé) upped sticks and set off for the bright lights of Hong Kong. That was over six years ago and they're both still there, enjoying a quiet life in the busy city.
Jo now belongs to a small family of village dogs which take up all her time when she's not writing romance novels.
If you would like to find out more about Jo and her life in Hong Kong, then feel free to have a gander at her blog www.joiles.com or follow her on Twitter @joauthoriles
Titles by Jo Iles
Jessie Slaymaker's Non-Existent Love Life (Book 1)
Jessie Slaymaker's Rules of Engagement (Book 2)
Jessie Slaymaker's…title to be confirmed (Book 3) coming Summer 2015
Love Redesigned
Fixed-Term Love
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Acknowledgments
Author Bio