Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
In my mistakes.
In my sins.
In my tragedy.
This world nearly lost you that night, and that wasn’t a fate I could tolerate.
The demons warned that loving you was a heresy. That I needed to walk before I ruined you more.
The thing was, there was no not loving you, Little Dove.
No possible way to stop what I feel for you.
Something bigger than I’d ever felt. More beautiful than I’d been given.
And I could hide from it forever, but it wouldn’t change the fact, and someone really important to me told me this one singular truth.
“You’ve got love, Dad.”
Remy kept reminding me of it, and it’s finally time I accepted what it means.
And I can either give it, share it and cultivate it, or let it die.
Dying for someone I love has always felt easy to me. Something I could give to show my devotion.
But it’s the living for it that I’ve always had the problem with.
But I have the choice to live chained to my past, or to learn from it and move on.
And I’d like to move on from it with you, if you’ll give me that chance.
I know I made a lot of promises to you. Promises I didn’t keep.
But that ends today.
Now and forever.
Because you are my always. I promise you.
I’m ready to stand in the light. To hold it in the darkness. To love you through thick and thin. Through this fight for my children. Through each day’s end.
I told you they are the meaning of this life.
And that’s what you came to be, too.
My meaning.
My hope.
The joy I never thought I’d experience again.
You are the sun in my sky, Tessa McDaniels.
I love you.
Hopelessly.
Endlessly.
Always.
Milo
Tears blurred my sight, and I choked over a sob when I got to the end. “Oh God.”
Eden touched my shoulder. “What did he say?”
“That he wants me to give him another chance.”
“And what do you think?”
What did I think?
I thought I was terrified.
Angry.
Hurt.
And that I would love him to my dying day.
I swiped at the tears. “I don’t know. He hurt me so bad.”
Eden urged me to look at her. “I know it’s hard to give a second chance. But I also know it’s really difficult to ask for a second chance, too. To step out on a limb and ask for forgiveness. You have to decide if it’s worth it. If he’s worth it. If what you feel is worth it. You told me that you won’t settle for second best…so don’t. But if he’s it? Your Ace?”
“Would you open the present already? I gotta know what’s in it,” Juni demanded.
Right.
The present.
I swiped at the tears on my face, setting the letter aside as I tore into the paper.
Inside was a lidded box.
I opened it.
Then I gasped, my eyes wild as I looked between Eden and Juniper. “He got me the Manolos. He got me the Manolos.”
Realization stormed through me.
He remembered me.
He knew me.
He loved me.
Eden giggled. “Shoes?”
I reached out and squeezed her hand, nodding frantically before I rushed to wipe the tears from my eyes. “I’ll tell you later, but I think I need to go over there and at least talk to him.”
I sniffled and stuffed my feet into my wedges, holding the box that he’d sent against my chest. I grabbed my purse that had my keys from the island. “I’ll be back.”
“Give him grace, Auntie!” Juni shouted.
I choked out a laugh. “I’ll try, Juni Bee.”
Eden smiled. “Good luck.”
Rushing to the front door, I whipped it open, then I froze when I saw the man leaning against the side of his old truck.
So big and burly and right.
Fierce and soft and intimidating.
My heart raced.
My Beautiful Beast.
I choked over another cry as I stumbled across their porch and to the steps, though I was laughing through the middle of it, then I was running down the walkway and straight into his arms.
I knew we had more to talk about, but it could wait.
Getting to him couldn’t.
He picked me up and spun me around, holding me so tight, the box smashed between us. He pressed his face into my neck, his voice doing that rumbly thing I loved when he murmured, “I missed you.”
It was so simple.
So true.
Our connection hummed.
Then he started to ramble, “I’m so sorry. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
“There’s plenty of time for apologizing later. Just love me and do it right and do it forever.”
He eased back a fraction. Those honey-dipped eyes swam with affection.
Devotion and love.
Different from before.
“Okay,” he whispered.
Okay.
Then he kissed me. Kissed me tenderly for the barest second before his mouth devoured mine with possession.
Heat burned and joy blazed. “Hurry up and take me home.”
“Eager,” he mumbled at my mouth, never setting me down or breaking the kiss while he opened the passenger door then plopped me onto the seat.
He eased back, his sexy mouth twitching all over the place.