Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“But before we get sidetracked,” Byron said, his expression turning serious as he pulled his hand free. “There’s something I need to say. What you did for Ronnie? I…” His voice gave out, and he swallowed hard. “I don’t have words. Sebastian, you didn’t have to, and I can never thank you enough.”
I leaned in and kissed away a tear at the corner of his eye. “You already have. Plus, I didn’t do it just for you. I did it for Ronnie because he means so much to you. This way, you both can live the best life you can. I would have done it even if it meant never having you in my arms.”
“I’m never leaving your arms. I love you too much to ever be without you,” he whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my neck.
There was nothing I wanted more than that.
Okay…maybe a little more.
“Baby, I know of this amazing place where you can read all that information my mother gave you. It’s quiet and relaxing. Perfect for making big, life-changing decisions.”
Byron pulled back, his brow furrowed in silent question. “I don’t think your bed is a good spot to make life-changing decisions.”
I chuckled. “No, but I like how you think.”
“Where?”
“Paris.”
“What?” Byron almost choked on the word. “You really need to go to Paris for business? I thought that was some ruse Kaylan made up to get me to hurry downtown.”
I shrugged with a tiny wince. “He made it sound like I was walking out the door so you would come directly here. I was going to leave tonight, but I can postpone it if you need more time to get things in order for your mother.”
“How long would we be gone?”
“What I need to get done would take only a day or two, but we could stay a week. Plenty of time for you to think things over. Plus, it would be our first personal trip together. We could do all the touristy things. Wander the city. Drink wine and eat baguettes. Kiss in front of the Mona Lisa. What do you say?”
“Let me get my passport.”
EPILOGUE
BYRON GRAHAM
A slow smile spread across my lips as I leaned against the open doorway leading to the balcony of our penthouse hotel room, where champagne and strawberries were waiting for us upon our arrival. Several blocks away, the Eiffel Tower glowed golden in the night sky. A hushed murmur of traffic rushed down the streets while a soft coo and flutter of feathers came from the birds who were finding their roosts on the roof of the building. This magical city was settling in for the night, but I wasn’t ready to close my eyes on this dream.
I’d traveled with Sebastian a few times in the past, but it had always been for work, and I’d never taken the time to actually explore the cities we were in. I’d stayed in the hotel and prepared the reports and documents that Sebastian would need for a conference or other meetings. Food had been room service or takeaway from cheap restaurants that were close to the hotel.
But this…it felt like a real vacation in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There was only one thing that could make this moment better.
As if he’d read my mind, Sebastian silently walked up behind me and slid his arm around my waist, pulling me slightly back so that I was now resting on his chest. A gentle kiss was pressed to my head, and then my ear, and then my jaw.
“Happy?” he murmured as he nuzzled my neck.
“Blissfully happy.”
“You will be even more amused to know that my mother has texted me yet again.”
“Oh?”
Sebastian had thoughtfully postponed his Paris trip for two days. With some temporary financial assistance, he’d helped me get my mother into a rehabilitation facility to help with her alcoholism and lined up an amazing doctor to look at her back. She wasn’t talking to me, but I was fine with that. My conscience was clear.
I’d gotten Ronnie moved to the new long-term care facility shortly after the Courtland lawyer handed the trust information over to me, but Sebastian and I were able to sneak in a visit before we left the States.
The only one who didn’t appear pleased with our sudden departure was Sebastian’s mother. I’d emailed her that I was going out of town with her son, but I was taking all the information she’d given me to review while I was in Paris.
“Was she reminding you to give me time to get some reading done while we’re here?”
“No, this time she warned me not to fuck this up, because she’s afraid that if I screw up our relationship, you won’t accept her job offer.”
I giggled as I rested my head on his shoulder. “I need to text her and tell her I won’t take my frustration with you out on her.”