by Marian Tee
“Because you don’t have your shoes on.”
Jane swallowed back a laugh. “I don’t, do I?” And she hadn’t even realized until Christian had pointed it out. “My glass slippers are in the repair shop,” she said finally. “I threw them out when this idiot prince made me mad.”
Christian’s azure eyes gleamed. “A Disney princess with anger management issues?”
She choked.
“Major turn on,” Christian drawled.
And this time, she couldn’t help laughing, but she also couldn’t help crying—-
It had been so, so long since they could banter like this.
“Not to mention you remind me of this other princess I know.”
“O-oh?”
“She’s got a habit of throwing stuff out,” Christian said solemnly. “Like that ring I gave her?” He snapped his fingers. “She threw it away without hesitation. And my heart?”
Oh!
“She threw it out of the window—-”
But Jane couldn’t laugh anymore. How could she when, despite the lightness of his tone, she could see in Christian’s eyes that she did manage to rip his heart out of him?
“Stop,” she whispered.
He stilled.
“It’s over, okay?”
Christian whitened. Had he gotten everything wrong?
Seeing that he didn’t really believe her, she said forcefully, “I mean it. It’s over, Christian.”
“I see.” He turned away clumsily. “I need a moment.” He could feel his entire world crashing, and he couldn’t even make himself give a fuck.
It was over.
He had thought that Jane had come here to let him know she had forgiven him, and he was right. But what he hadn’t realized was that with her forgiveness came the end.
It was over.
Jane couldn’t understand why Christian was acting so oddly. Wasn’t he supposed to be happy that—-
Oh.
Jane was torn between dismay and laughter, but when she saw him about to take a step away from her, she automatically reached for his hand from behind, her fingers tightening around his wrist.
Christian closed his eyes wearily. What now? Was she going to explain why it had to be over?
But then he heard her say, “You didn’t let me finish.”
And he started, remembering that once upon a time he had used the same words on her.
He spun around, in time to see her start crying again as she choked out, “What I meant was – your waiting is over—-”
Christian had hauled her into his arms before she even finished speaking, and he was kissing her—-
Oh, he was kissing her the way only he could, with his tongue penetrating her all the way to her soul—-
Lifting his head, he said raggedly, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for ever hurting you.”
“Forgiven,” she whispered, “and I’m sorry, too, for taking so long to realize that love doesn’t make us perfect.”
Sometimes, it didn’t even make them better people. Sometimes, love was just love.
And that was okay.
“I love you, Jane,” Christian whispered against her lips.
Jane wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Christian.” Their mouths met, and a shudder went over Christian’s powerful form while sobs wracked Jane body.
Because at that moment they knew—-
No other words would ever be needed.
They were together.
And it was all they ever wanted.
The End
Author's Note
03 April 2020
My Boss' Best Friend was originally published as The Marriage Dare as part of the Kindle World series of Carly Phillips. KW has since been retired though, hence the need to rewrite parts of this story before I can republish it.
If you're new to my books, you might be interested to know that Derek and Jaike as well as Fawn and Reid have their own stories. They're both duologies, with the first book free. I'll include excerpts in the next pages in case you'd like to give them a try.
Right now, I'm watching Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors on YouTube while my husband is out for a grocery run. Netflix is love, but sometimes I just have this need to watch something outside it. I've also been re-reading a lot of Betty Neels lately, and it's significantly influenced my current WIP.
Anyway, that's it for now. Not much has changed in terms of our quarantine situation, hence the lack of update. Much love and prayers for all of you - let's stay positive and keep practicing social distancing to flatten the curve.
Until our next journey,
Marian Tee
P.S. Please consider subscribing to my newsletter if you haven't yet. This is the best way to stay updated about new and upcoming releases, and I also use it to let you guys know when I have a title that's free download for a limited time.
P.P.S. Thank you to everyone who took the time to post reviews on my recent releases. It means so much, SERIOUSLY! And if you enjoyed this book, I would truly appreciate it if you could spare a moment or two to write a review for it. Please feel free to email me if and when you do so I may thank you personally.
P.P.P.S. I wondered about the boss' vs boss's part, and in the end, you know what I chose. > . <
Unwillingly Yours
Derek and Jaike's story
Curvy 18-year-old Jaike Hepburn is happiest when she's described as nerdy and boring. Anything is better than the truth...until she meets a billionaire heir who makes it impossible to deny her secret and shameful desires.
21-year-old Greek-American playboy Derek Christopoulos is used to living in the limelight, pretending to be the embodiment of a modern-day prince. Throughout his life, he's kept his dark side leashed, knowing that one day, he'll find the girl who'd take pleasure in belonging to him, body and soul.
When Jaike meets Derek, the feelings he arouses in her has Jaike running scared and into the arms of his greatest rival.
But even though she belongs to another man, it’s too late. Even if the world thinks she’s too young, her heart and body knows the truth.
Derek is the Dom she’s been waiting for...and feared her whole life.
Click here to read this book for free.
Prince of Darkness
Part One
Reid and Fawn's story
Playboy. Billionaire. Heartbreaker.
These were just some of the things people knew Greek graduate student Reid Chalkias as, but his greatest claim to infamy was as The Prince of Darkness – and it was a name he deserved, in more ways than one.
Embracing the darkness allowed the prince to keep everyone at a distance...until innocent Fawn Cornwall started working for him.
Without even trying, Fawn was able to make him experience emotions he once thought he was immune to.
Jealousy. Possessiveness. And even...affection.
He almost, almost wanted to believe she was destined for him – if only she wasn’t already engaged to marry another man.
Click here to read this book for free.
For other BBF books and spin-offs:
My Russian Billionaire (Fredericka's story)
My French Billionaire (Christien's story)
Leandro: Greek. Biker. Billionaire. (Leandro Christopoulos' story)