Taken by the CEO (The Scandalous Wentworths)
Page 20
Love.
She’d once assumed it meant marriage and babies and a magazine-perfect life without argument and disagreement. But that wasn’t it at all. It was fighting for what you believed in and coming together as better people. Parker had changed her as she’d changed him—she was stronger now, more confident to stand up for what she wanted.
The last step would be allowing herself to be in a position where she might get hurt again. But for this man—for Parker—it was worth the risk.
“I love you, too.” The words made her heart soar.
The feeling quickly turned to something darker and steamier as he pressed her against the balcony, his lips grazing hers. “Is it crazy that that’s the hottest thing you’ve ever said to me?”
She giggled. “I don’t know if it’s hot.”
“It is, baby.” His hand fisted in the length of her skirt. “You have no idea how much I needed it.”
“And here I was thinking it would be the shoes that would get you all hot and bothered.” She nipped at his jaw.
“You didn’t.” His eyes widened as he lifted the hem of the gown to reveal the infamous blue shoes. “Oh, baby, you did.”
“I didn’t know what was going to happen tonight.” She looped her arms around his neck. “But something told me to put them on.”
“I’m so glad you did.”
“You know they’re not even my shoes. They belong to my sister.”
“She can’t have them back.” His lips found hers, hungry and hot as the night whirled around them. Strands of Emmaline’s hair blew around her face, and he brushed them back with both hands. “She can come and see Syd and pick out whatever shoes she likes. But these are staying with you.”
“Yes, boss.” Her fingers curled into the laps of his tux. Inside there was a raucous cheer and the blast of music. Their private little moment was about to be over. “What do we do now?”
“That’s up to you.” His fingers interlaced with hers. “I want nothing more than to walk back in there with you by my side. But that decision is yours.”
She swallowed. Everyone would know—they may question her place on the ASTAR list, even though Parker had withdrawn from the selection process. They might think she was after money or a promotion or social status.
But did it matter in the grand scheme of things? Parker loved her, and she loved him back. She would still work hard. She would still be her own person. And she would still make her own decisions.
“Let’s do it,” she said, excitement fizzing in her veins. “Let’s give them something to talk about.”
Epilogue
Seven months later
Emmaline sat back in the rocking chair, unable to speak for the wonder that filled her body while she held the little baby girl in her arms. Anastasia.
“She’s so beautiful.” She blinked back tears, unable to tear her eyes off this tiny human life snoozing so adorably, as though she weren’t the most precious thing in the world.
Well, second most precious.
“That’ll be you soon,” Parker whispered as he bent down, wrapping one arm around her shoulders and squeezing. “You’re a natural.”
Gracie had fallen asleep on the couch, her long dark hair splayed out in a messy cloud around her head. Her light snores filled the room, her chest rising and falling lightly. It was so precious to see both mother and baby getting some much-needed sleep.
“You think so?” She turned and was caught by surprise when Parker kissed her deeply. “What did I do to deserve that?”
“Nothing.” He brushed her hair back from her face. “Everything.”
The baby coughed in her sleep and shifted, causing Emmaline to sigh contentedly. The baby’s tiny pink hand flexed, and Emmaline counted all ten of her fingers again to be sure that they were still there.
“Do you think I’m going to be a good mother?” It was hard to believe that it would be happening so soon.
She’d found out that she was pregnant a few weeks before the engagement party. The timing wasn’t the best, and she’d given the makeup artist some awful dark circles to cover on the day, but Emmaline couldn’t be more thrilled. Both at the pregnancy and at Parker’s joyous response.
“Are you kidding me? You’ll be perfect.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Hell, if you can handle me and my family, then you’re made of stronger stuff than anyone else I know.”
Things with Parker’s family were better, though not perfect. She’d convinced him to allow Arthur and Irene to come to the engagement party, although he hadn’t budged on letting Arthur do a speech. Instead, Ian had stolen the show and spilled all of Parker’s dirty secrets. No doubt a glimpse of what embarrassment would come on their wedding day.
But Parker was on talking terms with his father now.
“Family is important, even if they’re not perfect.”
“I want our child to know his or her grandparents,” he said, sighing as though the decision still weighed on him. “I guess it’s time for me to put aside the past and focus on the future, right?”
“We don’t have a choice now. This baby is coming whether those demons are buried or not.”
“You’re right. It’s not just about us anymore.” He squeezed her. “Honestly, being with you has made me understand my father more. I still won’t ever agree with what he did, but I can see how he might have been misguided into thinking he was protecting us by not being out in the open with Beau and Irene.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s totally wrong, what he did…but I know I would do anything for our baby. Absolutely anything. So I’ll give him some leeway.” He sucked in a breath. “But the difference is that our relationship is what keeps me going. You make me a better person, Emmaline, and that means I’ll be a better father than he was.”
“There you go again, always overachieving,” she said, unable to contain the smile that spread across her lips. “I’ll have to get the gold stars out when we get home.”
“Screw the gold stars. I want you to wear those high heels again.”
Warmth spread through her as she looked up at her fiancé, her mind already racing with the possibilities of a passion-filled evening. “Anything else?”
“Just you, baby. That’s all I need.”
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to all the people who asked for Emmaline’s story after reading The Rules According to Gracie. When I wrote that book I never intended for it to become a series, but I couldn’t leave Emmaline hanging when so many readers wanted her to find her HEA! My readers are a big part of why I get out of bed in the mornings—your reviews and emails keep me going, even on the toughest days. Thank you.
Thank you to my wonderful Entangled editor, Alycia Tornetta, for saying yes to this project and for all the suggestions that have made it a much stronger story. I’m so glad you like the idea of a crossover book to kick off the new series!
Thanks to all the wonderful people behind the scenes at Entangled, especially to Christine, Jessica, and Riki. Your support is invaluable. Thanks for always answering my questions, no matter how big or small.
Thank you to my incredible agent, Jill Marsal, for all your guidance and industry wisdom, and for putting up with me when I bombard you with emails.
As always, thanks to my husband for your unwavering support. There are no words that can adequately express how you make my life better. For all the times you called to see how the Amazon rankings were doing, for all the times you listened to me talk through my plotting problems and sat patiently while I entered the “I hate this book” phase of editing, thank you. You are the reason I write about love.
I can’t write an acknowledgment without thanking my family. I am here because of you. Thanks to Mum for all the hugs, to Dad for all the life lessons, and to Sami for never once thinking I
couldn’t achieve my dreams.
About the Author
Stefanie London is the USA Today bestselling author of over ten contemporary romances with humor, heat, and heart.
Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Thus, it was no surprise she was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ business degree, she got a job in communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfill her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night.
Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is currently in the process of doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, lipstick, romance novels, and zombie movies.
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