by Nadia Lee
I snort. “You couldn’t drag me from this ceremony if you tied my ankles to a truck.”
“So stop fidgeting.”
“I’m not fidgeting,” I say, shifting my weight. Is it my fault I keep feeling like this is a dream, and I’m going to open my eyes in any minute and find myself alone and desolate in my bedroom?
“The bride’s here. I saw her arrive,” Antoine says, having correctly guessed the cause of my nerves. “Even her parents are behaving as civilly as possible.”
“Right.”
“She’s never leaving you, man. You can tie her to a Boeing triple-seven headed to the opposite end of the planet, and she’s still going to find a way back.”
Like I’d ever let that Boeing take off.
“It’s time,” Blake says, sticking his head in. Elizabeth’s oldest brother has been helping as well, since her parents are worthless.
I go to the gorgeous beach set-up for the ceremony. The sunlight sparkles like sapphire confetti on the Pacific. We initially wanted a small, quiet ceremony, but somehow have ended up with over three hundred guests and thousands of letters and cards wishing us well from people all over the world whose lives Liza has touched and improved. I’ve always known she’s the most amazing woman on the planet, but seeing those envelopes piled high and watching her personally respond and send small, thoughtful gifts to the children who wrote her showed me again what a special woman I’m marrying—and what a lucky bastard I am.
When the quartet starts “Wedding March” and Liza walks down the aisle toward me, my heart is so full of love and peace that I can’t breathe. When we hold each other’s hands and recite our vows, I know this is just the beginning.
Chapter Forty-Five
Elizabeth
“Come on… Just a little hint.”
“Nope. You gotta wait.”
I pout. Ever since Dominic put me on his jet—well, our jet—he’s been completely secretive about where we’re headed. He blindfolded me as we landed, then put a noise-canceling headset over my ears, then finally let me take the set off when we were in a car, although the black strip of cloth over my eyes remained.
“I feel like I’m being abducted.”
“Sorry.”
He doesn’t sound sorry. “If you give me a hint about your surprise, I’ll give you a hint about my surprise…”
“Nope.”
“You know it’s my anniversary, too.”
Silence. I sigh dramatically enough to impress my actor brother. “How much longer?”
“Fifteen minutes or so.”
Since my husband isn’t giving me any hints, I try to use my ears, but it’s hard to hear anything with all our windows shut and the radio playing that Ed Sheeran song about the perfect girl he found. It used to make me want to cry, but now it makes me want to hug my husband and dance with him until I get blisters on my feet.
Every day of my life since our engagement has started with my heart full of love and gratitude and ended even fuller. At first, I worried about balancing everything—being his fiancée, then wife, leading the foundation and doing my art. But it soon became obvious my anxiety was all for nothing. He’s been unbelievably supportive and understanding. Rhonda and Patrice have taken on more responsibilities and are thriving. I’m painting again, slowly, and finding joy in creation.
The car finally comes to a stop. I wait for Dominic to open the door, since I’m not allowed to undo the blindfold until he says it’s okay. I don’t have to wait long before I feel the outside air rush in and Dominic’s hand on my arm.
“Careful,” he says, helping me out. He turns me slightly to the left.
I can hear the ocean, smell the brine, feel the faint warmth of the sun.
Gently, he removes the blindfold. I squint at the sudden light, then do a slow turn.
It’s like I’m back in time, the familiar Tuscan landscape coming into focus. Then I see the cottage that used to belong to my grandfather. The stone walls are rustic and sun-faded. Portico terraces stretch on three sides facing the ocean. And the olive tree…
I place a hand over my thudding heart. “How…?” I can’t continue as hot emotions swell inside me. This is the place I spent the happiest days of my childhood with my grandfather. I always assumed Dad tore it down and built some ostentatious vacation villa over the land when he inherited.
“Julian decided to put it on the market some months ago at my strong recommendation, so I had my agent snap it up.”
“You convinced Dad to sell?” I can hardly believe it.
Dominic nods. “Antoine helped me come up with a very persuasive argument.” He gestures at the cottage. “It’s yours.”
I know that isn’t the whole story, but I don’t care. I leap into Dominic’s arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is so perfect!”
When Dominic brushes his thumb over my cheek, I realize I’m crying. “Happy tears,” I tell him, not caring my makeup’s turning into a mess. “They’re happy tears.”
With a bright grin, he places a kiss on my forehead. “Happy anniversary, my angel.”
He kisses me on the mouth this time, and I kiss him back with all the love and joy in my heart…and let him carry me over the threshold.
* * *
Dominic
The light touch of my wife’s fingers over my heart wakes me up. Well, technically, I wasn’t really asleep. Just sort of zoning out…
“Jet-lagged?” I whisper, taking her hand to my mouth and kissing each knuckle.
“No. Just happy. I never thought I could be this happy.”
“It’s only fair. You’ve made millions of people happy.”
She cuddles closer, and I place a kiss on her temple. My cock’s getting hard again, but she’s probably sore. We’ve been screwing like animals since we arrived at two days ago.
“Did I tell you Ming Ming’s visiting L.A. next month?”
“No. Is she trying to stay at Ryder’s place again?”
Liza chuckles. “No. She’s trying to find the best pose for her nude portrait.”
I snort a laugh. “She was serious about that?” She mentioned doing one when she turned thirty, but I thought she was just drunk.
“She’s already started dieting. She sent me progress shots.”
“Dieting? There’s nothing to lose.” Ming-Ming is so thin that I actually worry about her at times. “Besides, isn’t she only twenty-nine? That gives her another year.”
“Perfection can’t be achieved overnight, she said. And she’s right. This perfect life of ours”—she places a hand over my heart—“it took us a decade.”
“Because I was a stubborn idiot.”
“You mean a gorgeous and brilliant idiot.” She giggles. “And, um…right now it’s just the two of us, but soon…” She takes my hand and places it on her belly.
The world seems to come to a halt. “Wait… You’re pregnant?”
“Uh-huh. Found out last week.”
Joy bursts in my heart, making me almost dizzy. Then comes a spark of anxiety. “Why didn’t you say something? Is it okay for you to fly for so long?”
She laughs. “I’m fine. Dr. Silverman cleared everything. You know she’s the best doctor I can have, don’t you?”
I nod. If Liza trusts her, that’s good enough for me.
Liza smiles. “Congratulations, Mr. King. Soon, you’re going to be a father.”
“Thank you, Mrs. King,” I say solemnly, loving the sound of that. Mrs. King—my wife.
And I was wrong when I thought her saying yes to my proposal would make me the luckiest and happiest man alive. Every day she finds a way to make me feel luckier and happier.
I pull her down for a kiss.
Chapter Forty-Six
Dominic
Seven months, two weeks and four days later, Liza delivers a healthy baby boy. She lies in bed, drenched and exhausted, and I swear I’ve never seen her more beautiful.
Of course, every one of our relatives and friends shows up. Ev
eryone oohs and aahs and leaves enough flowers to stock a florist’s shop. Even Tolyan gives the baby a smile.
Liza’s parents don’t show, which is for the best. Nothing sucks the joy out of a room faster than those two. The flowers would probably wilt.
After what feels like forever, all the visitors are finally gone, and it’s just me and Liza and our tiny sleeping son in her arms. I sit on the bed and brush my fingers over fine strands of hair on his head. “He’s so small,” I whisper.
“He’ll be as big as his daddy when he grows up,” she whispers back with a tired smile.
“Have you decided on a name?”
“Yes,” she says. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to call him Thomas.”
“That’s a great name.” It’s only right we pay homage to Eliza’s grandfather, who raised her to be the amazing person that she is. I place a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For the most perfect child any man could ask for.”
She smiles. “He really is perfect, isn’t he? Absolutely worth the morning sickness and cankles.”
My chest full, I say, “I’m trying to think of a present to give you, but nothing could equal this baby.”
“You’ve already given me what I treasure the most—your heart. And after that, I knew there was only going to be one ending to our story.”
Thomas stirs and gurgles and we both look at him. Liza settles him back into position and the hospital room becomes quiet. After a few minutes I say, “And what would that be?”
She rests her head against my forearm and sighs with contentment. “And we lived happily ever after.”
——
Thanks for reading The Billionaire’s Claim: Redemption! If you enjoyed it, I’d appreciate a short review on Amazon so that others can discover and enjoy Dominic and Elizabeth’s love story, too!
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If you want read about Elizabeth’s brothers, grab A Hollywood Deal [US :: UK :: Canada :: Australia] today!
If you want to read about Elizabeth’s brothers’ stories, please refer to this handy list!
Book 1: A Hollywood Deal (Ryder & Paige #1)
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Book 2: A Hollywood Bride (Ryder & Paige #2)
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Book 3: An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle #1)
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Book 4: An Improper Bride (Elliot & Annabelle #2)
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Book 5: An Improper Ever After (Elliot & Annabelle #3)
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Book 6: An Unlikely Deal (Lucas & Ava #1)
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Book 7: An Unlikely Bride (Lucas & Ava #2)
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Book 8: A Final Deal (Blake & Faith Standalone)
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Titles by Nadia Lee
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——
The Billionaire’s Claim Duet
Book 1: Obsession
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Book 2: Redemption
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——
Sweet Darlings Inc. Series
Book 1: That Man Next Door
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Book 2: That Sexy Stranger
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Book 3: That Wild Player
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——
Billionaires’ Brides of Convenience Series
Book 1: A Hollywood Deal
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Book 2: A Hollywood Bride
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Book 3: An Improper Deal
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Book 4: An Improper Bride
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Book 5: An Improper Ever After
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Book 6: An Unlikely Deal
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Book 7: An Unlikely Bride
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Book 8: A Final Deal
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——
The Pryce Family Series
Book 1: The Billionaire’s Counterfeit Girlfriend
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Book 2: The Billionaire’s Inconvenient Obsession
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Book 3: The Billionaire’s Secret Wife
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Book 4: The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée
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Book 5: The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire
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Book 6: The Billionaire’s Holiday Bride
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——
Seduced by the Billionaire Series
Book 1: Taken by Her Unforgiving Billionaire Boss
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Book 2: Pursued by Her Billionaire Hook- Up
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Book 3: Pregnant with Her Billionaire Ex’s Baby
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Book 3.5: Romanced by Her Illicit Millionaire Crush
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Book 4: Wanted by Her Scandalous Billionaire
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Book 5: Loving Her Best Friend’s Billionaire Brother
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——
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About Nadia Lee
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nadia Lee writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.
To learn more about Nadia and her projects, please visit www.nadialee.net. To receive news about Nadia’s upcoming releases, sales and promotions, giveaways, exclusive epilogues, bonus scenes and more, join her VIP List at www.nadialee.net/vip!
The Billionaire’s Claim: Redemption
Copyright © 2018 by Hyun J Kyung
Kindle Edition
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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