Jex chuckled, but his eyes grew more serious. “Dirk Miller’s a friend of mine. I used his name to get you here, but this …” He gestured around. “Is mine. It’s a prototype. I want to create extreme sports camps throughout the world to help disabled and underprivileged children.” He smiled softly at her. “And I need a manager and social media expert. Are you interested?”
Pearl could not believe him. Well, she could believe that he’d found his purpose, and she loved the idea of him teaching and helping children. She loved the idea of doing it alongside him, but how could he not contact her for four months, then bring her here and ask her to be his manager? She wanted to marry him. Didn’t he know how desperately she still loved him?
Instead of answering his question, she let herself breathe out, “Four months, Jex. Four months ago, you told me to …” She swallowed, hating to say it. “You told me to go. And it’s been four stinking months without you.” Her voice rose along with her hurt. He’d pushed her away, and now he thought she’d just come back to being his manager?
Jex reached out a hand. “Will you come on a walk with me?” He tiled his head toward the groups of children watching them, some with wide eyes and open mouths. “I don’t mind if you hit me or yell at me. I just don’t want to scare them.”
Pearl nodded. She put her hand in his, and warmth she hadn’t felt in months flowed through her. Jex. Holding his hand felt so right. But the insensitive jerk still shouldn’t have deserted her for so long. Instantly, she felt guilt. She knew what he’d been going through. To see him happy and confident was wonderful, but where did she fit in?
They walked slowly and quietly through the trees to a quiet spot by the river. She was impressed with how well he was moving, but not so impressed with the idea of being his manager again. She was way past a manager in her mind. She wanted to be his girlfriend and love, eventually his wife.
Pearl pulled her gaze from his handsome face to take in the thick greenery. As soon as they stopped, she pulled her hand free. “Jex. You pushed me away, told me to go. I understand you were in a dark spot and struggling, and I didn’t blame you for being a mess, but I wanted to be there for you.”
He simply nodded, which made her frustration rise further.
“You need to explain. You haven’t even tried to contact me, let me know you still care. Why? I need some answers.”
Jex pushed a hand through his hair and studied her. “I love you, Pearl.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and even though these were the words she’d been craving, her frustration reached its peak. She pushed at him; Jex stumbled but regained his balance. “You can’t just ignore me for four months and then, instead of explaining anything, the first thing you say to me is that you want me to be your manager again and you love me.”
Jex smirked. “It wasn’t first thing. First thing I told you was how I’ve missed you.” He tenderly cupped her cheek with his palm. “Both the missing and the loving are true.” He dropped his hand and let his gaze wander to the river. “I was a mess, Pearl. I didn’t think I was worthy of you. I didn’t think I had much worth at all. That’s why I pushed you away. I didn’t want to drag you down with me. I was in such a dark spot, thinking I had nothing to offer anyone. I faked it pretty good for the psychiatrist, doctors, the physical therapist. My family saw through it, knew I was struggling, giving up on life. Lottie, Ally, and Preston called me out. I believe Lottie’s exact words were ‘yucky tater tot and selfish dum-dum.’” He smiled.
“I’m with Lottie,” she said.
Jex laughed.
“So they called you out and then you found yourself again?” She was glad he had such an amazing family, but it stung that she couldn’t have been there for him.
“Ally shared some pretty great insights with me, got me thinking that I needed to look outside myself, but then Lottie …” He glanced at the river and blew out a breath. “I hadn’t left the house except for doctor’s appointments. I went to breakfast for Lottie, slid, and knocked her and some teenage girl down.”
Pearl winced, hating that on his first attempt out that had happened. She nodded for him to continue.
Jex pushed a hand at his hair and said in a low voice, “The girl called Lottie a … ‘handicapped retard.’” He squinted up at the sun filtering through the trees as outrage rolled through Pearl for Lottie, and for him. “The crazy thing is I’d called myself similar words repeatedly over the past few months, but to hear somebody say that to Lottie …” He shook his head. “I told the girl how I was the one who knocked her down and how Lottie had more value and light than anyone I knew. That’s when it hit me: even if I’m not physically perfect anymore, if I can’t do my stunts, I still have value. I can still do great things.”
Pearl smiled her encouragement, though her eyes were cloudy with emotion.
“I still have my family, people who love me, plenty of money, and a reputation that allows me to reach out and help.”
Pearl nodded. She was one of those people who loved him. She loved that he’d seen he was more than his injury. She loved that Lottie had been instrumental in that.
“My leg isn’t completely healed,” he continued, “but it’s doing great. I’m in a great spot.” He wrapped his hand around hers again and gave her a meaningful look. “But I could never be happy without you.”
Pearl felt a sob rise up in her chest. She flung herself against him and thumped her fist on his chest.
“Whoa.” Jex released her hand and cradled her close against him. “Are you okay?”
“If you’ll promise never to be stupid and selfish and leave me again.”
“I can promise that.”
“No matter what, Jex,” she said fiercely, tears pricking at her eyes. “You cut your stinking leg off, but don’t turn away from me. Let me work through things with you.”
Jex tilted his head to study her. “Okay.”
“That’s it? ‘Okay’? That’s all you’re going to give me?”
Jex smiled. “Is all this emotion and strong language your way of trying to tell me that you love me almost as much as I love you?”
Pearl pushed out a huffy breath. She slid her hands around his neck and tugged him closer. “Are you horribly sorry for the way you treated me?”
“Oh, love.” Jex shook his head. “I am desperately sorry for the way I treated you, for pushing you away. Please say you’ll forgive me.”
She tilted her head and pursed her lips. “Did you miss me every moment of every day?”
Jex bent down closer, his warm breath brushing her cheek. Her stomach heated with anticipation. “Do I really have to answer that one?”
“Ah!” She sputtered. “Yes, you jerk, you do.”
He chuckled. “I ached for you every moment of every day, my love.” He sobered and studied her. “I’m sorry I got in such a dark place mentally, and I’m so sorry I told you to go. Please forgive me. I’ve learned a lot, and I won’t push you away again. I love you so much, Pearl. I can’t stand the thought of you not changing that horribly long last name very soon.”
Pearl blinked up at him, willing the tears to not flow. “I think I’m the sappiest pushover I know. I forgive you, and … I love you too, Jex.”
Jex grinned and didn’t waste any time. He bent close, lifting her onto her tiptoes, and captured her mouth with his. His kiss was full of love and extreme devotion to her. Pearl knew life wouldn’t always be easy, but it would always be with Jex, and that was all she could ever ask for.
Epilogue
Two busy weeks had passed since Pearl had come to Costa Rica. This camp and a few others in the country were up and running. Soon they’d return to America and start setting up camps there before branching out to other countries. Pearl loved every fulfilling day, and she loved being with Jex most of all.
She studied his handsome face as they stood at the top of a tower, wearing safety harnesses. She’d seen the camp participants use similar towers for zip-lining, but she couldn’t see a zip line here. They were sixty feet
above the ground, with massive trees surrounding them. Looking down through all the green to the forest floor far below made her nauseated, so she focused on Jex.
“What’s the plan here?” she asked.
Jex chuckled. “No plan. I just wanted to be Tarzan and wondered if you’d be my Jane.”
“I think you have to wear a loincloth to be Tarzan.” Terror rushed through her at the thought of swinging from branch to branch like she’d seen him do. Jex was strong and she knew he’d never let her fall, but clinging to him like Jane didn’t sound very safe or smart.
“Ha! Where’s my loincloth when I need it?” He winked. “I can see that panicked look on your face. Don’t worry. I would never risk your safety.”
“Like you risk your own?”
“Exactly.” He leaned in. “Kiss for good luck?”
Pearl pushed at his chest. “Last time I gave you a kiss before a stunt, it didn’t end very well.”
Jex roared with laughter at that. “You’re right.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m not letting you go for four months ever again.” He pursed his lips as if thinking, and then he tilted his head and smiled at her. “Okay, then. Kiss because you adore me.”
“That I can do.” Pearl met him halfway. She thrilled at the sweet touch of his lips and the strength of his body.
Jex pulled back and clamped her onto the cable, then clamped himself on. Then he swept her off her feet and instructed, “Wrap your legs and arms around me.”
“That I can do,” she said. She wrapped herself around him and held on, amazed at how strong he was. He could hold her easily even without his right leg being back to full use.
Jex let out a whoop and launched them off the platform. They swung in a free fall and Pearl screamed and clung to him, her stomach pitching to her throat. They swooped past the ground and swung through, flinging almost as high in the other direction. She looked at the ground far below, and the scream of terror got stuck in her throat as she latched even harder onto Jex.
They rushed back toward the ground again and up toward the platform, Jex giving out a Tarzan yell and her burying her face in his neck and trying to keep her lunch down. They kept swinging back and forth. Each swing had less and less momentum until they finally, mercifully settled in the middle, still a dozen feet above the ground.
Pearl’s heart was thumping out of control. She hugged Jex and then cussed him. “You could’ve warned me. I thought we were doing a zip line.”
Jex chuckled. “Aw, c’mon, you know me better than that.”
“It’s a good thing I love you, or I’d be ditching you for the next four months for that stunt.”
They hung suspended in the air, her still wrapped around him and her heart still racing. Being this close was heaven, now that the terror of the free fall and swing was over.
“No, don’t threaten awful things like that.”
Pearl sensed movement above and below them. Looking up, she saw a man slowly releasing their cable, and then they eased to the forest floor. Looking down, she saw Jex’s entire family and her mom, her brother, and Tracy congregating below them. Even Gunner and Lily were here. She knew they were involved in the anti-trafficking battle in South America and spent time on other security jobs throughout the world, but they rarely took a break. It meant a lot to see all the people they both loved, and the sight made her excitement and nerves rise. What was Jex planning now?
“It’s time, Jex!” Lottie yelled up at them, clapping her hands and then happily waving them at her forehead.
Mae was wearing a T-shirt that said, It’s not a food baby. Pearl wanted to hug her and congratulate her and Slade on the baby, but it wasn’t time for that right now. According to Lottie, it was time for something else.
“Time?” Pearl asked.
“You agreed to marry me, right?” Jex asked, holding her tight against him.
“Well, sort of. I think I may have agreed to change my last name.”
“Good enough.”
“Really?” she challenged him. They hit the ground, and she still clung to him.
Jex grinned. “Pearl Jacobsen-Davenport, will you marry me and finally ditch that awful last name?”
Pearl kissed him and whispered against his lips, “Yes.”
Jex pulled a ring out of his shorts pocket. No box, just a huge round diamond glittering in a thick white-gold band.
“You took me serious when I said a big ring.” She grinned.
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” He slowly slid the ring on her finger, and she trembled from the tenderness and promise in his gaze.
Then he lowered his head and proceeded to kiss her, making her entire body tingle until Lottie yelled, “Stop it, you tater tot!”
Everyone laughed. Pearl released her tight grip on Jex and stood on her own two feet. A worker came and took off their harnesses, and then Jex wrapped his arm around her and turned them toward their families. “Thanks, everybody, for traveling down here. I finally convinced the beautiful Pearl Jacobsen-Davenport to change her too-long last name.” He winked at her. Pearl’s heart raced faster than it had on their crazy swing. “No offense, Mama Jacobsen-Davenport.”
Pearl’s mom waved her hand. “None taken, future son-in-law.”
“Today is Sunday, so the camp attendees aren’t here. If it’s okay with Pearl, we’ll have a quiet ceremony next to the river with only our families, and my mama’s planned some fancy dinner.” He smiled lovingly at his mom. “Then we’re ditching all of you to go on a honeymoon.” He lowered his voice and whispered in Pearl’s ear, “To Bali for at least a few weeks, then maybe visit some of the countries in Europe that we’ve missed. I know about your secret dream of those castles in Wales.”
Pearl beamed up at him.
“Is this all okay?”
“Do I get to wear a white dress and heels, or am I getting married in a T-shirt and shorts?”
“You and your heels.” His voice lowered. “I love you in them.”
Her body heated up at the smoldering look in his eyes and the anticipation of being married to this man.
“Don’t worry,” Jex said. “Lottie’s picked out the most beautiful dress and shoes you can imagine.”
“Yes!” Lottie hollered. “We love you, Pearl!”
“I love you too, Lottie.” She turned to Jex. “It’s better than okay. I love you.”
He kissed her soundly, and Pearl enjoyed the cheers from their family members as they enjoyed their first kiss as an engaged couple. It would be a short engagement, and that was perfect for her. Jex Steele and helping children throughout the world was her future. She was more than ready to change her last name and make him hers.
About the Author
Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She’s never been happier.
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Keep reading for a brief excerpt of the companion books to the Steele Family Romances: Her Prince Charming Boss featuring Mae’s best friend Kit and The Pursued Patriot, Mike Kohler’s story with Gunner and Lily Steele as his hired protectors.
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Excerpt - Her Prince Charming Boss
Two waters were set down on the table, and Kit glanced up to say thank you. The words got stuck in her throat. “You!”
The too-handsome waiter she’d met with Mae arched an eyebrow. Dirk, that was it. “Happy to see you again, too.”
“It’s not that I’m not happy, it’s just … you were so cool and mysterious last time. You gave me your card that had nothing but your phone number on it.”
“Which I hoped you’d call or text.” He winked at her and those bright blue eyes o
f his were yanking her in faster than a guppy on a tuna hook.
“I wanted to,” she admitted, “I’ve just been helping my friend have her happily ever after.”
“Mae and Slade?” he guessed, grinning at her.
He remembered.
“Yes, sir, it was beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you.”
Warmth filled her, and she felt like she was lit up from the inside at his simple compliment. She’d been told she was beautiful so many times, you’d think it wouldn’t affect her anymore. The way Dirk’s deep voice caressed the words as his eyes caressed her face made her want to throw herself into his arms and see how it felt to touch him, something about him shouted he might be the one …
A throat cleared from across the table. The warmth in her abdomen turned to burning heat in her cheeks.
“Oh, Mike, I’m sorry,” she gushed out.
Mike didn’t look pleased, but he was such a laidback, nice guy, he didn’t look like he was about to rip Dirk’s head off. He stood and offered his hand to Dirk. “Mike Kohler.”
The men were both built nicely, but at probably six-six, Mike had Dirk by a few inches. Football player. That made sense.
Dirk shook his hand and nodded. “I know who you are, one of my favorite wide receivers.”
“Thank you.” They released hands, but Mike didn’t sit down. “And you are?”
“Dirk Miller. I’m just the waiter. What can I get you to drink?” He smiled, but it felt off to Kit. Just the waiter. He didn’t seem like he was “just a waiter” to Kit, and she didn’t love the way he put himself or his job down. It was an honorable position, and she thought anyone who worked hard and respected themselves and their job were great. She’d dated everyone from sewer cleaners to movie stars, enjoying the differences in each.
Mike finally seemed to relax and sat back in his chair. “Water’s great for me, actually. Season starts soon.”
“It’ll be great to watch you play again.” Dirk turned his blue eyes on her and Kit sucked in a breath. Wow. He was … splendid. “And for the lady?”
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