Charlie was in his photographer zone. His face was serious as he captured the field from every angle.
“I could get some amazing prints from this field. The scenery is amazing,” he mused when he finally joined me on our blanket.
“That’s just your pure talent,” I replied, still a little dazed.
“Turn your head slightly,” he whispered. I looked up at him in confusion before he snapped a picture of me.
“Oh, Charlie,” I groaned, hiding my face. “You’re meant to be taking pictures of the field, not me.”
“You’re far more beautiful, Shan,” he sighed, moving so he could pull my hand away from my face. “Don’t ever hide from your beauty.” Charlie always gave me so much confidence. I moved my hand away and he grinned, picking up his camera.
“Where did you want me to put my hand?”
“Just under your chin…that’s it,” he praised as he began to snap away. When he watched me this way, the heat always soared through my body. I was lying on my back, my long brown hair sprawled across the green grass while he took his last few photos.
“God, you’re a masterpiece, Shannon,” Charlie groaned, moving so he was hovering above me.
“Only you make me feel that way,” I panted, running my hands into his hair.
“Are you sure this is going to be enough for you, Sweetheart?”
“What do you mean?”
“You could have anything—anyone. Am I enough?” He was being ridiculous.
“You are all I will ever want,” I whispered without a shred of doubt. “The moment I first laid eyes on you, I wanted you, but I never thought I’d be lying here with you now.”
“So we are finally full circle,” he mused, his thumbs slowly tracing my lips. “This is it.”
“Yes. Finally, we’ve arrived where we were always meant to be.”
“I would do it all again to get here,” he murmured, kissing my lips.
“So would I,” I breathed against his mouth.
I let it all go in that kiss and surrendered to everything. All the danger, the hurt, and the fear was behind us now.
All I had left to do was live.
Epilogue
Three years later
“Shannon!” I could hear Charlie calling me. “They’re here!”
“Coming!” I called, drying my hands.
“Shall I wake Sophie up?” he asked, kissing my lips.
“Go on. She might need changing,” I smiled, watching him race to get our daughter.
We had conceived almost a year after our wedding. It was still difficult to get my head around the fact Charlie and I were parents, let alone that I was already expecting our second child.
I opened the door to Grace and Mac. Once I left New York, Grace took over running the marketing side of Downing International with Lorna, which involved spending a lot of time with Mac. As fate had it, they fell in love, much to Charlie’s and my surprise. It seemed Charlie could influence Mac’s womanizing ways, after all. Once he and I were married and expecting Sophie, Mac saw the life he wanted.
“Here she is,” Mac smiled, “my wonderful sister-in-law.”
“Hi, Mac,” I beamed, hugging him tightly.
“How are you? My nephew is growing, I see,” he said as he patted my stomach.
“Mac,” I laughed. “He could be a girl.”
“You look wonderful, Shan,” Grace beamed.
“So do you,” I replied as Mac and Grace walked into our home.
“Look, Sophie, Uncle Mac and Auntie Grace have come to see you.” I would never get used to seeing Charlie with our daughter. It always made me breathless, knowing that he and I had created this precious little gift from our love for each other.
“Hello, Sophie!” Mac put on his best baby voice. “Are you going to give Uncle Mac a kiss?” Sophie giggled, hiding her face in Charlie’s shoulder. “Do I have to tickle you to get one?” She giggled even louder, squirming in Charlie’s arms.
“It’s okay, Sophie, Daddy will protect you.” Charlie smirked at his brother. “You’ve lost your touch with the ladies, Mac,” he teased, putting Sophie on the ground so she could walk. She stumbled a little, but she had only been walking for a few weeks.
“She is so cute, Shan,” Grace sighed as Sophie stumbled over before clinging to my leg.
“She is a handful though.” I smiled as she held her arms up for me to pick her up.
“What time is everyone else getting here?” Mac asked, sitting down.
“Lorna and Bradley are in London at the moment, visiting his sister. They will arrive tomorrow along with Jennet and my mom.”
“I can’t believe Sophie will be two tomorrow. Where has the time gone?” Grace cooed as Sophie beamed her perfect smile at her.
“I know!” I looked towards Charlie, who was watching me in awe. I had no idea why he looked at me that way—as if I was the air he breathed.
“Well, I think we should start the celebration early.” Mac smiled, taking an envelope out of his pocket. “This is for Sophie,” he said as he passed the envelope to Charlie.
I watched as Charlie opened the envelope. “Mac, this is too much.”
“I got lucky with some stock shares. I want you to put it in her trust fund. I’ve set up another account for when baby bump arrives.” Charlie moved over to sit next to me, handing me a trust fund worth over half a million dollars.
“Mac,” I gasped. “We don’t…”
“I know you don’t need it, but I want to provide for them. They are my family. I don’t care if you waste it all on toys, or if they blow it all when they turn eighteen.”
“Thank you,” I whimpered, hugging him tightly. “Sophie and baby bump are lucky to have you, Mac.”
“Shan,” Charlie chuckled, pulling me into his arms. “Try to sleep. You’ll be exhausted in the morning.”
“There’s so much to do in the morning. Did you ring the caterers?”
“Yes.”
“What about the marque? What if it rains?” I was panicking. Charlie ran his hands over my stomach soothingly, and I could feel our baby flutter at the touch.
“Sweetheart, relax. Everything is under control. Mrs. Gray will be here first thing in the morning. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Do you think we’ve gone overboard? I mean, it’s only Sophie’s second birthday.”
“No. It’s not our fault she has so many people who love her. It will be nice to get everyone together.”
“I can’t believe you got Mrs. Gray to organize everything. She is busy enough, you know.”
“She offered, actually. She has a real soft spot for you Mrs. Downing-Collins.” It was easy taking part of Charlie’s name when we married. I wanted to belong to him in every way possible. It still sent my heart racing when I heard him say my name.
“She did us proud on our wedding,” I sighed, running my hands down his chest. Charlie and I married on the beach near our house. The reception was held in our own back garden, which was over three acres of land. It was breathtaking. Mrs. Gray organized the wedding I had always dreamed of.
“She did indeed,” Charlie smiled, kissing my lips.
“I still can’t believe what Mac and Grace did. Should we accept it?”
“I don’t think we have a choice. Mac wants Sophie and baby bump to have it.”
“Our children will be the most spoilt children in England,” I teased.
“No, that will always be reserved for the Field family,” Charlie sniggered.
The Fields and Downings had come to an understanding now—the truce still intact in a small way. Sir Phillip and Veronica had softened a little, and were concentrating more on their children. It wasn’t all about money and power anymore. They finally understood the two companies would never merge, so the power feud was over.
It didn’t mean everything went back to the way it had been, though. I knew Megan would always love Charlie, and I didn’t want to be drawn into what was right and wrong. I knew our love
was right no matter what she said. I didn’t need her in my life, but it was comforting to know some bridges had been mended after our meeting in London. I was free—I owed Megan nothing anymore.
Once Charlie and I moved to England, it became easier to distance ourselves. I wasn’t pulled into events that put me in contact with the Field family. As the years drifted by, we all just moved on. Will finally found someone and married a year after Charlie and me. Megan began dating Tim Scott again, and to my surprise, got engaged. She may even be married now. I wasn’t too sure. None of it really concerned me anymore. I had my life, and I was finally living it.
Sophie was giggling as she blew out the candles on her enormous pink birthday cake.
It was so satisfying, looking around at all the people I loved. I had come so far thanks to most of the people who were stood around this table.
Charlie was right: the moment Mrs. Gray arrived, I stopped panicking. She had an amazing calming effect on me.
“See, my dear? It has all gone effortlessly,” she whispered in my ear while she began to serve the cake.
“You didn’t have to do this, you know.” I smiled, passing her some napkins.
“I would never turn down a chance to come and see you.”
“Thank you,” I sighed, touching her arm. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”
“Charlie would have come that day whether I sent your letter of not. Seeing the two of you now, I have no doubt about that. I’ve told you all this before.”
“But you did send the letter, and that was what made him come,” I grinned.
“You are a remarkable woman, Shannon. I always thought that about you. The things you were willing to sacrifice to keep him safe? No one deserves more happiness than you.”
“I’m so happy,” I beamed as Charlie came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me.
“Are you two hogging the cake?”
“No,” I teased, handing him a piece.
“Your mother has arrived,” he whispered softly. “She’s annoyed her plane was delayed.”
I looked in the distance, seeing my mother with Sophie. She doted on her. With Sophie, my mother could see the years she had missed with me.
“I’m so sorry I’m late, Lizzie. The stupid plane was delayed. What is the point of having a private plane if you have to wait for the air space?”
“It’s okay,” I smiled, hugging her tightly. “You’re here now.”
“How is my second grandchild?” she asked, looking down at my stomach. “What are you hoping for Sophie? A baby brother or a baby sister?”
“Sister,” Sophie sniggered, jumping up and down in my mother’s arms.
“Well, we’ll find out in three months,” I sighed, rubbing my expanding stomach.
The day slowly moved into evening once Sophie was put to bed. Only close family and friends remained, and we all sat looking out towards the sea with a light log fire burning away.
“You sure have a life here,” Bradley sighed. “I think I would give the city up for this.”
“They have the best of both worlds,” Mac replied. “They can dip in and out whenever they want. Very clever, if you ask me.”
“Why, thank you, dear brother,” Charlie laughed. “Compliments from you are few and far between.”
“Now, boys,” Rachel teased, “no brotherly rivalry tonight.”
“You never did beat me at golf last month.” I rolled my eyes at Mac. Charlie and Mac were so competitive it drove Grace and me crazy at times.
“There’s still time. I’ve been taking lessons,” Charlie muttered, getting up to get more drinks.
“He’ll never beat me,” Mac muttered to me under his breath.
“He won’t stop until he does,” I smirked.
Mac and Grace were the only ones staying at our home, and they had retired for the night. Charlie and I lay on the beach alone, watching the fire slowly fade out.
“Today was kind of perfect, don’t you think?” I muttered as I lay against his chest while he made slow circles on my stomach.
“More than perfect.”
“It’s nice getting everyone together. I loved all the photo albums you put together, too.” I had started to wonder what Charlie had been up to with his old films, because I’d seen many old pictures scattered across his office desk over the last few weeks.
“It was nice to relive some old memories, and Sophie seemed to really enjoy herself.”
“Everyone is besotted with her. I don’t think it will be long until Grace and Mac start thinking about children.”
“I know,” Charlie breathed. “Our family keeps growing.”
“I think we might be having a boy.”
“Do you now?”
“My cravings are different this time,” I muttered, running my hands over the soft sand.
“I don’t care what we have, but I do hope he has your eyes, like Sophie.”
“He?” I teased, turning to look at him.
“I love you, Shan.” That look was in his eyes again. “So much.”
“Why do you keep looking at me like that? You’ve been doing it all day,” I asked, running my hands through his hair.
“Like what?” Charlie raised an eyebrow at me.
“Like I am your air or something.”
“I can’t help it,” he beamed, leaning in to kiss my lips. “Do you know how happy you have made me? First you agree to marry me—you even give up New York and full control of your company. Then you give me Sophie. I thought I loved you before, but compared to how I feel now, that was nothing. You are my air.” I smiled against his jaw as his lips crashed into mine.
Charlie was right, but I didn’t regret a single decision. I had gained so much more in the choices I had made.
Every moment of my life had led me here, and I would never be able to make Charlie understand just what he meant to me. There were no words to describe my love for him, and now that we had Sophie and another baby on the way, my life was complete. Charlie had given me everything, and I took so much comfort in knowing he felt the same way about me.
I had never thought a love this deep could exist, but as I lost myself in our sweet tender kiss, I embraced everything.
I never had to fear loneliness again, or worry what was to come.
My path had always been Charlie, and I would follow him anywhere, no matter the obstacles that might lay ahead. I knew they would be nothing compared to what we had already overcome.
“You know, I’ve been waiting for this part of our life together for so long, I can hardly believe we’re finally here,” he mused as our lips parted.
“Considering what we’ve been through, I think we deserve some peace and quiet.” I giggled as he placed soft, playful kisses against my neck.
“I couldn’t agree more, Sweetheart, and I can’t wait for a whole lifetime of this,” he sighed, capturing my lips with his once more. I sighed in complete agreement.
Love—I had always known it was worth the fight, and being here in Charlie’s loving arms, it made all the past fade into insignificance.
I was here with my Mr. Notice Me, finally living the life I’d always dreamed of and more.
THE END
Acknowledgments
I have so many people to thank for their help and encouragement with Embrace Me, but firstly, I need to thank my editors and dear friends, Sally and Liz. They pushed me through the editing of this book, and have made it what it is today.
Thank you to NeeNee for her pre-reading skills.
I couldn’t have done this book without you ladies. Thank you.
A special thank you goes out to Jem, who pushed me to write this book in the first place.
I want to thank Holly for her invaluable knowledge of self-publishing and her astounding talent with the front cover.
I want to thank my husband, Jon, for sticking by me and my mood swings, and my family for their never ending belief in me.
Thank you to Izzie for her help while I was wri
ting this story.
My thanks and gratitude also go out to all my girls at The Hive Book Reviews: Liz, Jem, MrsA, Ashley, Heather, NJ, Sally, Lexi, and Kayla. I feel blessed to have you all in my life.
Lastly, I want to thank you—my readers, for taking the time out of your everyday lives to come on this journey with me.
Enjoy, and thank you.
Love,
Rebecca Turley
About the Author
Rebecca Turley lives in the captivating town of Malvern, Worcestershire in the UK with her husband Jon and cat Millie. A hopeless romantic like most women, she enjoys becoming lost in a love story almost as much as writing one.
Embrace Me is the sequel to her debut novel Notice Me.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Embrace Me Page 26