She was trembling in his arms but her eyes told him what she wasn’t saying. Joan loved him and it scared her to death. “Tell me how to make you feel safe with me and I’ll do it.”
Her dark lashes came down shielding her eyes from his and pushing a tear from her eyes.
Evelyn said do something big to show her and it’s not enough.
Liam bent his head down and pressed his forehead against hers resisting the urge to kiss her and remind her how right they were for each other. “I canceled my deal and my father’s deal with Crenshaw this morning, hours before the wedding. I’ll move to Arizona. I’ll build you your own damn hospital if that’s what it takes to make you happy. I’ll sign away all my money to you if I’m caught cheating. I’ll—”
“What if I get cancer and lose all my hair? What if I refuse Botox and plastic surgery? What if I end up the crinkliest, ugliest old woman—”
“Then I’ll shave my head and be bald with you. I’ll get the best doctors in the world and I won’t leave your side.”
She was smiling at him.
God thank you.
“And if I get ugly and wrinkled?”
“You will get wrinkled and so will I.” He brushed her hair back with his fingers. “Every line I see on your face will be evidence that I’m the luckiest bastard to have ever lived because it’ll mean you’re still putting up with me.”
She laughed as another tear rolled down her cheek.
“I’ll love you and want you no matter the condition, year, or circumstance. I still love you after your dad kicked me in the balls, don’t I? That’s got to be proof.”
“What?” Her blue eyes rounded up at him.
“I know I just asked you but I can’t help but ask again,” Liam said pulling her close. “Will you do me the small favor of putting up with me for the rest of my life?”
Joan smiled, her eyes on his lips. “But you still owe me from the last favor I did for you.”
“Is that a yes?”
When her blue eyes met his again they were bright and so very beautiful. “Yes.” She smiled. Liam kissed her as the room erupted in applause. Her arms encircled his neck as she opened up to him telling him wordlessly that she wasn’t holding back no matter who was watching.
“I love you too,” she said when he drew back.
“Perhaps we can exchange the rings?” the priest asked meeting them in the aisle with the rings.
Liam slid his mother’s ring onto her finger with the band of white diamonds he’d had made especially for Joan. He leaned toward her loving the way her eyes welled as she looked at the ring.
“Wait, wait, wait,” the priest said. “She has to put your ring on your finger.”
Joan slid the band on his finger. “I’m sorry I don’t have a ring as special as the one you gave me.”
“You’re all I need,” he said ready to kiss her, he cut a look to the priest since he wasn’t about to be interrupted again.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You can kiss the bride again,” the priest laughed.
Liam gathered her to his chest. He claimed her lips with his, kissing her as he’d longed to kiss her. Deeply, slowly, and passionately as he knew he would always kiss her.
EPILOGUE
“I am so damn proud of you,” Westley said hugging Liam.
Liam laughed as he returned the hug. “You were right. When you find the right woman no one else will ever compare. I can’t imagine trying to find someone else after Joan. She’s it, she’s all, and that’s it.”
“Yep. If you fuck this up, every other woman you try to date will feel like a sloppy fifth compared to what you have with Joan.” Westley worked to keep his smile in place. Since he was speaking from experience the bitter taste of the truth in his mouth made him feel sick.
Liam nodded watching as Westley threw back a shot of bourbon. He realized in that moment what hell Westley had to be going through not being with the woman he was in love with. “After my honeymoon, I’m going to help you find Elizabeth or Beth or whatever she’s going by. Okay, West? I swear.”
“She’s probably married by now. Or she could be dead, you didn’t see where I grew up, Liam. From before I was adopted. It’s not so easy to find people who come from the system.”
Westley put the shot glass down.
“You can’t move on until you find out for sure. Right?” Liam asked him.
“Right. So, I’ll find her.” Westley smiled. “Your bride just finished her third dance with her father. You’d better jump in before someone else does.”
As Westley knew Liam would, he rushed to Joan’s side and claimed her for the next dance.
The way they looked at each other was so beautifully rare. Westley remembered what it felt like to have Beth in his arms when they’d been hiding from her father.
It wasn’t sex with Beth. They’d just been kids after all, but they’d been so much more than friends. He’d trusted her with his life and she’d trusted him with hers.
Westley was happy for Liam but being so close to a couple that had what he lost made the constant pain of emptiness he’d lived with for so long, hurt like it was new.
Where are you, Beth?
To find out what is up next for Billionaire Westley Hawthorne, read book two in Olivia B. Dannon’s, Bargaining with Billionaires Series entitled, Hunted by a Billionaire.
About the Author
Olivia B. Dannon, that’s me. I was raised in a big, happy, rowdy family where imagination and love were nourished. I am happily married with two adorable (rambunctious-giggly-happy-funny) children and a hyperactive ball of fur we were told is a dog but believe is part road runner.
Romance and Happily Ever Afters, filled with adventure and sometimes suspense is what I love to write most. Hearing from you, my readers just makes my heart sing! Drop me a line on Facebook, and please do not forget to tell me how much you love my books with a REVIEW! I read them all, one-liners, long ones, medium sized ones, every single one.
Acknowledgements
Thank you, Father in Heaven for blessing my life with my wonderful family, children, and friends. Thank you for my life. I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.
This last year has been especially trying with illness in the family and heavy medical bills. I want to thank Kathy Moore, for offering to edit this book for me. I feel truly blessed to have such a good friend in you. Thank you for all your hard work, you truly are awesome.
I also want to thank my editor, Kathy Krick for offering to go over this book as well since it is such a monster sized book it was great to get as many eyes on it as possible. Thank you so much for your hard work and generosity!
Inner Circle Beta Team, you gals are rock stars! Thank you so much for sticking with me through this last year where I’ve been MIA so much with all that’s been going on. I don’t know what I’d do without you!
Lucy Wright, thank you for naming Liam Wainwright, and for reading this book for me as I wrote. You helped me take the leap into writing Romantic Comedy, which I really enjoyed. Thank you!
Thank you, Joan Clark for allowing me to use your name in the book to celebrate your birthday. I hope you enjoyed reading the first in the Bargaining with Billionaires series.
Olivia’s Street Smart Angels, I am so happy to get to chat with you and hear all your input on my books. Your support and helping me get the word out about my books is truly awesome. Thank you very much.
An I.O.U. from a Billionaire Page 35