She stared at where their hands were intertwined. “You’re here now.”
“Yes. For as long as you’ll let me.”
Tilly glanced at the vacant lot. The image on the blueprints was hard to envision over the weeds and uneven ground, but Flynn could make it a reality. For her. He’d offered her heaven, love, and everything that went with it. And he was literally going to move earth to make her dreams come true.
“I’ve been miserable without you.” Way to hold on to her resolve. Be strong. Make him earn it. But he was her kryptonite and he was serious. The center, Lynne, waiting until plans were in place before he came to her house—none of that was merely talk. He was sincere, and he was making strides to change his ways.
He dropped a kiss on her forehead, his warm lips lingering on her skin. It ignited all the cravings that had haunted each night she’d spent alone. “Misery doesn’t begin to describe it, Tilly. I thought I had little purpose in life outside of work. Then you left. When I wasn’t busy with Lynne or these plans, I was reminiscing about every second we spent together.” His voice dropped to a low growl that curled her toes. “Some more than others.”
“Ohmigod. Me, too.”
They both laughed. She squeezed his hand. He’d been there for her when she thought he’d abandoned her. He’d already waited patiently. They’d known each other for years—enough time had been wasted. “Have you and Lynne eaten yet? I’m starving, and I need to hear all about this crazy, fabulous idea of yours. And I think I have new name for it.”
Epilogue
One year later…
“Ready for this?” Flynn grinned at Tilly. His wife’s cheeks were flushed with excitement and she hadn’t quit smiling all day.
Tilly looked up at the sign that read Crazy J’s Learning Center and grinned. “Absolutely. But it’s hard to hold these scissors.” Because they were as tall as she was.
“Let me help. Smile for the cameras.” He took the burden of the weight, which he’d been insisting on since they’d arrived. But she’d argued, How often does one get to hold a five-foot-tall pair of scissors?
She took a moment to straighten her tiara. This one was flashy and full of fake sparkle. One of his favorites. He liked seeing her in them and now that she was back to being around kids all day, she donned them more often.
He was going to buy her a real one for Christmas.
He posed with her to cut the ribbon. Wes and Mara stood off to the side with Lynne. Mara cradled her little son. Flynn would never forget when the call came from Wes, the exuberant first-time dad.
“It’s a boy. Samuel Clark.”
Wes’s dad had been named Sam, but Flynn couldn’t remember a Clark in the family tree. “As in Clark Kent? Why not Kal-El?”
“Fuck you. When you have a kid named Harley or Quinn, I’m going to remember this moment.”
Flynn had laughed, but he could envision it happening whether he and Tilly had a boy or a girl. The thought of having kids no longer gave him palpitations. He might be a dad someday. He was basically an uncle now. He’d gone back to being a brother. His mom had said she’d start therapy, but he wasn’t holding out hope. Ultimately, he wanted her to get help, but he couldn’t have her toxicity around his family until she did.
Lynne had more health troubles than he’d anticipated, but on days like today, she could hang out with them. And he made sure she did regularly. Tilly had named one wing of the center after her.
He took it all in. His new life. The new center that had brought Tilly back to him.
There’d be no clients today, just celebrating. The rest of the week would be staff orientation, then sessions would start. Many parents had called asking for in-home tutoring, but Tilly couldn’t bring herself to tackle that just yet. Flynn had made sure the building was wired with cameras so no session went unmonitored. If she started an outreach program, he’d do nothing short of equipping her staff with body cams.
But that venture could wait. Coming off their wedding and a month-long honeymoon at Lake Webber in their cabin, she was diving into running a business, and he was dedicated to making her blissfully happy.
Shortly after he’d pretty much begged her to take him back, she’d quit both of her jobs and moved in with him. Their house had one room just for her Wacky Monday wear. Items his size were now in the collection because he’d been informed that if he wanted to drop by on Mondays, he had to look the part. And anything the missus wanted, she got.
When she was busy at work, and Matthew had all the bases covered at the office, he’d found himself a new hobby. He’d bought the rental house from Mrs. Blumenthal and made it his winter project. Then he’d found another rental house in sore need of updating, and he had his eye on a third. The musty smell and the memories it elicited no longer bothered him like they used to.
After the ribbon cutting and pictures, Tilly towed him inside. He pulled her into his side and draped his arm across her shoulders.
She grinned up at him. “I can’t believe this is done. That we’re already at this point. Are you going to take on another project at work?”
“Nope.” He was split in a lot of directions, but he also staffed accordingly now instead of doing nothing but work. His job was no longer an excuse to hide from life. He was surrounded by reasons to get out of the office and loosen his tie—or not wear one at all. “I have the perfect woman and I need to be her Puddin’.”
_____________________________
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About the Author
Marie Johnston writes paranormal and contemporary romance and has collected several awards in both genres. Before she was a writer, she was a microbiologist. Depending on the situation, she can be oddly unconcerned about germs or weirdly phobic. She’s also a licensed medical technician and has worked as a public health microbiologist and as a lab tech in hospital and clinic labs. Marie’s been a volunteer EMT, a college instructor, a security guard, a phlebotomist, a hotel clerk, and a coffee pourer in a bingo hall. All fodder for a writer!! She has four kids, an old cat, and a puppy that’s bigger than half her kids.
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More Contemporary Romance—Coming Soon!
Fanboys:
Unmistaken Identity (Book 1)
The Walker Five:
Conflict of Interest (Book 1)
Mustang Summer (Book 2)
Long Hard Fall (Book 3)
Table of Contents
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
Epilogue
About the Author
Highest Bidder (Fanboys Book 2) Page 16