“I’m sorry, Jonathan. I won’t be coming back to London because it isn’t home. It was a place to live, to stay when I thought I didn’t have anything for me here. But I was wrong.”
“This is about Sebastian.” He sounded defeated.
“In part, yes,” she admitted. “But it’s also about me. And during my time here, I’ve come to realize that I stayed away from these people too long. I didn’t give them a chance to be my family. And they are.”
Shoulders slumped now, he nodded. “I really do hear you now,” he said. “I understand and I wish you well.”
“I wish you the same,” she said. “And I hope one day you find a woman who will make you question everything you ever believed was true about life.”
He looked at her quizzically, confused. She really did hope he figured it out one day, she thought, as she walked him to the door and said goodbye.
Because thanks to Sebastian, she understood so much more now. It had been easy to tell herself she didn’t want a forever relationship, that she didn’t believe in love before she’d experienced those emotions.
Now she couldn’t imagine living without them.
She couldn’t imagine being without Sebastian.
* * *
SEBASTIAN SPENT A few hours at the office, which was quiet on a Saturday. Nobody was in and he had the place to himself. After going over some paperwork and killing as much time as he could manage, he decided to go home. Throughout the day, he hadn’t heard from Ashley on his phone, and the thought made his stomach churn.
He didn’t know what to expect when he saw her next, but he knew he needed an answer to one very important question. Was she staying in New York or returning to London? Up until now, she’d been adamant about going back.
But last night she’d told him she loved him. Either that changed things for her or it didn’t. But he couldn’t go on living with that uncertainty hanging over his head.
He promised himself that if she told him she was leaving, he’d let her go like a man, without begging her to stay. Because one thing he knew for sure, she had to be the one to come to him on her own. No pressure.
He wouldn’t be like her ex, begging for scraps.
He’d handle rejection like a man.
* * *
WHEN ASHLEY WENT to Sebastian’s apartment and found he wasn’t there, she was disappointed. And nervous. Where had he gone after she’d sent him away so she could be with Jonathan?
She didn’t know what was going on in Sebastian’s mind, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. She went to Ethan’s and talked him into letting her into Sebastian’s apartment so she could wait for him.
When time began to pass and the afternoon headed toward evening, she decided she’d make him dinner so they could talk when he returned. But since she hadn’t thought things out, and going through his cabinets she didn’t find much, she had nothing to cook for him but spaghetti and jarred sauce. It would have to do.
She found wine he’d obviously gotten from Sei Bellisimo and poured herself a glass of red, reliving the moments they’d spent together at the vineyard. She realized she was making herself at home in his apartment without being invited. At that thought, she took another long sip and stirred the sauce in the pan.
She had music playing from her phone, soft love songs, to torture herself with as she waited. Finally, she heard the sound of the key in the lock, and her heart began racing in her chest as Sebastian let himself inside.
She shut the stove top off and rubbed her hands on her jeans, blowing out a deep breath.
“Who’s here?” he called out, just as she met him in the entryway.
“Hi.” She treated him to an awkward wave.
“Ashley.” His voice sounded wary, his expression emotionless. “What are you doing here?”
She rubbed her hands on the front of her jeans, on her thighs. “Ethan let me in to wait. You were gone a long time, so I decided to make myself busy and I started dinner. You didn’t have much to work with,” she said, realizing she was so nervous she was rambling.
He tossed his keys on the credenza. “Where’s lover boy?”
“He left. I assume he’s on his way back to London.”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “He get the message this time?”
“For certain.” She shoved her hands into her front pockets, feeling awkward because he wasn’t making this easy.
His guard was up, and for that she didn’t blame him.
“Sebastian, I’m sorry about Jonathan. About asking you to leave, but I had to close that door once and for all.”
Without answering, he walked into his family room, and she followed, letting him process her words. Finally, he turned to her, and in his eyes, she saw the pain she’d caused him, in his face, the anxiety he felt thanks to her.
“It’s not the ex that has me worked up,” he said.
She came up to him and put her hand on his shoulder. “Then what is it?”
What could she do to get the soft, tender Sebastian back? The one without walls between them.
“It’s you. It’s all the uncertainty between us.”
She knew then what she had to do. “I love you, that’s certain.” Her hand slid upward, stroking his cheek. “And I realize we both came into this with no expectations. We both agreed we didn’t do relationships. Personally, I didn’t even believe in love, but you taught me that it really does exist.”
He grasped her wrist. “It’s not enough. You’ve also said, over and over, that your life is in London. If you expect me to have any kind of long-distance relationship, you need to know that’s off the table. It’s all or nothing, Ashley. And I want all of you, right here, in New York. With me.”
She blew out a relieved breath. If there was any part of her that worried that, though he loved her, he didn’t want a future, that part was now put to rest.
“I know I’m asking a lot,” he went on, unaware of her feelings. His grip on her wrist tightened with his words. Nerves. She felt his nerves as well as her own. “And I know your life is there. Your home is there, and I’m asking you to give up everything to be with me. It’s selfish. But that’s what I’m asking for.”
She smiled so wide it hurt. “That’s really good to know, because while I was making dinner, I was wondering if me, here, is something you’d like to come home to every night.”
“Wait. What?” He froze, as if afraid he hadn’t heard her correctly.
She met his gaze, willing him to understand. “You’re wrong when you say London is my home. You’re my home, Sebastian. You make me feel things I never believed were possible. Your love is worth giving up London for, because staying here, I get everything.”
He picked her up, surprising her, and she squealed as he spun her around, placing her down on her feet so he could kiss her, long and hard.
“You’re my everything,” he said, his smile as big as hers. “You understand me. You believe in me. You make me whole, giving me something I never understood I needed. And if I could give up my whole life for you, I would. Instead I promise you will never regret staying here.”
“Why would I? You’re here. My family is here. My life is here.”
Suddenly, he dropped to his knees and she gasped. “This is spontaneous, unplanned, and will be a great story to tell our children, but Ashley, I want you to marry me. To be my partner. My better half. My everything.” He reached for her hand and she placed it inside of his. “Ring to follow,” he said with a charming grin. “So what do you say?”
“I say yes.”
Upon hearing that, he rose to his feet, picked her up, and carried her into the bedroom, where he stripped off first her clothes, then his, and proceeded to seal their agreement in the way they did best.
He made love to her.
He made her his.
Epilogue
SEBASTIAN ACCOMPANIED ASHLEY to London to sever her lease, pack up her apartment, quit her job, and say her goodbyes. It wasn’t that he thought she’d s
ee the place she’d lived for so long and change her mind about him and moving to New York permanently, but he was hedging his bets by accompanying her every step of the way.
Before they left, he took her to Tiffany, where he insisted she pick out her engagement ring. Considering she was going to be wearing it for the rest of her life, he wanted her to love everything about the special piece of jewelry.
Due for a new iPhone, he went into the Apple store to purchase one, whereupon he deleted every number that was formerly his black book of women. He’d never be needing those digits again. He couldn’t believe he’d ever been that man. He was so much happier now, knowing he could look in the mirror and both like and respect the guy staring back.
Unfortunately, Ethan had fallen into a funk after the California revelations, but the news that Ashley was moving home had helped his mood. Knowing she’d be a real part of the family also soothed the beast in him somewhat. The man did like having his family together.
Parker was Parker, thrilled they were engaged, but still antsy and hard to read. Ever since he’d had to give up the sport he loved and settle into a desk job, Sebastian had worried about him. Ethan did, too. But until he made peace with his life, there was little anyone could do for him.
Sebastian was now all about romance, and he was convinced that a good woman would solve all Parker’s problems. His middle brother didn’t want to hear it. Soon, he’d be taking a trip to scope out places for a Knight Time Technology corporate retreat. Hopefully getting out of the office and spending time away would be good for his soul.
With Sierra getting married soon, a huge church affair with a country club afterward, Sebastian and Ashley had agreed to a small, intimate family gathering next month. Not only did Ashley not want to steal the spotlight from Sierra, she didn’t want the big trappings of a large event.
She just wanted his ring on her finger and their lives intertwined. He couldn’t agree more. He’d give her anything she asked for. Even if it meant having their parents in the same room for the first time in what felt like forever, they’d survive. There was always a chance one of them would be too busy to show up… Both Sebastian and Ashley would be fine with that.
As long as they were together.
Next up in The Knight Brothers Series is TAKE ME TONIGHT, Parker’s story:
ORDER your copy of TAKE ME TONIGHT by clicking HERE.
And
ORDER your copy of TAKE THE BRIDE by clicking HERE.
TAKE ME TONIGHT
He was going through the motions… and then he met her.
Parker Knight had and lost it all. Now he works for his family’s business, wearing a suit and pretending to be happy. A weekend away to plan a corporate retreat turns into a revelation when he lays eyes on Emily Stevens, the sexy owner of a small lodge that’s seen better days. One look at Emily and the run down resort and suddenly Parker has a purpose. He turns his short stay into a longer one, intending to act on the intense chemistry and desire that runs hot between them. While there, he plans to save Emily and her aging father’s business with an infusion of cash and manpower.
But Emily doesn’t trust slick city guys, especially one who is going to leave when his time off is over. No matter how incredible he makes her feel, in bed and out.
Parker has his hands full, not only with a wary Emily but with someone who doesn’t want the lodge to succeed, and if things keep getting worse, not even a Knight can save her.
ORDER your copy of TAKE ME TONIGHT by clicking HERE.
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About the Author
Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly’s career spans over a decade and a half with various New York publishing houses, and she is now an Indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting minute of her publishing journey. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at www.carlyphillips.com.
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