by J. S. Cooper
“Only because he loves you.” I kissed the top of her head, and Jakob walked over to us with a huge smile on his face.
“Daddy loves me, and Daddy loves Mommy,” Isabella said as she pulled away from me. “And Daddy loves baby Mickey.” She reached down and rubbed my belly.
“We’re not calling him Mickey, Isabella.” I laughed, and Jakob and I gazed into each other’s eyes.
“Yes, Mickey,” she said with a small pout, and then looked up at Jakob. “Daddy, please?”
“How can I say no to that face?” he asked me with a smile as he sat and put his arm around me.
“You’ll have to learn to soon.” I smiled and leaned back into him. We gazed out at the aquamarine ocean, both of us silent as we sat there with Isabella lying comfortably in my arms.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked me softly, his fingers twining in my hair.
“That first night on the island with you,” I said, and looked at him. “How dangerous and magical it felt and how confused I was by my attraction to you.”
“Do you wish I’d taken you there instead of here?”
“No, Miami Beach is fine.” I looked to the right and stared at the bright red lifeguard hut and the sunbathers a couple of yards beyond it. “I’m not sure I would have wanted to have gone back there with Izzy.” I reached over and touched his arm. “It’s still raw, and as glad as I am to have the whole truth finally come out, it still makes me feel uncomfortable at times to relive the memories.”
“I understand.” He nodded, and his eyes searched mine. “You feel safe now though?”
“Yes, I feel safe and loved and at peace.” I sighed in contentment. “This is the life I’ve always wanted.”
“You don’t regret not still writing your scintillating movie reviews?” He laughed as I made a face at him.
“I don’t miss writing them, and I’m sure no one misses reading them.” I giggled, and Jakob’s eyes searched mine.
“I miss reading them,” he said with a small smile. “I miss trying to guess what you really thought about the movie.”
“I still can’t believe you used to read them.” I shook my head. “It boggles me that you were actually attracted to me before we even met.”
“I guess some part of me has always known that you were the one for me. Maybe it was our destiny to be together.”
“You don’t believe in destiny.” I rolled my eyes at him and gasped as I felt the baby kicking. I grabbed his hand and placed it on my stomach. “He’s kicking again,” I said as I lay back and Jakob rubbed my stomach.
“Mickey kicking?” Isabella started talking animatedly, and I gave Jakob a look.
“Darling, your brother’s name is going to be Nicholas, not Mickey,” he said, and looked at me. I nodded, my throat suddenly constricted with emotion.
“Like Granddad?” Isabella asked, and I nodded, my heart overflowing with love and happiness toward my family.
“Yes, just like Granddad.”
“Okay,” she said, and jumped up. “Daddy, I wanna build a sand castle.”
“Another one?” He groaned, and I laughed.
“Yes, Daddy.” She smiled happily and tugged on his hand. “Come and help me.”
“Fine.” He jumped up and looked down at me. “Are you sure you want to go back to get your PhD? I’m more than happy for you to be a housewife.”
“You wish.” I smiled at him. “Besides, I’m only going to school part-time, and I’m going to be assisting one of Blake’s classes.”
“It’s a good thing I trust you,” Jakob said lightly as he stared down at me.
“Or what?”
“Or maybe I wouldn’t be so understanding that your best friend is a man.”
“You’re my best friend, Jakob.”
“Well, your other best friend, then.”
I laughed as he made a face at me. “You have known that Blake and I are only friends forever, honey. You can’t still be jealous.”
“I’ll always be jealous of the other men in your life.” He knelt down next to me. “But I know you love me, and I know you’re mine. You’ll always be mine, and I’ll always love you. You’ve made me happier than I ever imagined I’d be. I love you even more each day, and I will never stop loving you or wanting you. You’ve blessed me with the most wonderful family. I’m so grateful that we’re one big happy family. Almost like the von Trapps.”
“Oh, Jakob.” I laughed and held his face carefully as I kissed him. “I love you more than words can say. I’ll never stop loving you. And we’re nothing like the von Trapps. We’re not fleeing the Nazis, and I’m not a nun.”
“You can dress up as a nun tonight, if you want.” He grinned, his hand sliding down my waist. “That would make it a very interesting night.”
“You wish, honey,” I said with a giggle. “You wish.” He laughed as he stood up and walked over to Isabella.
I leaned back and let my face soak in the sun’s rays as I thought about the outfit I’d wear to bed tonight so that we could role-play one of his fantasies. I smiled to myself, secure in the knowledge that all of my dreams had finally come true.
Don't miss the rest of the Swept Away series by New York Times bestselling author J.S. Cooper
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Illusion
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In this prequel to the Swept Away series that is best read after ILLUSION, Bianca is determined to find justice for her father after his death. But to do that, she must get in bed with his enemies . . .
Charade
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Was Jakob just as surprised as she to find himself alone with her . . .or could the man she’s fallen for be her captor? Find out in the second novel in the Swept Away series!
Disillusioned
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J. S. COOPER
J. S. COOPER is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels in The Ex Games and The Private Club series, as well as other series and stand-alone novels. Visit jscooperauthor.com, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
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by j. s. cooper and gallery books
the swept away series
Masquerade
Disillusioned
Charade
Illusion
also by j. s. cooper
The Ex Games
The Ex Games 2
The Ex Games 3
After the Ex Games
The Private Club
The Private Club 2
The Private Club 3
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Gallery Books
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Jaimie Mancham-Case
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New
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First Gallery Books trade paperback edition December 2015
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Cover photograph by iStockPhoto
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cooper, J. S. (Jaimie Suzi)
Resolution / J.S. Cooper.—First Gallery Books trade paperback edition.
pages ; cm.—(Swept away ; 3)
1. Castaways—Fiction. 2. Man-woman relationships—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3603.O582637R47 2015
813'.6—dc23
2015017958
ISBN 978-1-4767-9100-5
ISBN 978-1-4767-9105-0 (ebook)
contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Part 1
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Part 2
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
About J.S. Cooper