by Gigi Marlowe
"What do you mean? How is it cruel to give back to families wh--"
"That's right, families. Something I can never have." Jill felt the tears flooding her eyes. She was so tired of crying, but she didn't know how to stop. She couldn't snap herself out of her feelings of self-pity.
"Will you just listen to yourself, Jill," Lilly said. Her voice had a hard edge to it that Jill wasn't accustomed to hearing from her normally docile sister. "I know you can't have a family the traditional way, but that doesn't mean you have to spend your entire life alone. You have Dillon. He loves you so much that he's given you the space to work through your pain without leaving you alone. You guys can have a family."
"And how do you think we can do that, huh? Should we just wish our fictitious children into existence?" Jill backed away from her sister in distress. "I will never be like that mom. Look at them," Jill pointed to a mother and daughter walking hand in hand to the registration table. The two had matching brown ponytails, and even from her distance, Jill could see that the two wore the same happy expression. "I can't have that, and it breaks my heart," she complained.
"If you would just listen to me, you'd realize that you can. Did you even take the time to lift your head up out of your grief and find out what this Superhero Fun Run is about?" Lilly gestured to the banner hanging on the balloon archway. It read Wilson House Superhero Fun Run. "This whole event is to raise money for a children's home. The majority of the families you see here are made up of kids who have been adopted."
"Adopted?" Jill asked stunned. She had never suspected that. When Jill imagined adopting, she had always thought of adding international children into your home. She had never thought about adoption in this respect.
"Yes! And there are tons of children who are still waiting to be adopted."
"I never considered adoption," she admitted shamefully.
"There are lots of things you probably haven't considered, yet, Jill. You've been in so much turmoil over your own self-worth that you haven't been able to see past your pain. You have so much love to give. And there are already children who are desperate for someone just like you to love them."
A tear rolled down Jill's face. Was there still hope? She felt goosebumps as her heart fluttered at the thought. All this time she had convinced herself that there was no chance that she could ever love and nurture someone like she wanted, but now. Jill realized how much of a gift Lilly’s invitation to volunteer here had actually been. Taking a deep breath, Jill decided to make the most of the rest of her time by showing some love to the children there. Looking around, she found a little girl with red hair swinging by herself. As Jill walked towards her, her heart felt lighter than it had since she had first received her diagnosis.
Chapter 10
"Thanks for coming to pick me up, Dillon," Jill said as she waved goodbye to a tiny, red-haired girl named Tanya who stood on the broad steps of The Wilson House. Jill had been faithfully volunteering there every Friday evening for the past two months. She had done everything from cooking meals, singing songs, and giving baths, and she loved every minute of it.
She smiled brightly at Dillon and handed him some wildflowers she and Tanya had picked that afternoon. "You seem so happy," Dillon stated. He matched her smile with one of his own. On a whim, Jill leaned over and gave Dillon a soft kiss on the cheek. When her lips touched his skin, she realized how much she missed him.
"I'm happy that you're here,” she replied.
"I miss you, Jill,” Dillon said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Jill blushed. "I miss you, too." Dillon reached over and took Jill's hand. Jill squeezed his in return, and he kissed her fingers lightly. "Thank you, Dillon. Thank you for waiting for me. You've been so patient," Jill paused, unsure of how she would best explain the depth of gratitude she had for Dillon.
"Jill, I love you. I'll wait for you forever if that's what it takes."
"You don't have to wait anymore. I've realized that just because life doesn't happen the way I imagined it, doesn't mean that my dreams have to die. I have a new dream, Dillon, and it involves me, you, and a home full of children."
Dillon glowed with happiness. "That sounds like a beautiful dream, sweetheart. What do you have planned?"
"You know how I've been volunteering at The Wilson House? Well, one day, Tanya and I were talking about family and she told me how much she wished she could have one of her own. She's such a wonderful kid. She deserves a family just as badly as any of the kids in there." Jill looked at Dillon to gauge his reaction. She was pleased to see that he seemed eager to hear her suggestion. "I was thinking, there's no reason why we couldn't give children just like Tanya the loving home that they deserve."
"Do you mean adoption?"
"Exactly, "Jill declared. Dillon drove in silence as he contemplated Jill suggestion.
"I love it!" He finally announced. "I think that's a perfect idea." Jill laughed in relief. She was so happy that Dillon loved her idea. Finally, the two were back together and in sync again.
Months passed, and Dillon and Jill's relationship picked back up right where it had left off. Jill continued to volunteer at The Wilson House, and Dillon would volunteer with her some nights. Tanya became a regular part of the two's life. She was a lively child who always had an easy way of making both Jill and Dillon grin. Secretly, Jill prayed that she and Dillon might be able to adopt Tanya after they got married.
In the meantime, Jill settled for traveling the country with Dillon. She loved how he whisked her away to visit all of her favorite destinations. They had been to the Grand Canyon, Washington D.C, and Vegas. Now, she and Dillon were planning a trip to Ireland together. Jill could finally understand the full vision Dillon had had for their future together. She knew that as long as the two were together, they could weather any storm life threw their way.
Dillon paced the wood floor of his grandparents' house anxiously and fingered the ring box in his pocket. The flight to Ireland had been pleasant enough, but Dillon had still felt like he was going to throw up the entire time. Jill had read a book and slept peacefully on his shoulder, blissfully unaware of the fact that Dillon planned to propose as soon as they arrived at his grandparents' house. He had made all the arrangements already.
He had asked his cousins to put together an engagement party in the back room. Then he had told Jill that his family was throwing a St. Patrick's Day party. He had convinced her to change into a party dress and planned on surprising her with a proposal instead. The bedroom door where Jill had gone to change opened slowly. Dillon caught his breath as he gazed at Jill. She looked just as beautiful tonight as she had when they were on his yacht.
"Do you think this is too fancy?" She asked as she smoothed a wrinkle out of the skirt of her dress.
"You would outshine the room even if you had on a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt," Dillon grabbed her hand and lead her to the doorway of the back room.
"You're so silly, Dillon," she beamed.
Dillon took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. "Are you ready?" He asked, more for himself than for her.
"Of course! I love parties."
Dillon opened the door, and out popped several of his family members from where they had been hidden. "Surprise!" They yelled as tossed green confetti at the pair. Jill laughed and held her hands out to catch some of the confetti as a banner unrolled from the ceiling. It was a picture of the the two racehorses that Dillon had bought for her. The horses stood side by side with all of Jill’s favorite flowers braided delicately in their manes. Jill was surprised to see that Tanya stood on a stool in between the two horses. She held a large sign above her head and a broad grin was plastered across her freckled face. Jill stepped forward to better read what the sign Tanya was holding said. A grin stretched across her face as she read the words ‘Marry Me, Jill.’
“Dillon?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
Dillon dropped down on one knee. He pulled the ring box from his pocket and said, "I s
tarted this at the Kentucky Derby.” He pointed to the picture of the horses and Tanya, “I bought those horses to surprise you with a proposal. It might have been over the top, but I wanted to make your proposal as magical as possible. You deserve all the magic in the world. Jill, you make me happier than any man on earth. I have a lot of things in my life, but there’s one missing piece. Jill, will you spend the rest of your life with me as my wife?"
Jill gasped in surprise and then threw her arms around Dillon. "You already know the answer to that one my wonderful and oh so intelligent friend. Yes, yes I'll marry you Dillon Quinn! You have always been there for me in the darkest times of my life. You're my best friend and I will love you unconditionally until my last breath." Jill pulled Dillon into her arms and passionately kissed him. Behind them, Dillon heard the muffled cheers and whistles from his family. He couldn't imagine a better place to kick off the beginning of his future with his new fiance.
Chapter 11
Dear Reader,
Thank you for buying “Her Intelligent Billionaire: A Clean Friends to Lovers Romance.”
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-Gigi Marlowe
ALSO BY GIGI MARLOWE
The Series: Billionaire Tech Tycoons & Titans
(The Visions they Follow, The Causes they Fund, The Love they Find)
Each is a stand alone book with a happy ending.
“Her Homebound Billionaire: A Love Conquers Fear Clean Romance” **
“Not Another Billionaire: A Clean Second Chance Romance” **
“Her Billionaire Dilemma: A Clean Romance” **
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