“Matthew. Two years of following me around, he knows all the people and all the lingo. Add in Mrs. Silverstein, and they’re unstoppable.”
“Your PA is running your company?” More importantly, Flynn had handed over the reins to someone else? That it was Matthew made sense, at least. Flynn trusted him.
“He’s not a PA anymore. That level mostly needs a salesman and Matthew can smooth talk with the best of them. I still work, too, just not as much.”
“So what do you do with all your free time now besides joyride?”
His gaze turned sincere. “Try to build a safe life for you.”
“I can’t just…” I couldn’t finish. Because the thought of just jumping in with him terrified me.
“I know.” His large hand wrapped around mine. “And it’s okay. I’m here when you’re ready.”
I stared at where our hands were intertwined. “You’re here now.”
“Yes. For as long as you’ll let me.”
I 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 me. He’d offered me heaven, love, and everything that went with it. And he was going to move earth to make my dreams come true.
“I’ve been miserable without you.” Way to hold on to my resolve. Be strong. Make him earn it. But he was my kryptonite and he was serious. The center, Lynne, waiting until plans were in place before he came to my house—none of that was merely talk. He was sincere, and he was making strides to change his ways.
He dropped a kiss on my forehead, his warm lips lingering on my skin, as good as branding me. It ignited all the cravings that had haunted each night I’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 my toes. “Some more than others.”
“Ohmigod. Me, too.”
We both laughed. I squeezed his hand. He’d been there for me when I thought he’d abandoned me. He’d already waited patiently. We’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. I think I have a new name for it.”
Epilogue
Flynn
One year later…
“Ready for this?” I grinned at Tilly. My 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.” I took the burden of the weight, which I’d been insisting on since we’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 my favorites. I liked seeing her in them and now that she was back to being around kids all day, she donned them more often.
I was going to buy her a real one for Christmas.
I posed with her to cut the ribbon. Wes and Mara stood off to the side with Lynne, and Chris the co-owner of Arcadia even found a replacement to come support our cause. He joked about being the third wheel at the store now that I had Tilly and Wes had Mara. Maybe this store will bring drop a love life in my lap as it did with Mara and Tilly. I held out hope for him. I was too stinking happy not to, and Chris was on to something. Arcadia brought me and Tilly together just like it did with Wes and Mara.
I glanced back at the little group of my friends and family. Mara cradled her little son. I 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 I couldn’t remember a Clark in his 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.”
I had laughed, but I could envision it happening whether I and Tilly had a boy or a girl. The thought of having kids no longer gave me palpitations. I might be a dad someday. I was basically an uncle now. I’d gone back to being a brother. My mom had said she’d start therapy, but I wasn’t holding out hope. Ultimately, I wanted her to get help, but I couldn’t have her toxicity around my family until she did.
Lynne had more health troubles than I’d anticipated, but on days like today, she could hang out with us. And I made sure she did regularly. Tilly had named one wing of the center after her.
I took it all in. My new life. The new center that had brought Tilly back to me.
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. I had made sure the building was wired with cameras so no session went unmonitored. If she started an outreach program, I’d do nothing short of equipping her staff with body cams.
But that venture could wait. Coming off our wedding and a month-long honeymoon at Lake Webber in our cabin, she was diving into running a business, and I was dedicated to making her blissfully happy.
Shortly after I’d pretty much begged her to take me back, she’d quit both of her jobs and moved in with me. Our house had one room just for her Wacky Monday wear. Items my size was now in the collection because I’d been informed that if I wanted to drop by on Mondays, I had to look the part. Anything the missus wanted, she got.
When she was busy at work, and Matthew had all the bases covered at the office, I’d found myself a new hobby. I’d bought the rental house from Mrs. Blumenthal and made it my winter project. Then I’d found another rental house in sore need of updating, and I had my eye on a third. The musty smell of dilapidated places and the memories it elicited no longer bothered me like they used to.
After the ribbon-cutting and pictures, Tilly towed me inside. I pulled her into my side and draped an arm across her shoulders.
She grinned up at me. “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.” I was split in a lot of directions, but I also staffed accordingly now instead of doing nothing but work. My job was no longer an excuse to hide from life. I was surrounded by reasons to get out of the office and loosen my tie—or not wear one at all. “I have the perfect woman and I need to be her Puddin’.”
_____________________________
Chris dedicates his life to Arcadia, but when he meets a mysterious woman at comic con, he learns how off limits she is. First to Fail
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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 and even more cats.
mariejohnstonwriter.com
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Also by Marie Johnston
First To Lie
First to Bid
First to Fail
First to Bid: A Bachelor Auction Romance (Unraveled Book 2) Page 16