by Bella Emy
“Lexi, I know you love your job, but that’s just what this is. A job. Not your dream. This is not what you want to do. I know that,” he says, cutting me off.
“Well, I know, but what I had planned out didn’t technically pan out.”
“I purchased the old, abandoned ice cream parlor next to Starfish by the Sea. I have the keys and the paperwork right here,” he says, pulling the items out of his pocket. Then handing them to me, he says, “You can turn it into the lounge you were dreaming about. If you want it, it’s yours.” He wraps my hands around them.
“W-what?” I can’t believe my ears. Is this really happening? “You purchased the place?”
He smiles. “Yes, and it’s ready to be remodeled and decorated to your liking. All you have to do is say yes. Say yes that you’ll come back to Cali with me and yes that you’ll take it…” He moves in just a tad closer to me and whispers, “and hopefully yes, that you’ll be with me…”
I don’t know what to say. Can I just drop everything I have here and move back to California with him? Can I leave my job and everyone else behind and start over with Kalen by my side?
He places a hand on my cheek and brings his forehead to mine. “Lexi, I love you. Please come back to me…”
“Kalen…”
He leans in closer, and his lips crash with mine once more. And as if nothing else in the world matters, I give in to him and let my desire for him shine through, returning his kiss with my own passion taking control.
We pull apart slowly but remain just inches away. It all makes sense now. There’s no reason for me to stay here, no reason for me to fight it. I love Kalen. I never stopped, and I know that. The past is the past, and even though my heart went through World War Three, it’s not his fault. I never knew what my mother had told him. She couldn’t have known what he’d turn out to be once he’d grow up into the man he is today. I know she wanted the best for me, and I love her for that of course. I just wish things could have been different.
But it doesn’t matter now. Everything we went through, all the heartache and the pain can finally melt away. I’m ready to start over, and I’m ready to let it all go and take what was always mine, what never really left me.
“What do you say, Lexi? Will you come back with me so we can start over?” He searches my eyes, and I smile up at him, still just inches away from his lips.
I nod. “Yes, yes, I will.”
His face lights up and his beautiful eyes glimmer in the streetlights of the parking lot of Elmers and Elmers. “Really?”
I bite down on my bottom lip. “Really. There’s just one thing you have to know.”
“What’s that, sweetheart?”
I shrug, knowing I’ve finally found my person. “I love you, too. I never stopped loving you for one single second of my life.”
His smile widens and in an instant, he lifts me up off my feet, twirling me in the air. As he brings me down, our lips crash into one another’s once more.
I relish in his kiss, in the feel of him. I missed him so much and didn’t think I would have ever really been able to say good-bye.
Once my feet hit the ground and our lips part, he says, “That is the best thing I have ever heard in my life. I love you so much, Lexi, and I’ll work every single day for the rest of my life to make sure you know that. I will never leave you again. I’m going to make you Mrs. Kalen Starling… if you let me.”
I smile. “Of course, I will. I adore you, Kalen Starling,” I reply, bringing back the words we used to say to one another so long ago.
He smiles back and says, “I will always be yours, Alexa Alderidge.”
I lick my lips. “Call me Alexa Starling.”
Kalen’s lips curl into the biggest smile. “Mmm… that’s music to my ears, sweetheart. I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
As his words leave his lips and register in my mind, it’s as if I can feel my heart becoming whole yet again, leaving it shattered no more.
THE END
The Salvation Society
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Guardian by Stacie Santoro
Shattered by Bella Emy
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Gravity by K.L. Jessop
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Books by Bella Emy
The Love is Worth Fighting for Series
Fighting for Us
Fighting for Desire
Fighting for Her – coming soon
Fighting for Him – coming soon
The Derek Mykels Romance Disasters
King of Arrogance
Arrogance & Lace
Once Upon an Arrogant Prince
Arrogance & Memories
The All I Want Series
All I Want for Christmas
All I Want Forever
The Kaleidoscope Skies Series
Beneath a Starlit Sky
Beneath an Iridescent Sky
The Always & Forever Series
It’s Always Been You
And Now, It’s You
Standalones
Destined
Between the Sheets
Sugar Rush
Brokenhearted
Egotistical Player
Without You
Written in the Stars – coming soon
Against All Odds
Enough
A Love Beyond Time
A Butterfly in Maple Grove
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Acknowledgments
Thank You
So much for reading
Shattered!
A huge “Thank You” goes out to Kelly Drudy and Ana Quinn!
You two have been a blessing!
You helped me make this story amazing!!!
To Carrie Sponaugle, you are the sweetest person I know.
You’re an amazing friend.
Thank you for pushing and believing in me always!
To Sandra Nascimento, I’m so happy to have met you.
You’re the best!
Thank you to all my ARC & beta readers!
To all my readers & Bella’s Heartbreakers, you guys are the bestthank you so much!
Thanks to all my family & friends…. I love you all so much!
With much love,
♡Bella
About Bella Emy
Bella Emy is a USA Today Bestselling Author.
She loves all books, but her favorite genre to read, as well as write, is romance. Bella loves creating heartbreaking stories that will deeply touch her readers, but in the end, a good HEA is usually the turnout.
Whenever Bella is not typing away on her computer with a nice hot cup of coffee, she loves spending time with her family and friends. Her favorite places to go are the movies, the beach, or just on a good plain old road trip. Some of her must haves are coffee, chocolate, pizza, music, & movies.
Breaking Hearts One Story at a Time
♡Bella Emy♡
www.BellaEmy.com
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