He ran the back of his hand down my cheek. “The day of the accident, I had decided that I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t go on without you in my life. I felt empty and lost. I felt as though I didn’t have a reason to get out of bed anymore and I was going to come see you the next day to apologize and beg for another chance.”
I gulped as tears filled my eyes. “I lost our baby because of me. If only I would have stayed put and not rented that car and got on that highway, our baby would still be inside me, and that is something I will live with for the rest of my life.”
“Emily,” he whispered as he wrapped his arms around me. “It’s not your fault, sweetheart, and I will not allow you to blame yourself.” He kissed my head and held me close.
“I don’t want to love you, but I can’t help it.” The tears fell down my face. “Everything I did, said, and saw always came back to you.”
“The same for me too. I even told my secretary she couldn’t wear her Joe Malone perfume to the office anymore.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I broke our embrace and saw the bright smile on his face.
“I’m so sorry for everything,” he spoke. “And I promise you that I will spend eternity making it up to you. I’m begging for your forgiveness, Emily.”
“You hurt me, Jackson. You hurt me so badly and even through it all, I never once stopped loving you. As much as I wanted to, you’re impossible not to love.”
He placed his thumb on my chin. “So what do you say? Shall we give this relationship thing a try? No contract this time?”
“And if I said no?” I smiled.
“Then I’ll ask you again tomorrow and then the next day and the day after that. I’ll keep asking until you say yes, because you’re worth the fight, baby.”
“Well, in that case, if you’re just going to be persistent about it, I guess I’ll just say yes now.”
“Thank you.” He smiled as he brushed his lips against mine. “Oh, and by the way, I do have some rules if we’re going to do this.”
“And what rules do you have?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Rule number 1: We see each other every single day, no matter what. In fact, the option to move in together will always be on the table.
“Rule number 2: There will be plenty of romance. So expect flowers, jewelry, fancy dinners, and a few unexpected things from me.
“Rule number 3: I expect you to blow up my phone every day with text messages and phone calls. Even if it’s just to say that you love me.
“Rule number 4: Definitely falling in love.
“Rule number 5: The titles of girlfriend and boyfriend will told to everyone.
“Is there anything you would like to negotiate, Miss Wade?”
A smile crossed my lips. “No. They all sound absolutely perfect to me.” I pressed my forehead against his.
“Good. Then it’s official. I’m in. How about you?”
“I’m in too.”
His lips softly pressed against mine as he laid me back and our kiss turned passionate while his hard cock pressed into my belly. After a few moments, he stopped and looked at me.
“Do you want to?”
“Yes. Very much.” I smiled.
“Can we, though?”
“I’m not sure.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
“Hold on a second.” He held up his finger as he stood up and pulled out his phone.
****
Jackson
“Jules, is it safe to have sex?”
“What? With whom? You better be talking about Emily!”
“Of course I am!”
“Then it’s fine. But just don’t be rough and take it slow, Jackson. I mean slow!”
“I will. Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”
I placed my phone on the coffee table and unbuttoned my shirt.
“The doctor said it’s fine as long as we go slow.” I carefully picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
“Do you have condoms? I haven’t taken my pills since the accident. I’m going to have to start over.”
“I don’t care. If it happens, it happens. I’m not worried about it.”
I hovered over her, the sheet covering us as I slowly eased inside her. I was nervous because her body was still bruised from the accident. Her fingers dug into my ass, pushing me further in until I was buried deep inside her. I kissed her lips with passion but softened them all over her body. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.
“I love you, Emily.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
Chapter 44
Emily
Six Months Later
I made a full recovery and life was wonderful. I moved into Jackson’s penthouse about a month after the accident and we had never been happier. The shop was doing really well and I was ready to move forward with my online boutique. Jackson bought a warehouse where we made one area for storage and then we converted the rest of the space into offices and cubicles for the staff I hired to help run it. When launch day came, it was a huge success and went way beyond my expectations. I never did end up getting pregnant again, which was okay for the both of us. I started my pills regularly because Jackson and I talked about it and we both agreed that it was probably better that we waited, but if it happened, we’d be happy.
Jules and Carter were in the midst of planning their wedding, which was going to take place in a couple of months. Alex proposed to Katie, and Dylan and Evelyn were on cloud nine with their relationship. Jackson’s parents ended up getting remarried as soon as both of their divorces were final, with a small reception just for the family.
Jackson and I took a trip to Vegas so he could finalize the plans on the casino he bought.
“What would you say if I asked you to marry me today?” he asked as he put on his tie.
“What?” I laughed.
“Let’s get married, Emily. Right now and right here in Vegas.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.” He pulled a box from his pocket and got down on one knee in front of me. “I love you so much and I don’t want to wait. I want you to become Mrs. Jackson Caine today.”
“What about our friends and family?”
“We’ll have a huge reception when we get back to New York.”
“Let me see the ring first.” I smirked.
He flipped open the lid and sitting inside was the most beautiful princess cut sparkling ring I had ever seen.
“Okay. You did good with the ring. I’ll marry you.” I smiled.
He took the ring from the box and placed it on my finger. Standing up, he placed his hands on each side of my face and kissed my lips.
“You won’t regret it.” He smiled.
“I know I won’t. What do I wear?” I asked.
He walked over to the closet by the door and pulled out a garment bag.
“You will wear this.” He smiled as he unzipped it and took out a beautiful strapless, long white dress with an embellished waistline.
“Jackson, it’s beautiful. You had this planned.”
“I sure did and the dress is only the start. There are flowers waiting at the chapel and as soon as we’re married, there will be a private dinner waiting for us.”
“We’re really doing this.” I smiled.
“We’re really doing this.” His lips brushed against mine. “Now get dressed so we can get going.”
Taking the dress from him, I went into the bedroom and changed into it. Excitement soared throughout my body at the thought of becoming Mrs. Jackson Caine tonight. As I stood and stared at myself in the mirror, it made me happy to be someone’s plus one and, the best part of it, I was still me.
We climbed into the limo and headed to the chapel where Jackson arranged for us to be married.
“Oh my God, I don’t have a ring for you!”
“Don’t worry about it, Emily. It’s taken care of.”
“How?”
; “Like I said, don’t worry about it.” His brow arched.
When we reached the chapel and walked through the doors, I gasped and covered my mouth when I saw my father, Stella, Evelyn, Dylan, Katie, Alex, Jules, Carter, Samuel, and both of Jackson’s parents sitting in the chairs waiting for us.
“Jackson.” My eyes filled with tears.
“We’re still having a big reception back home.” He smiled. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to take my place.”
My father walked over to me and held out his arm. “I’m ready to walk my daughter down the aisle.”
Katie ran up and handed me a beautiful bouquet of white roses and Jackson’s wedding ring. “I’m so happy for you!” She hugged me.
The music started to play and my father walked me down the aisle and gave my hand to Jackson. Tears filled my eyes as we both said our vows and the minister pronounced us husband and wife.
“I now introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Caine,” the minister spoke and everyone stood up and clapped for us.
After the ceremony, we all went back to the Bellagio, where Jackson had arranged a private dinner for all of us.
“That dress looks wonderful on you.” Evelyn smiled.
“Oh my God. Did you—is this?” I cocked my head.
“Yes. I designed and made it for you. And there’s another one for your wedding reception when you get back home.”
I gave her a big hug and thanked her.
“How long had Jackson been planning this?” I asked.
“Two weeks.” She smiled. “He’s such a romantic.”
I looked over at him as he was talking with Carter and Samuel. He smiled at me and winked, and at that moment, I fell more in love with him than I ever thought possible.
****
Jackson
Mrs. Jackson Caine. Those words were music to my ears. I never thought I would find someone who could change my mind about marriage and relationships the way Emily did. But somehow, I knew that first moment I stepped into her shop and saw her, that she was destined to be mine, and that the best surprises in life are the things you weren’t looking for in the first place.
About The Author
Sandi Lynn is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who spends all of her days writing. She published her first novel, Forever Black, in February 2013 and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her addictions are shopping, going to the gym, romance novels, coffee, chocolate, margaritas, and giving readers an escape to another world.
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Sandi Lynn, The Negotiation
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