AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I still can’t find words.
“Fiona,” he whispers. “You don’t have to forgive me, but I’m so sorry it took me this long to decide what I want. I didn’t see what was important, what my real priorities were, until recently. But now I can see them clear as anything.You’rewhat’s important. You’re my priority. I’m not going anywhere. Not without you.”
I blink back tears. A lump forms in my throat. “Gareth,” I croak.
“It’s okay,” he says, wiping them away. “I know I fucked up. You can keep being angry with me. If you want to leave, I won’t blame you. If you’re not ready for more—”
“I’m ready,” I blurt out. “God, I’m so, so ready for more.”
His face lights up. A smile spreads over his lips. “You mean that?”
“Gareth, damn it, what are you waiting for? Can you just kiss me already?”
He laughs, but he leans forward and obeys. A short peck, a lighter brush, a longer press, and finally, a kiss, a real kiss, a slow and delicious kiss. I hold him, pulling him against me until he stands, lifting me up, carrying me to the couch where he deposits me in his lap. I straddle him, digging myself down, wanting to be as close to him as I can possibly get.
“You’re trouble, Fiona Kane,” he whispers, smiling huge. “But god, I love you.”
My body feels like electricity jolts into my fingertips. A pulse, another pulse, another. Joy runs into me, wild and free.
“I love you too,” I say, laughing, unable to believe my luck. “You’re really staying? You’re really not going?”
“Really,” he says. “I promise. I won’t go anywhere without you, not ever again.”
I chew my lip, trying not to smile. “You know, we haven’t been on any actual dates or anything. Maybe we should take this slow?”
“Fuck slow,” he says, hand in my hair, pulling my mouth to his. “You’re my wife. I’ve lived without you for long enough.”
I kiss him, fall into him, feeling like finally, finally, something’s gone right.
Chapter48
Gareth
Orin Crowley does not sound happy.
I’m back in my Dallas office. The new secretary is outside my door—a young man named Brian. Janine said he came highly recommended. We’ll see about that.
“I’ll be straight with you, Kane,” he says, and I note that I’m notGarethanymore. “I thought we had an understanding. You come to Boston, you work for my family, you get access to power you never dreamed about before. Do I really have to spell it out?”
“No, sir, you don’t,” I say, looking at the window. Thinking about my wife at her office right now. Myrealwife. “Unfortunately, Fiona got a job here in Dallas, a job that I can’t ask her to leave. I either stay here with her, or we do the long-distance thing, like I mentioned. I decided long distance won’t work. I won’t be leaving Dallas after all.”
Orin grunts, his annoyance obvious. “That’s not acceptable.”
“It’s the way things are. I wish it worked out differently.”
“You’re making a mistake, Kane. I’ll give you another chance—”
“With all due respect, I don’t want or need another chance. I’m not moving to Boston. If you’d still like to be my client, I’d be happy to work for you from here, remotely—”
“Fuck that,” he snarls. “If you weren’t a fucking lawyer, if you didn’t have ties to the Scavo Famiglia and the Kazan organization, I’d hunt you down and cut your throat. As it is, I’ll make sure to tell everyone in my world not to do business with you. Good luck getting work, Kane.”
“I hope you reconsider that stance, but I understand you’re frustrated. I won’t hold it against you.”
“Fuck off, you little twat. There are a dozen fucking lawyers lining up to work for me and my family. We’ll be fine. You won’t. Good luck, cocksucker.” The line disconnects with an abrupt click.
I hang up my receiver and smile to myself. I pick up my phone, texting Fiona.
Gareth: That didn’t go well.
