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“While he’ll definitely be sitting pretty for the rest of his life, he’s not as smart as we thought he was. I have investments and other accounts. So, yes, we may not be able to buy a celebrity-sized mansion or a yacht, but we’ll have enough to live comfortably, and Katie will never want for anything.”
My heart flutters, but I hide my reaction to his words. Instead, I bite back a smile. “‘We’? You sound pretty confident that I’ll take you back.”
Wes’s lips curl into a smirk. It’s not cocky, but it’s not innocent either.
“I’m hopeful,notconfident. But Katie will want for nothingregardless. She’s kind of grown on me.” He winks as his phone alarm goes off, thankfully not noticing as I just about melt into a puddle on the ground.The way to this girl’s heart is definitely through her daughter.
“I’ve gotta go,” he says, interrupting my thoughts. “But I’ll see you tomorrow, and I’ll be at the hearing Tuesday. Okay, Luce?”
All I do is nod as he kisses my cheek and walks away, earning yet another gold star in my eyes.
The day after the hearing, I’m still on cloud nine but also a little in shock.
As promised, Wes was there, distracting me with how well he can pull off a suit, while also bringing me instant calm. And if the hearing proved nothing else, it definitely highlighted how amazing my friends are. Only two people were allowed in the room with us, and yet all of them came to support Katie and me, waiting in the hallways for it to be over. Even Thomas flew in early, conveniently here for his football game against Dylan on the weekend.
While I trusted Wes completely when he said it was over, there’s been a niggling in the back of my mind, always wondering…what if it’s not?I needed the support, regardless of the outcome.
But now it’s over; it’s really freaking over, and I can’t keep the smile from my face as I move behind my desk and kick off my heels.
I finally have a break in my schedule, now that I’m back at work, and it’s a welcome one. I’ve been run off my feet playing catch-up for missing yesterday, and I need to sit and relax for a second.
Connecting my phone to the speaker I have in my office, I play chilled music and lean back in my chair, closing my eyes. “Hotel California” by The Eagles plays first, and a relaxed state takes over me.
Taking deep breaths, my head moves slowly to the beat and my thoughts wander while song after song plays. I almost drift off to sleep when “Truly Madly Deeply” comes on, and I smile. This song will forever remind me of Wes now. Listening to him hum it to me the day I was summoned to court made me feel at ease, and hearing it now makes me realize I really should have thanked him for that, instead of just letting him walk away after everything he did for me.What are the chances this song would play now, when I almost never hear it?
“Please Forgive Me,” by Bryan Adams comes on next, and I huff out a laugh but mouth along as more images of Wes play through my mind. God, I miss him, and I do forgive him, mostly…I think. I’m just so nervous about taking the next step and being hurt again. I want this to beitfor me, but how can I be sure he feels the same?
The music stops abruptly midway through the song and my eyes fly open. “Kiss From A Rose” by Seal comes on as Wes’s hand appears in my face, offering for me to take it. I jump at the sight of him as my own hand flies to my chest, my heart beating rapidly. I’m about to read him the riot act when I see my phone clenched between his fingers and it all clicks.The songs weren’t a coincidence.
Raising an eyebrow, Wes waves his outstretched hand, prompting me to take it. My gaze moves between his hand and his face, hesitantly waiting until he smiles shyly. That tiny gesture has my heart skipping and brings a flutter to my stomach.
Without a word, I clasp his palm and allow him to pull me to my feet. I expect him to hug me, maybe even press his lips to mine. What I don’t expect is for him to start swaying me slowly, dancing with me, barefoot in my office, as he softly hums to the music.
It’s not an overly romantic song, but I understand his meaning, and I blink away the tears that rise to the surface.
I’m his rose.
We dance until the song ends and then Wes steps back, keeping our fingers connected. “Lucy…”
“Turns out you’re not as bad at groveling as we first thought,” I say, cutting him off before I suck my lips into my mouth to hide my smile.
Wes laughs. “I told you I’d be giving it my all, and I plan to keep going until you realize how sorry I am. I’ve only ever wanted to do right by you. And that’s never going to change. I won’t be stopping until you know that. It’s amazing what one can do when they’re in love.”
In love? I release a gasp as my heart stops and my smile breaks through.
My chest fills with something new, something all-consuming, and it suddenly occurs to me that while I’ve said I love you many times before, I’ve never actually felt it romantically…until now.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Wes
Lucystaresatmewith a shocked expression mixed with something like awe. Why she’s shocked that I love her is beyond me. I thought that was clear, but maybe I needed to spell it out sooner.
She opens her mouth to speak but then closes it again, and I’ll put every last dollar I have—which is a lot less these days—on her wanting to ask if I meant what I said.
“You love me?” she finally questions, and I almost laugh, but that would be detrimental to helping her believe that I do.
Lifting her fingers to my lips, I gently kiss her knuckles as she smiles up at me.
