Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I tried to picture it, but I wouldn’t know what to say or where to tell them to fly the plane. “No. Not that. If he’s headed back to the city, maybe I could…” I scrambled to think of something.
My mom approached slowly like I’d gone as feral as I felt. “Why don’t you sit down, sweetheart. You’re a little… overcome.”
“Overcome? Overcome? Hugh thinks… he thinks I don’t want him. He left because he thinks we were over. I need to find him. I need to explain. I need…” My voice broke. “Him.” I realized belatedly if he’d felt even a fraction of this kind of rejection when he’d woken up alone on Cape Cod last summer, I was the biggest asshole the world had ever known. “I don’t deserve him,” I added in a whisper.
Mom pushed me into a chair, then sat next to me and took my hands in hers. Her smile was gentle and knowing. “You’re in love.”
I squinted at her in disbelief. “Yes. Isn’t that obvious? But Mom, I can’t sit and have a heart-to-heart right now. I need to find Hugh before it’s too late. Oh, god,” I groaned. “What if it’s too late? What if Overton Investments is the only thing I’m ever good at? What if I spend my whole life working and never have anyone who makes me watch ridiculous reality television and talks nonstop about romance and makes me… makes me feel things?”
What I might have claimed was an ideal future just the day before suddenly seemed so cold and bleak. I remembered Chuckie saying he wanted to be just like me, and I wanted to warn him to—
Chuckie. Yes!
I jumped to my feet. “I have a guy who does indoor fireworks,” I told my family, who were back to watching me like a tiger in the zoo. “That’s grand, right? I mean, what’s grander than fireworks? I could make it a… a gala. A grand gesture gala. Hugh loves a party. So what if—”
I was pacing again, frantically trying to think of what kind of event I could plan that would convince Hugh I was serious this time, that I truly wanted him for real. Not temporarily. How could I convince him I was worth the risk?
Jasmine stepped forward. “I-I could paint something… like a scene of the two of you? Would that help?”
“Yes! Great idea.” Hyacinth stepped around from behind one of the bars, handing a mug of coffee to her new husband. “And I could bring some of my best dance students to your gala. We could do a flash mob thing.”
Birch stepped up and squeezed my shoulder. “I could arrange for media coverage. Maybe get Hugh’s HEA account some exposure… associate it with a story of real-life love—”
Rosette walked up and put a crumpled-up handful of flowers from one of the leftover wedding bouquets in my lap. “You can give him these flowers.”
I let out a laugh that sounded unhinged before giving my niece a hug. “Thank you, baby. These are perfect.”
Sage’s voice rang out from the doorway behind me. “Or you could just talk to him like a normal person. Tell him how you feel. How do you feel, exactly?”
He was teasing like the annoying sibling he was, clearly not understanding the severity of the situation. “I love him, you asshole!” I snapped, turning to face him. “I love Hugh more than anything, more than anyone. More than Frank. More than my company or my career. And I swear to god, if you make one joke about…” As Sage stepped further into the room, I saw Hugh standing dumbfounded behind him. “Oh.”
Hugh walked forward slowly, his surprise turning into a knowing look, one I couldn’t quite decipher.
“Hi,” I said stupidly, then in a rush, “Oh, thank god you’re here. I… I needed to tell you…” I paused and tried again. “To say…” Another deep breath. “For you to know…”
“Oh damn. Baby, is your brother broken?” Dirk whispered.
“You could try to help,” Hyacinth hissed… unhelpfully.
“You can do it, Oscar!” Dirk cheered. “I believe in you.”
I ran a hand over my face. Fuckers, all of them. I would cheerfully boot them all off the planet… if I didn’t love them so damn much. And really, wasn’t that what it came down to? The perfect words didn’t matter. Hugh needed the facts.
“Hugh Linzee,” I blurted. “You’re it for me. My happily ever after. My future. The One. M-my renaissance. The guy who made me see that soul mates weren’t just for greeting cards.” I stared into Hugh’s luminous brown eyes and swallowed hard. “I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it, but I know it now. I see it so clearly. Please believe me. I…”
Hugh tilted his head and studied me before looking suddenly befuddled. “I’m sorry, have we met?”