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“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove to her that I’m in it for the long haul. Even if she wasn’t pregnant, I’d be here. I sought her out before I knew she was carrying my baby. I love her. I fell in love with her in London, and I want a life with her.”
“And you’re really going to give up your life in Dallas to be with her?”
“I’ve already let my family know. I’m working remotely while we figure it all out because I’m not going to leave them in a bind.”
“Of course not,” she agrees.
“I was hoping to convince Paige to live with me, but she’s not there yet, so I think I’m going to start looking for homes closer to her in Rosemary. The drive from Houston is rough, especially during rush hour.
“And I’ve had my assistant put together a résumé for me. I’m going to apply to several companies. It most likely won’t be the same position I have now, but I’m sure I’ll find somewhere I can put my degree and experience to use.”
“Wow, so you’re really serious about moving here?” Julian asks, strolling into his wife’s office. He gives her a quick kiss, then faces me.
“Yeah,” I tell them both. “I am. My family says I’m a cranky bastard when I’m not with her so…” I shrug. “The problem is, she doesn’t want to move to Dallas, but she also doesn’t want me to move to Rosemary.”
Julian laughs. “That’s a woman for you.”
Ana playfully smacks his chest and glares up at him, but he simply kisses the tip of her nose, completely unfazed.
“I want that.” I nod toward them. “I want the wife and kids and home, and I want it with Paige. I knew I wanted it the moment after she tripped and fell infront of my hotel and I carried her inside. I asked her if she was hurt, and she looked up at me and said, ‘Other than my pride, no.’
“I looked into her green eyes and knew I could fall for her. And I did. A few days in London, and I was a goner. I know that sounds crazy, but…”
“No, it doesn’t,” Ana says, her eyes glassy. “Julian and I fell fast and hard.”
She looks at her husband, who nods in agreement.
“Paige is reacting to her past,” Ana says. “She’s been burned so many times.”
“I know,” I tell her. “And I’m going to prove to her that I’m not them, that she can trust me with her heart and I’m not going to break it like those other assholes, but to do that, I need her to let me in. The problem is, the deal with Kingston is done, so I have no reason to be around her.”
“There’s a barbecue this weekend,” Julian says.
“Didn’t you have one last weekend?”
“We have a lot of kids and birthdays,” he says with a laugh. “It’s Fourth of July and Violet’s birthday. She’s Ryder and Kira’s daughter. I’m extending an invite to you. Bring a gift. She’s turning six, and she likes anything pink.”
He shoots me a wink, and I laugh.
“You got it. Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t hurt her,” Ana says, her tone serious. “She’s one of the best people I know, and she deserves to be happy. If there’s any chance you don’t mean everythingyou said, let her go. Co-parent and let her find someone who can love her.”
I get what she’s saying. I understand she has her friend’s back, and I’m glad that despite Paige not having any family, she has friends like these. But…
“That’s not even an option,” I tell her honestly. “Unless Paige flat-out says she doesn’t want me, I’ll be damned if I’m letting any other man love that woman. She’s mine.”
chapter twenty-three
PAIGE
“Where’s the birthday girl?”I jokingly pretend to look everywhere but at Violet, who laughs.
“I’m right here, Auntie Paige.”
Violet waves her hand in the air to get my attention, and I fake gasp.
“Oh, there you are.”