Page 44 of Reluctant to Love

21

Eleanor

Finally, I get to use the delicious claw-foot bathtub in the master bathroom. It’s so fucking heavenly; I almost fall asleep in it. But the feel of Roderick slipping in behind me wakes me up.

“Why do you have such a nice tub in your bathroom,” I ask.

“I knew you’d like it,” he states plainly.

I laugh. “So, you were hoping I’d take you back when you renovated?”

“I was confident you would take me back.”

I hold up my hand and admire the ring now occupying my ring finger on my left hand. It’s different; unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. And I love it.

He wraps an arm around my chest. “Admit it, you knew I’d come back.”

He’s right; I did. “Took you long enough.”

“I had to become a man worthy of your forgiveness. Worthy ofherforgiveness.”

I smile thinking about Izzy’s nonchalant reaction to the news I feared telling her. She took it all with stride, only the way a child can. “She’s going to be so excited to be in a wedding.”

Our soft murmurs fill the room as we talk about the future quietly.

“I have another proposal for you,” Roderick says softly as he drags a sponge across my back. “Write the last book with me.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I answer. “I’ve already got so much on my plate.”

“Please, Ellie. I’m stuck. I’m halfway there and I don’t know how to end it. Could you just take a look?”

I chew on the inside of my cheek as I think about his request. “I’ll read it but I’m not making any promises.”

“Thank you,” he says with a kiss to my shoulder.

Spending time alone with him is just what I need after the excitement of the previous few days. Between traveling to New York City and then the unfortunate run-in with Famke, this time with just the two of us is perfect. But one thing still bothers me.

“Is Famke really going to just leave you alone? Leave us alone?”

Roderick sighs. “I don’t know. If she’s smart, she’ll just let it all go and move on with her life.”

“What happened to all her money?”

“That I don’t know. There have been rumors circulating. Lavish spending, bad investments. Her parents cut her off when we got married; they hated me. Maybe her attempts to get back in their good graces failed.” He kisses the side of neck. “I don’t want to talk about Famke anymore. I don’t want to let her ruin this moment we’ve waited so long to have.”

We soak for a while longer before getting out and toweling off.

“I’m going to check my email,” I tell him as I slip into a pair of pajamas with llamas printed all over them.

“Don’t take too long,” he says with a wink.

I don’t intend to; now that we’re back together, I feel his constant magnetic pull. It drew me to him when we started working together so many years ago and it keeps drawing me back.

I settle on the couch with my laptop and scroll through the messages that have piled up. Things are moving quickly with my book deal and I have a series of meetings scheduled this week with my agent, Caroline, and representatives from the publisher. Finally, I have a book that’s solely mine. No ghostwriting or co-writing; the words are all mine and I couldn’t be prouder.

There’s also an email from my mother informing me she made it to my aunt’s in Florida safely and they’re getting ready to leave for a week-long cruise.

“Oh, and darling, I just read your horoscope and it’s divine! Have a look for yourself: