Page 101 of Just My Ex

“That’s great. It will be nice to have her close to us.”

“Yes, it will.” She pulls back and searches my gaze. “Any reservations about working with your brothers, Henry?” She glances around the room filled with boxes. “’Cause at this point, we either need to go to Longdale or find somewhere else because we can’t stay here.”

The house is officially sold, and Sebastian asked me to train the security teams for all the resorts, hosting monthly trainings in Longdale for the various teams. I’ll also be in charge of all of the day-to-day security operations at the Longdale location. “It will be a nice change. Anything that means I can see you and Navie every day is good with me. You sure you can survive all the Tate family togetherness?” Even though we’ve purchased a home next to Longdale in the town of Fairhill using a portion of the Delfini inheritance, I’m hoping to spend time with my brothers as often as we can.

“The Tates are my family, too. I want Navie to grow up close to them.”

I kiss her on the lips now. “You amaze me, you know that?”

The conversation ends there because I’m fixated on Quinn’s mouth again.

We’re taking this slow. And as much as I’d like to return to being her husband in every possible way, I know I still need to establish safety and trust. The thing is, I’m willing to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes.

“I better get this over with,” I tell Quinn a little later as I pull up my laptop. “Evangeline is expecting my call. I wonder if she suspects that I’m quitting.”

“You’ve got this.” She gives me a high five, her lips pink from our kissing. “I’m cheering you on from the other room.”

“I was actually wondering if you’d be willing to sit in on this conversation with me? I’d love for her to meet you.”

She smiles. “Sure.”

We sit at the table and connect the video chat to Evangeline, who’s sitting in her penthouse Paris apartment, wearing elegant black and gold rimmed glasses and a frown.

The first thing out of her mouth, after I introduce her to Quinn is, “You’re quitting on me, aren’t you?”

Wow. She knew it. “Well, yes. I’m sorry. I’ve truly enjoyed my job with you and your family, but it’s time for me to be here with my own family now. I assure you that the company has several other excellent agents—”

“I don’t want anyone else.” Her red-lipsticked mouth is bunched up, like she just ate something sour. She rakes a hand through her shoulder length, white hair.

“I appreciate that, but—”

“Let me finish.”

Okay.

“Would you consider a compromise?”

Before I can answer, she launches in. “I was thinking I was finished with Bern, Henry, so I guess this is my sign, huh?” She shakes her head and clears her throat. “I’m not young anymore. It’d be nice to just slow down and smell the roses. Paris is lovely. It’s home now and our security detail here is adequate. Well, what I’m saying is, how about you come to Bern with me once a year for a short vacation? Making a permanent move away from the family hasn’t been appealing to me lately.”

“Have you gotten all soft and sentimental?”

“Henry Tate! Never! I’m as much a hard-nose as I’ve always been.” She slides her glasses up her nose with her index finger. “But my grandkids are growing up and I do enjoy their company on occasion. And they’re not interested in being in Bern with me permanently. I’ve already asked. Besides …” she trails off and her gaze goes past the screen as she motions to someone. “There is something else in Paris worth staying for.” She reaches past the computer and tugs on the shirt of an older gentleman, clean shaven, with white hair and an infectious smile. “Rafael has been my chef for twenty years.” She smirks. “Little did I know he was in love with me this whole time.” She pats his cheek, and he offers a “Guilty as charged,” in a thick, French accent.

“So, there’s that.” She touches her neck, and her cheeks turn pink. “Imagine me falling in love and changing my plans because of it. It’s embarrassing!” But she begins to laugh and so does Raphael.

I tug Quinn close and kiss her swiftly on the cheek. “I think it’s actually the most sound, sane thing anyone can do.”

Before we can continue the conversation, Navie canters into the room. She’s wearing something Stella let her borrow from her big bin of dress-up clothes. It’s a dog costume complete with a tail, long, floppy ears and a big, black plastic nose.

“I see you’ve gotten a puppy,” Evangeline says drily. But there’s a hint of amusement in her voice.

Navie responds by barking and trying to lick both Quinn and me. We manage to avoid her pesky tongue, just barely.

I can hardly believe there’s redemption to be had for someone like me. But there has been. And I get to be with my daughter and the woman I love.

Restoration. It’s more than I dreamed it could be.

I assure Evangeline that I’ll work for her once a year in Bern, and as soon as we get off the video call, Quinn and I attack our “puppy” with tickles and kisses, ending up in a huddle on the floor.

---