Page 93 of XO

“You honestly want to be with me?”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight. I love you, Rosie. I always have. The question is, knowing everything you now know, do you want to be with me?”

His forehead rests against mine, and I answer truthfully. Because for the second time in my life, Jacob Lynch has convinced me to fall in love with him. Or, maybe I never fell out of love in the first place. “More than you can possibly imagine.”

Jacob kisses me deeply affirming the love he’s just proclaimed. It’s a kiss so loaded with emotion, its rawness leaves me further vulnerable and exposed.

“We should head back,” I say relishing in his touch, a touch I’ve so desperately missed.

“We will, but there’s one thing we have to do first.”

~

Jacob holds my hand as I wipe my sodden face, careful not to cut my cheek with rose thorns. We’d stopped at a florist along the way and picked up two single stem roses. One for each of us.

Ten years ago, we stood at this very spot shrouded in lies, heartache and betrayal. Today we stand together, hand in hand, full of love and forgiveness finally able to say a proper farewell.

“I love that he called me boo-boo.”

“I love how he looked at you with such pride when you took no shit from my father.”

“I love when he would sing Frank Sinatra because now I know he was genuinely happy in those moments.”

“I love how protective he was of you. Even if he did warn me to stay away.”

“I love that he trusted you, Jacob.” He squeezes my hand, because my father’s dying wish was for Jacob to shield me from pain.

“I love that he adored you.”

“I loved his big heart.”

Jacob places his rose in front of the gravestone. “Goodbye, Mr. Reign.”

I step forward feeling my heart being viced to death. Placing my rose next to Jacob’s, I swallow the pain. “Goodbye, Daddy.”

With his thumb, Jacob draws an X on my palm. I smile feeling a warmth spread through my soul. Using my thumb, I draw an O.

“Like peas and carrots.” I laugh, repeating Vicki’s phrase.

“What is?”

“We are.”

“Hmmm… I hate peas.”

“That’s interesting… I hate carrots.”

“That’s why we’re perfect together.”

23

NOW

“You ready to go in?”

Turning to Jacob, I study his stupidly handsome face staring back at me. Deep, dark eyes I can drown in, a jawline I could crack an egg on—should I ever need to crack an egg in such a way—and those delicious lips that have me inconveniently aching between my thighs. And now that my heart and head are working alongside each other, I want to spend every waking minute reacquainting myself withallof him.

But those filthy thoughts have to be put on ice while I slip back into wedding mode. Vicki is going to want some answers after of the dramatic way I left, even though I was only gone less than a day. Looking up at Château de Therry in all its grandeur, I can finally leave the past behind me and look forward to what my future brings, and it just so happens now to be with Jacob. Something I never thought possible.

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