Page 119 of Jilted

My pulse picked up. “What do you mean? Aren’t you going back to England?”

“I’ll keep an office there, but my life is here. I think it’s time I moved back.”

“Wow. Okay.”

“I think I might have found the perfect place, too.”

“Really? Where?”

He patted my ass. “How about you get dressed while I make breakfast, and I’ll show you. I have an appointment to see the place at eleven.”

I couldn’t believe the last twenty-four hours. After weeks of dragging, I felt like I was floating. I was still scared, nervous that things might turn sour, but at least those feelings were balanced with excitement and happiness. Only time would tell how things would turn out. But I had hope again.

I took a quick shower and got dressed, then stuffed my face with the ridiculous feast Wilder had cooked for breakfast.

“Do we need to get going?” I piled my dish in the sink. “You said your appointment was at eleven. Are we taking the train? The subway has reduced service on the weekends.”

Wilder smiled. “You’ll see.”

A few minutes later, we were out the door. On the street, we turned left, so I assumed we were heading to the C train up the block.

But Wilder stopped a few steps into our walk. “We’re here.”

I squinted. “Here where?”

He pointed to the brownstone next door to my brother’s. I’d noticed the smallFOR SALEsign a few weeks ago, but didn’t pay it much attention. A real estate agent opened the front door and smiled.

Wilder laced his fingers with mine. “I need a place to live other than a hotel, and I want to be near you. Eventually, we’ll need more space for the baby. I figured you wouldn’t want to move too far from Olivia.” He shrugged. “Saw the sign this morning, and it seemed like the perfect solution. I know you’re probably not ready to move in with me. I have a lot to do to earn back your trust. Until then, I’ll be close enough to be there when you need me, but you’ll still have your space.”

“You’re really going to move here from London? Your home has been there for ten years. I don’t want you to make any rash decisions.”

“My home is where you are, Sloane. And this decision isn’t rash for me. I’ve wanted nothing but to be with you since the day I met you.”

I looked over at the brownstone. It was as big or bigger than my brother’s. “What would you do with this much house? Rent the floors?”

Wilder shook his head. “The real estate agent said it needs some fixing up. But I’d make it into one big house. Between the baby and Lucas, who will probably visit more often than we’d like, we’re going to need space. Plus, I’m hoping we’ll fill some of the extra rooms with more kids someday. I’d love a family like you have, with everyone close in age. Lucas is sixteen years younger than me, so I pretty much grew up an only child—bouncing from one parent’s house to the other. I like what you guys have. It feels right.”

My chest filled with warmth. Yet there were still those nerves. A part of me was afraid to believe this was real.

Wilder must’ve seen the doubt in my face, though I’d thought I’d hid it well. He pulled me in tight. “Eventually it won’t be so scary. I promise.” He nodded toward the brownstone. “Come on. Let’s go see where I’m going to live.”

Later that night, I was lying in bed while Wilder finished up a call.

“Thanks, buddy.” He tossed his cell on the end table and slipped into bed next to me. “They accepted my counteroffer.”

“Oh my God. So that’s it? The house is yours?”

He nodded. “After a shitload of paperwork, but Andrew will take care of that.”

“Wow. I can’t believe how fast that happened.”

“Sometimes you get lucky and something perfect falls into your lap.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Like you.”

“I didn’t quite fall into your lap. More like you pulled me into the coat closet.”

He smiled. “Semantics.”

“Well, congratulations.”

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