Page 108 of Tender Offer
I wrap my hands around his neck, careful not to smear icing across the nape. “I missed you,” I weep, inhaling the scent of his musk. My lashes dampen at his chin on my head and his grip tightening around my waist.
Preston’s hands explore the hollow of my back until they lift to wipe away my tears. He cups my face in awe before the smoothsurface of his lips meets mine. Our tongues brush, igniting a fire no distance nor person could extinguish.
He slips his hands up my arms to bring me closer. “I can’t live without you, Puff.” His lips tremble through another kiss.
“I’m sorry for leaving. I couldn’t—”
“Never apologize for taking care of yourself. I understood. It hurt, but I understood.” Preston’s eyes shift from me to his mother’s bench.
“I wanted to honor her today.”
“Thank you. This is the first birthday I don’t feel hollow inside.” His words are a broken whisper. “God, I missed you.”
The kisses he presses to my face are an elixir on my skin, smoothing fresh wounds with assurances we’ll be okay. We have to be, because life won’t allow us to be apart. No matter the years or miles, we always find our way back to each other. Standing here in his arms, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“So help me if there’sanotherwoman having your baby, Preston,” I grit.
“The baby isn’t mine,” he says.
“Which one?”
His brows knit. “There was only one, and she’s not mine.”
“What?” My head draws back, and my mouth opens.
“It’s my father’s.” I blink as my brain stumbles to catch up. Did he just say his daddy? “I found out a few days ago. I wanted to tell you in person, but first I had to wrap up a transfer for William to become interim CEO.”
“Bellamy is having your sister?” I ask, to make sure I heard correctly. “And she tried to pin the baby on you?”
Preston shakes his head. “According to her, no. She heard me talking about you after the retreat and found comfort in my father.” He grimaces.
“William’s mother—”
“Is seeking a divorce,” he says. “Her solicitors already received an anonymous tip that should help with the prenup.”
“Bellamy is having your daddy’s baby?” I repeat, at a loss to form new words.
Kojo clocked it. This is a Tubi movie.
“Please tell me the paternity test doubles as a letter of resignation.” I know my limits, and being the bigger person past a certain point is not one of them. Little Miss Tried It can take her womb and her handbags and go.
“Did you not hear me say that William is interim CEO?” Preston’s eyes light with a twinkle of mischief, as if unemployment doesn’t bother him. Maybe it doesn’t. He does have access to billions, after all.
“I want you, Madison. A fresh start with just the two of us.”
“I’d like that.” I smile. “How do you feel about stepping down?”
“Like I can breathe.” He kisses my lips. “Now that I have full control over my family trust, I can make the changes I want from anywhere in the world.” He laughs when my brows hike up to my forehead. “A lot happened this past week. I found a clause in the trust when I was here—”
“You were in New York?”
His smile dissolves. “For days,” he emphasizes to prove his point. “I stopped by your flat and left messages with the grumpy front-desk attendant with the combover.”
“Gerald never gave them to me. But he mentioned a possible stalker who kept coming to the building. Almost called the police.”
Preston huffs. “Prick. I may have stopped by a few times.” His grin spreads at my smile. “Two or three times a day, when I walked your neighborhood with William and Dayo.”
