Page 103 of The Grumpy Billionaire
“Many people who have loved and lost might be scared to put themselves out there again. After the events in your own life that inspired you to start up your network, aren’t you afraid of getting hurt, of being let down again by love?” I asked.
He considered the question for a few seconds. “Of course I am, but I have a philosophy—I believe it’s a Confucius quote—leave the past behind and reach out for the fate that’s in front of you.”
The words from my fortune. There was no doubt now that he had read my post on his site.
My friends the butterflies were back, but this time they didn’t attack. They settled sweetly around my heart, making it feel likeitmight grow wings and take off, too.
I stared into Reid’s warm, smiling eyes. “But how can you be sure?” I asked, mimicking the question Buttercup asked Westley before he went off to seek his fortune.
And Reid answered in Westley’s timeless words. “This is true love. Do you think this happens every day?”
I shook my head, fighting back tears and borrowing one more line from Buttercup. “I will never doubt again.”
Reid got out of his chair, pulled me up from mine and clamped an arm around my waist, drawing me tight against his body before taking my lips in a kiss that may have been alittletoo hot for prime time.
“And we’re out,” called the floor director’s voice.
In my IFB, Geena made a funny sound and ad-libbed, “Well, there’s obviously more tothatstory, and News Night America will be sure to bring you the follow-up tomorrow night.”
Reid stopped the kiss before I did—I might never have stopped it. He grinned down at me.
“So, I didn’t get to askyouany questions.”
I shook my head, smiling at him through tears. “That’s not how it works.”
“Still, there is something I wanted to know. How’d you like to go to Australia with me?”
I sucked in a breath. “That’s where we said we’d go for our honeymoon when we were young and stupid.”
“We’re still young and stupid. But I guess you’re right—we should probably get married first.”
“Yes,” I said, before he’d even finished the last word. “And I’ll have plenty of time to travel as I am currently unemployed.”
Reid tipped his head to the side, wearing a mysterious expression. “I don’t know—I’ve been thinking about buying a certain TV station in Providence. I hear the price might be quite reasonable, considering the massive lawsuit they’ve been threatened with.”
“Poor Rob—I warned him.”
“You like that joker? Because I was thinking of doing some serious housecleaning after I take over. Not that you need me to avenge your honor. You’re a strong, independent woman—”
“I do need you,” I interrupted. “And Iwantyou, in every way, always and forever.”
Epilogue
“I can’t believe this, Mara,” Heidi said. “Honestly, I thought you’d never get married.”
My friend adjusted a tiny sparkling jewel in my updo as I sat in front of the mirror. “No offense,” she said.
I gave the skirts of my wedding dress a shake and laughed. “No, believe me, none taken. I wasn’t sure I’deverbe wearing the poufy white dress.”
“It’s not poufy—well, it’s a little poufy—but it’s gorgeous,” Kenley said.
She smiled at my reflection with slightly dewy eyes, looking gorgeous herself in a sea-green dress that complimented her light blue eyes and blonde hair. Though I knew without a doubt she was happy for me, she’d been quiet all day.
This couldn’t be easy on her, but thank God she’d come. I didn’t know if I could walk down the aisle without Kenley and Heidi there.
Heidi had traded in her airline ticket to Atlanta for one to Rhode Island. I’d put my flight credit in Kenley’s name, and both my best friends had flown in for several days’ worth of pre-wedding festivities.
“I’m about to attend a star-studded wedding on the lawn of an Eastport Bay, Rhode Island mansion,” Heidi said. “I feel like a Vanderbilt or a Rockefeller.”
