What did that mean? he wondered wildly. But then, beyond the tears, he saw the teasing light in her expression. Relief, joy and a thousand other surging emotions rushed through him.
“No offense,” she told him teasingly as a tear slipped down her cheek, “but Darla pays better. Much better.”
“I’ll triple your salary,” he said without skipping a beat, cupping her face and swiping another tear away with the pad of his thumb. “Quadruple.”
She tilted her head as she considered. “I get to do your accounting. All of it.”
“Okay, but I’ll make the coffee,” he said quickly, flashing a sudden grin as his heart threatened to burst. “Caitlin. Tell me. Tell me you love me quick, that you forgive me for being such a fool. I’m dying here.”
She smiled, a brilliant radiance spreading across her features. “I forgive you for being a fool. And I love you with all my heart.”
“Thank God,” he murmured, yanking her against him. He kissed her, his mouth open and warm, receiving and giving, full of enough promises to last a lifetime.
Lifting her head, she looked up at him, taking a moment to bask in the joy of their love. “Let’s talk benefits.”
Eyes dancing with love and laughter, he pulled her close. “Anything you want, Mrs. Brownley-to-be. Anything you want.”
“Well, there’s just a couple of little things…” She pulled him close and whispered her heart’s wishes.
He made them all come true.
Epilogue
THE LETTER CAME one week after their wedding. Caitlin stared at her father’s familiar handwriting and her pounding heart landed in her throat.
“What’s the matter?” Joe came up behind her, slipped his arms around her waist. Leaning over her shoulder, he frowned. “That’s Edmund’s writing. How-?” His arms tightened on her in reaction. “Where did that come from?”
“The mail.” She patted his hand, knowing the gruffness in his voice was grief. “My father’s attorney sent it to me.” Quickly, with fingers that shook, Caitlin ripped open the envelope.
As she read, her heart warmed, tightening in her chest until she thought she might burst with love and happiness. She whirled to face Joe, her eyes burning, her throat thick. In his gaze, she saw equal emotion, and knew he’d already read the note. “He loved me,” she whispered.
“Very much,” Joe whispered back, bending to kiss her softly. “So much that he hid away a trust fund for you. He just wanted to be sure you’d be okay without him. Without his money.”
“It says here that he always knew I was smart, tough-” Her voice cracked a little. “But he wanted
Joe cupped her face and looked down at her with love swimming in his eyes. “He’d be so proud of you, too.”
Caitlin sighed. “I can’t imagine what we’re going to do with all that money.”
“No?” Joe smiled. “A year ago, you wouldn’t have given it a second thought.”
“I’d have shopped until I dropped.” She smiled. “Joe, how do you feel about setting up a charity for women who’ve been dumped on?”
“You mean divorced?”
“Yeah. Or deserted in any way at all.” She grinned. This was the delicious part. “We could train them to make it on their own. Teach them important skills.” She tucked her tongue firmly in her cheek and gazed up at Joe with adoring affection. “You know, such as respect for their employer, making coffee, or…how to pick the proper business attire.”
He gave a shout of laughter and hugged her close.
Suddenly serious, she leaned back. “I want to do this, Joe. We can train them in bookkeeping.
His breath caught because she could still dazzle him with just a look. “I think I’ve never been more proud, or loved you so much, Caitlin Taylor Brownley.” He bent to give her another kiss, his love, his life.
Jill Shalvis
Jill Shalvis is the award-winning, bestselling author of over a dozen romance novels. She’s been making up stories to keep herself out of trouble since the day she learned to talk, and is very thankful to now get paid for doing what comes naturally.
The idea for
While this is Jill’s first book for Harlequin Temptation, watch for more to come from this talented and prolific writer.
