Love You Always

“As you can see, there is no reason for you to ever be jealous. I’m only yours. I think I’ve made that clear.”

“You won't even give it up.” I rub my body against his.

“Soon.” He drops his mouth onto mine. “I’ll let you have your girls’ day. Maybe after Mia tells you I’m in this with you then you’ll let down the rest of those walls you’re keeping up.”

“Then I can have your dick?” I joke with a smile. It’s my way of deflecting and he doesn't return it because he’s right. The joke is another wall I just tried to throw up. He’s showing me that he’s not having it. He isn’t running either. No. That is my MO. I am kind of doing it now. Going to Mia’s is my way of not dealing with what I have to. To be honest, though, I do need advice.

“I never planned to have sex before marriage.” Whoa. That completely catches me off guard. “It isn’t because I'm a religious man. It’s just how I am. I’m all in or all out. You’ll never have to wonder where I stand on something. You just have to ask.”

What if I’m scared to know the answer? So I avoid and don’t ask at all.

“But that night—” I trail off. He had sex with me. A few times.

“I knew it was you. The one and only person I would ever marry. I didn't need papers and a judge to tell me you were mine. I was all in from the second you turned around and those green eyes landed right on me.”

“It’s working, you know.” I am falling in love with him. Okay, I might be there already. Still, I am scared. I think fear has ruled most things I’ve done in life. I know this, yet I still allow it to continue doing it. I’m working on it, I remind myself.

Our baby deserves better than for me to not take a chance because life hasn’t always been kind to me. I deserve to be happy. I want this with Ethan. Now I just need to hope that he wants not only me but the baby we created together.

“Good.” He gives me another kiss. “I’ll take you to your place.” He steps back. My hands drop from his chest where I’d placed them.

“What will you do all day? Besides obsess over me?”

“That’s a given.” He smirks.

“Don’t you have an empire to check in on?” I call after him as he disappears into the closet. He comes back a moment later with a coat for me and slips it over my shoulders.

“I’m sure there is some work I can do.” He brushes his mouth against mine as he buttons the coat for me. “You’re my empire now.”

We’re your empire now, I think, wanting to correct him, but I don’t.

12

Ethan

I lean up against the side of my town car, fiddling with my phone. My dollface went in twenty minutes ago, but I couldn’t pull myself away. Something was bothering her, which is bothering me. Could she not be feeling well again?

I pocket my phone after I text Emily what all I need taken care of. I also tell her to find me a real estate agent. I look up when I see an SUV pull up behind me. I watch as first Max Kennedy steps out, followed by his wife and then his sister. I’d forgotten about Kim. She’d fallen a little off the social scene when she got married and had a few little ones. She is now living the dream. I have to admit that I’m a little jealous of her for having it all.

“Ethan King.” She shakes her head as she heads straight for me. Mia stands back with Max, watching us. She’s got her arm wrapped around his as she rests her head on his shoulder. I know she’s taking me in.

She and Amelia are best friends but Amelia is the louder one between the two of them. Mia is the shy one. They fit and I wouldn’t come between that. In fact, I am hoping that I can win Mia over at some point. Max was right. I am going to have to learn to get used to him being around. This is a package deal family.

“If I had known you dated, I would have hooked you up with Amelia forever ago.”

“I don’t date.”

Kim throws her head back and laughs. “Should have known. You go straight for what you want and don’t settle for less.” She smiles, shaking her head. “First Max and now you. Hearts are breaking all over the city as we speak.”

“No one knows about—" My phone dings in my pocket. I reach for it. Few people have my number to message me.

“Someone saw you with her. Gossip is starting to spread. You know that once it gets started it's like a wildfire.” I get confirmation of Kim’s words at the same time as my assistant and mom. Emily is giving me a heads-up while my mom is wanting answers. I know without a doubt my mom is likely already planning a wedding and dreaming up the idea of grandbabies.