Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (40 page)

Epilogue

"Why didn't he even look at me?" I turned to Pauly as I wiped at my tears. "Is he pissed over something I did?"

"No, butterfly. Sometimes growing up means letting go of the things that matter most to you so they can mature and fly away." Pauly pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'm not letting him go, Pauly. He's everything I want in my life. I can't." I tugged from his hold and extended my hand, palm up. "Give me your keys. I'm going to the station to wait for him."

"Your father isn't going to accept him, Chloe."

"Then he's not my father anymore. This whole life has been about him. I want this one moment... this one thing. If he can't figure out how to deal with that, then I'm done. I choose Ian."

Pauly fished out his keys and dropped them into my hand. "Your father said the same thing when his parents flipped their shit over your mother.”

"What? Mom was a movie star. Why would anyone have a problem with her?" I moved around the car, wanting to hear the rest of the story, but knowing that I needed to get to the station. I wanted to be the first thing Ian saw when he walked out. He needed to know that I was there for him without question.

"Back then movie stars were gangsters, the hookers, the loose women of the night." Pauly laughed. "Your dad was a straight-laced guy and your mom... well, she was a looker and had a personality that couldn't be boxed no matter how hard she tried. Stop being what everyone else wants you to be, butterfly. Spread your wings and go get the boy."

I laughed as a few more tears fell from my eyes. There wasn't anything to concern myself with other than getting my guy back and telling him that I loved him. I didn't care what his past was or what his hang-ups looked like. I wanted to heal him and offer a safe, comfortable place for him to land. In my arms he would find anything he wanted, because I would make it so.

I went through the gamut of emotions as I waited outside of the police station for Ian to finally come out. The expression on his handsome face was pensive at best. He glanced both ways and ran his fingers through his hair before jogging down the steps and pulling out his phone. He was calling his brother no doubt.

I got out of the car and walked around to the passenger’s side to lean against the door and dangle the keys on my finger. He looked around before laying eyes on me and freezing.

"I thought maybe you might need a ride?"

A smile tugged at his sexy mouth and he jogged across the street, stopping in front of me. "I wasn't sure you'd be willing to see me after today."

"Why's that? Because you saved my life, stole my heart and forced me to consider giving up my love of panties?"

He laughed and pulled me into his arms, leaning down and pressing a hard kiss to my lips. "I'm not a good guy. My past is going to keep rolling over me until the day I die."

"And I'll be there to help you push it back each time it does."

He reached into his pocket and pulled something silver out before moving back and letting it drop from his fingers. It was a dainty silver necklace with a butterfly charm on it.

"What's this? A gift?" I lifted my eyebrow. "My father uses gifts to say that he loves me because he can't figure out how to mumble the words and mean them."

"I got it for you at the mall when you were trying on your hundredth dress today." He moved behind me and put it over my head. "I don't need an object to tell you that I love you."

I turned and slipped my arms around his waist, lifting up and kissing him. "Do you know what my greatest fear is?"

"Tell me, baby." He tightened his hold on me and watched me closely.

"To be lonely." I glanced down and he rubbed my back softly.

"I'll never let that happen as long as you stay beside me." He kissed the tip of my nose and I blinked back tears. "You know what mine is?"

"What?"

"To be forgotten."

"Never." I pulled him down for another long kiss as he pressed his hips forward, the language of our love roaring to life in the middle of the street.

He broke the kiss only for a minute and winked. "Get in the car and let's go to the beach. There's a small alcove just a mile down from your beach house. It's good for... exploring."

I laughed and pulled from him, pausing to say the words that scared me most. "Ian, I love you."

He winked and licked at his perfect lips. "I love you too, now, get your fine ass in the car. I got a new tat I want to show you."

"You did not..."

"I did."

The End

Enjoy Forgotten Bodyguard?

Future Investment is the next standalone in this series

SNEAK PEEK BELOW!!

Pick up your copy today!!

Dr. Jax Crawford has reached the pinnacle of his career, but it's come at a steep cost. Three divorces and nothing to show for any of them, he's forced to start considering other possibilities to meet his needs. Being a bachelor forever doesn't sound too bad, but sleeping around isn't a possibility. He needs one woman, who he knows is safe and is willing to be adventurous in his bedroom. He needs a pet.
Elizabeth Jenkins has struggled her whole life. She’s finally through med school and has her residency set up. She’s locked into the low paying gig for the next three years, but couldn’t be more thrilled. The only problem is that she's completely broke, and her student loans have piled up significantly beyond what she's capable of managing.
When Jax finds out about their newest residence's situation, he's more than happy to take her out for a drink to test the waters. She might be the perfect addition to his life, but secrecy is of the upmost importance. He needs a warm body to snuggle up next to at night, but what he never considered was how quickly she might unravel his desire to stay alone and free forever.

Sneak Peek of Future Investment

Chapter 1

Elizabeth

"Yes! Yes!" I spun around from the kitchen table where the mail lay strewn about. My fingers shook as they gripped the letter I had been waiting to get for as long as I could remember. "Mom! I got it!"

"Really?" My mom jogged into the kitchen and stopped in front of me. "Oh my God! Let me read it."

I handed her the letter and wrapped my arms around myself as I picked at my lip. I had just graduated a month before after ten long years at NYU. There were only two more steps remaining before I would be a full-fledged doctor. A surgeon.

Chills ran through me as my mother looked up with tears in her eyes.

"Baby, I'm so proud of you. All the sacrifices that you've made and the friendships you've lost. It’s all worth it. Look what you’ve done." She moved toward me and wrapped me in a tight hug as we shared a brief sob session.

I
had
given up a lot. Far too much.

Being twenty-eight with a deadbeat boyfriend and no prospects of marriage or children were just part of the cost of the path I'd chosen. It was lonely, but made up for in moments of success much like the one I was experiencing. It was far overdue.

"We should celebrate." I moved back and let out a soft chuckle. "I need to call Steph and let her know that I got my residency letter. I'll be working right up the road for the next three years."

"Aren’t you calling Jackson? Did you guys break up again?" She put her hand on her hip, and I swore that she thought I was a child.

"No. We're still together. I'll tell him later. I'm going to invite Steph to come with us to dinner. That okay?" I moved toward the guest bedroom in my mom's small house as my heart fluttered. I was one step closer to my dream.

"Yep. Can't do anything without your bestie. I swear you guys will always be inseparable."

We'd never had much money, but we didn't need it. We were laid back and not at all materialistic. Besides, a poor childhood prepared me well for being broke for most of my twenties. Things weren’t going to change much either. My student loan costs were astronomical. They should have named a wing of the medical school after me. The residency wasn't going to pay much, but it would be enough to cover my rent at the apartment with Stephanie. If I needed additional income, I'd get a sugar daddy or another job.

"You wish," I mumbled to myself as I plopped down onto the edge of the bed. Steph's number was at the top of my recent calls, as it should be. I didn't have too many friends in life, but she was all I could handle most days anyway. The girl had more energy than one might consider healthy.

"Hey! Where are you? It's boring as hell here when you're gone." She sounded like she was bouncing around. I just prayed there wasn't a guy beneath her. The woman had no couth.

"I'm at my mom's house. Just picking up my mail."

"Anything good?"

"What are you doing? Do I even want to know?" I pressed my fingers to my forehead and prepared to grimace.

"Trying out a new dance DVD. Get over here and let's boogie-oogie-oogie."

"Right. Not happening." I laughed, unable to help myself. "Get dressed and meet us at the burger place just beside the med building. Mom's taking me to dinner. I figure you might want some food too."

"Yeah, alright. I was getting these moves down far too fast anyway. It's boring when you were made to move."

I rolled my eyes and stood up. "So… I got the letter from St. Mark's Hospital. They've agreed to the matching for my residency."

"What? Oh my God, Liz. That's great news!" Her laugh was full of joy, and it forced a smile onto my face.

"You need to check for yours. It should be in." I walked back toward the kitchen and got a glass of water.

"I'll call my mom when I get in the car. Nothing came here, but nothing ever does. I still don't understand why we had to get an apartment in the worst part of town. We're going to get mugged or kidnapped. That's why we have no mail. The mailman is scared shitless of this neighborhood."

"Alright. Enough out of you, drama major. See you soon.” I dropped the call as she continued to complain about the apartment. We'd been friends since grade school and had no need to be anything other than ourselves around each other.

Stephanie had a million options as to what to study in college, but she'd chosen medicine alongside me. It had always been my dream to save lives in the ER, but some part of me couldn't help but wonder if she simply wanted to be wherever I was, no matter what that meant for her. It was comforting. I was an only child, and Steph was as close as I got to having a sibling.

"You ready?" My mom poked her head into the kitchen.

"Yes. More than ready. I'm thinking that burger place beside the college that I love so much." I walked into the living room and gave her a crooked smile as she groaned.

"I hate that place. Let's go somewhere nice. You deserve a really good dinner. This is big news, so we need a big celebration." She smiled and opened the door, patting my back as I walked through in front of her.

"Mom. Money is tight. We don't need to blow the phone bill on a steak. Seriously." I walked down the dilapidated stairs that needed to be replaced yesterday and turned, making sure to watch her in case the whole damn platform fell.

"Money will always be tight, but one day, my baby girl is going to pay everything off and live the life I've always wanted for her. Right? Give me hope." She winked at me and stopped by her side of the car as her expression tightened. "I'm so proud of you. Your daddy would be too. You know that, right?"

I nodded, not sure I trusted myself to talk around the hot lump of sadness that rose up sharply and lodged itself in my throat. My father should have been there, but his heart wasn’t willing to outlast his fast-paced life. He was the reason I wanted to become a doctor. No girl should have to bury her father from a misdiagnosis. I would make sure that didn’t happen on my shift, or die trying.

After getting in the car, I buckled up and turned on the radio. I might have only been a few years from thirty, but when I was with my mother it felt like I was fifteen again. I loved it. She did too.

"So a burger for the newest resident of St. Mark's Hospital?" She reached over and squeezed my arm gently before turning on the car and backing out.

"That sounds delicious." I pulled out my phone and let out a sigh. "I should text Jackson."

"You should. He's a great boy, Elizabeth. He's been hanging around you and Stephanie far longer than any man would be expected to. You know he's going to ask you to marry him soon."

"Ugh. No." I ran my fingers through my long chestnut hair and dropped the phone in the cup holder next to me.

"What? Why? He's so good-looking."

"Yes, and he knows it. He's been in love with himself since we were in high school and he lost all that weight. I almost wish he was still patty-jack."

"Elizabeth. Don't call him that. He hated that back in high school and he hates it now." My mom gave me a sideways look as I smirked.

"He's a great guy, but not the guy for me. I should have broken up with him ten years ago, but I'm just not sure I can now. We've been together too long."

"Yeah, but if it's not right, then-"

"Wait. You're confusing me. You just said he was the one for me, and now you're giving me an out? You need meds. I'll examine you when we get to the restaurant, or ask Steph to do it."

"Neither of you is touching me. You might fool all those people at NYU, but I know you both far too well." She pulled into the parking lot of the burger place and turned to look at me. "Honestly; let him go or invite him in. Dating off and on for ten years is a waste of both of your lives."

I nodded and jumped as the car beside us honked loudly. Stephanie waved at me and pointed at Jack before giving me a shit-eating grin. She’d brought him on purpose. I'd have to kick her in the shin later over it.

We got out of the car, and walked to the restaurant as the warm wind of autumn blew across us. Jack reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back toward him.

"Just a minute." He looked over at my mother and Steph. "We'll be right in. I just want to congratulate my girl."

I pressed my hands to his strong chest as he turned his attention back to me. "I was going to call."

"No, you weren't." He leaned down and brushed his lips by mine. "But it's okay. You’re modest, and you hate attention. I get it. I, on the other hand, love attention and have been getting none lately."

"I know." I forced a smile and lifted to my toes, kissing his lips once more in hopes that we could go inside soon. He was handsome in a frat-boy way, but his personality drained me within ten minutes of being near him.

"Spend the night with me tonight. You haven’t been in my bed for a month." He ran his hands over my cheeks and pulled me up for another long kiss. I closed my eyes and imagined him to be anyone but who he was. Sadness and guilt tightened around my insides as I forced my eyes open. I couldn't keep doing this just to spare his feelings. I couldn't do it just so I wouldn't be completely alone at night. It was getting ridiculous.

"Not tonight. I want to visit my advisor, and you know she keeps late hours." I hugged him and moved back. "Come on. I'll stay the night soon. I promise."

"I'm going to hold you to it." He popped my butt, and I stifled a growl. There had to be a better match for him. I wanted to desire him, wanted to feel uncontrollably turned on by his sexy voice and dark eyes, but it just wasn't going to happen for me. I'd watched him grow up, and for some odd reason that killed my desire to want him sexually. I'd been forcing myself for the last few years to sleep with him, but now that I was done with school, maybe it was time for a change - for both of us.

We ate dinner and laughed the entire time, thanks to Stephanie and all of her crazy stories she told when anyone was paying attention. The girl didn't know a stranger, and if it hadn't been for her, we would never have been invited anywhere in college. She was in the center of everything, and just happened to drag me along, often against my will.

My meeting with my advisor wasn't until early the next morning, but no one needed to know that. Besides, no one but Jackson would care.

Stephanie let out a yelp, and I glanced up from my burger to see her face light up as she read something on her phone.

"Oh my God, Liz. I got in too. I'll be at St. Mark's with you. Oh my God." She jumped up and almost knocked the table over as she moved around my mother and wrapped me in an awkward hug. I was used to them, and simply turned and gave her a tight squeeze.

"That's great news! Looks like we won't have to split up after all," I teased her.

"And we can check out all the hot doctors together." She wagged her eyebrows before moving back and shrugging. "Sorry, Jack. You should've gone the doctor route. Accountants just aren't that sexy."

"This one is." He brushed his hand down his chest and gave me a saucy look. "Right, baby?"

"Right. So hot." I shoved three fries in my mouth and avoided my mother's hard stare. It would be time to go soon, and I couldn't pray hard enough for it to hurry the hell up.