Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,101

him in case I really have lost it and my imagination has conjured him up.

He holds up his finger in my direction, walking past me and up the stairs to the school. “Henry,” he says, holding his fist out.

They fist bump and then he descends the steps, his eyes never leaving mine. I’m still in a state of shock as he comes to stand in front of me.

“Ready?” He holds his hand out.

“For?”

“The rest of your life.”

I smile, fitting my hand in his. He pulls me into his chest and we couldn’t get closer if we tried.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. Pulling back, he holds my head in his hands.

“I’m sorry, too. I love you, Reed. I should have never made you choose. We can do long distance. We’ll figure it out.”

He shakes his head. “No, you were right about that. If we’re going to give this a chance, we can’t be seven-hundred miles away from one another.”

“Then what are we going to do?” I ask and press my lips together, waiting for his answer.

“When I first saw you again, my heart skipped a beat. I never believed in that shit. I mean I knew I’d eventually fall in love, but for your body to have a physical reaction? That stuffs for fairy tales and TV. With you though, I’ve never been surer of anything. You were meant for me.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and leans in close. “Victoria Clarke, I choose you. I’m not taking the job in New York.”

His lips fall to mine and I close my eyes basking in all the love and adoration of his kiss. We break apart and I glance at the faces around us. Jade’s giggling at the top of the stairs, her hand over her mouth and she smiles at me before heading into the building.

“Are you sure?” I whisper.

“One hundred percent positive.”

He holds his hand out for me and I take it. And I’ll never let it go again.

Epilogue

One month later…

“Ready?” Reed walks into the office as I finish typing my email.

“Almost,” I say.

He sits down in front of my desk looking gorgeous in a navy blue suit. He props one foot up and rests it on his knee.

“Did you win?” I ask.

I would watch Reed in court every day if I could, but after the last case, I’ve kept my distance. He’s absurdly paranoid and it’s hard for him if I’m there.

“I did.” A huge smile crosses his face.

“I’ll have to make sure to give you a congratulatory kiss.”

“Just a kiss?” He sits up, grabs a Post-it note and a pen.

“Is that for me?” I ask, eyeing the note in his hand. With my hand on the mouse, I close out everything and log off.

“It’s not always about you.” He winks, scribbling something in his lawyer handwriting which reminds me of a doctor’s.

“I’ll be right back.” I pretend to say goodbye to Chelsea, so he has an opportunity to hide the note for me to find on Monday.

“Hurry. Abe’s waiting.”

“Only you can get an Uber to act like your own personal chauffeur.” Hannah comes out of her office, leaning her shoulder on the doorframe with a manila folder in her hand.

“Hi, Hannah,” he says.

“Where are you taking our girl tonight?” she asks.

The two talk and I peek my head into Chelsea’s office.

“I’m leaving.”

“Thanks for the update, I’ll be sure to call NBC and let them know,” she jokes, standing and following me out. “Reed ‘The Steak’ Warner, how the hell are you?” She acts like she didn’t just see him yesterday.

I’ve been granted with a pickup and a drop-off every day for a month. I can’t complain. There’s something about almost losing something that makes you hold it tighter.

“Chelsea,” he says and smiles, tossing the pen into my holder and standing to his feet.

“Would you guys mind dropping this off at the tax attorney’s office? His office isn’t too far.” Hannah holds out the envelope and I snatch it up.

“Sure.” Then I look to Reed. “We have time, right?”

He nods.

The envelope is snatched out of my hands. “I’ll do it. You two go.” She shoos me with her hand.

“Thanks, Chels.”

“I’m going that way anyway. I’m on a search for penis paraphernalia and I might just grab myself one of those Unicorn Cock vibrators. My cousin’s bachelorette party is coming up.”

She rolls her eyes like having to go into a sex store is such an inconvenience for her would upset her. Having to go into a sex store. This