Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,80
us. My parents’ house is a small ranch with a to-scale bathroom. I sit with my back against the sink cabinets, hugging my knees, my butt on a cushy emerald green rug.
“I wasn’t there, of course,” she says just as softly. “But I doubt you said anything that hasn’t been on your mind for a long while.”
I stuff my hand into my hair, stopping with my fingers buried in the curls and my palm on my forehead. “That’s the problem. I was arguing about what has happened, not what was happening. He asked for my help. There’s literally no reason I couldn’t do it.”
A deep voice answered. “There’s a reason.”
I jerk my head up. Simon towers over us in the doorway. His eyes soften when they land on me and he shoves a hand in the pocket of his slacks. His hard chest is visible through the top two buttons of his shirt. His hair is mussed and his eyes are tired. Yet he’s so devastatingly gorgeous.
And so here. At my mom’s. I didn’t tell him where I was. I glance at Mom. Did she call him?
She shrugs. “Last year, I helped you through this. But I think he needs to be here for you today.”
Simon stands aside to let her out, then steps into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He takes my mom’s spot on the edge of the tub.
I sniffle. “Thanks for coming.”
“I’m glad I got back to town in time. I stopped at home to find you when your mom called.”
I frown. “You were gone?”
“New York.”
He was up and gone early, but he flew there and back already? “What’d you have in New York?”
“I sold the company to Graham Morgan.”
I stare at him. I can’t have heard right. “You what?”
His lips quirk, but there’s no teasing note to his expression. “Sold it. Done. Helena notified clients—except for Waterson, I took so much joy from that call—and I let Charlie go—with a hefty severance package and a letter of recommendation. Same with Helena. I even convinced him to contact Mr. Mellow from that startup in London that I had to withdraw from.”
“Sold?” I can’t make sense of it. Simon would never sell his company.
He grins, the guy I fell in love with in college making an appearance. “We’re set for life, Natalie. We can have ten kids and they’d each get a trust fund, and we can still donate a lot.”
I sit up straight, my hands bracing me on the floor. “You really did it?”
“I did. You can still launch Let Me Assist You, do whatever you want for a career. I’ll be a stay-at-home dad.” His expression sobers. “I’m not missing out on more of my kids’ lives. I’m not missing any more firsts. Every school performance, I’m there.”
He’s so sincere, heartfelt, and for the first time, I see excitement in his brown eyes instead of grim determination. “I can’t believe you did it. Do you think you’ll be happy?”
“I think I’ll finally be fulfilled. I wanted a legacy for my kids, but all I’m doing is robbing them of memories with me. Stealing them from myself. I’ve missed so much and this summer only gave me a glimpse into everything we’ve all been missing out on. Liam gifted me with a privileged life and to be free of his shadow and my parents’ expectations—and pay it forward. I’m confident it’s what he would’ve wanted.” He digs in his pocket and produces a ring.
It’s my wedding set.
He maneuvers down on one knee. “But I’ll only be happy if you’re by my side. Natalie Gainesworth, will you marry me—again?”
I laugh, and hiccup, and laugh some more. I don’t have to think about the answer. My left hand is reaching out before I realize tears are streaming down my face. “Yes, Simon Gainesworth. I’d love to be your wife—again.”
He slides the ring on and I sigh as the slight weight settles on my finger. It feels right.
I lunge for him as he grabs for me. We meet in a mishmash of sitting and squatting in the middle of the bathroom floor, but we manage to lock lips. I breathe him in as I kiss him. The smell of my husband.
Running his hands up my arms, he pulls back. “Should we go tell the girls?”
“You know they’ll ask about a wedding.”
“What do you want? A justice of the peace? A walk down the aisle? Natalie, I’ll give you anything.”
He’s given me everything. I smile at him and caress