Last Name - Dr. Rebecca Sharp Page 0,59

do you think will hurt them more—the truth about a man who’s already disappointed them, or knowing that you sacrificed yourself in order to protect a man who doesn’t deserve it. Because that’s what you are doing now…”

My stomach tightened.

I could picture my brother’s face… my mother’s… if they ever learned I let Carrie go just to keep this secret from them. And I could see a hurt that was far greater than learning the rest of my father’s transgressions.

“It’s time to stop protecting, son,” he murmured in finality. “It’s time to stop trying to salvage the past and instead, start fighting for your own future.”

“Jack—”

“You’ll see,” he cut me off, holding up his sleeve once more. “The stain may first look bad, but your family is too strong—too good—for it to leave lasting damage.”

The boat rumbled louder and my gaze snapped to his.

“Now, go get your girl.”

I nodded as relief settled into my bones—bones that had lived in a constant state of defense, always looking out, always ready to jump at the slightest word to protect my family.

But it was past time for them to know the truth.

I breezed through the room and out onto the deck, my eyes whipping across familiar faces as I searched for the three I needed.

“Suzanne!” I yelled, catching her just before she ducked into the main room. Her eyes widened at the frantic expression on my face and the severity in my tone. “I need to talk to my mother and Lars right away.”

She gaped. “O-Okay. Is everything okay? Is Carrie okay? You’re worrying me.”

“Yes, just help me find them,” I told her. “And then I’m going to need you to stall the boat.”

I didn’t have a lot of personal items in my office.

A picture of my parents. A few mugs. All the photos of places I wanted to see.

Ironically enough, they weren’t the hard things to pack.

The hardest things were all the little trinkets James had given me over the last several weeks. All the little teasing reminders of what we had—and what we could never have.

But when I made it to the photos of us taken around the world in Vegas that night… that was when I broke down.

Hot tears streamed down my face. Fast and frantic.

This was ridiculous.

It was ridiculous from the very start.

No one met their soulmate at a Blackjack table in Vegas. No one married their soulmate by accident after one night—and no one certainly went and fell in love with him.

No matter how desirable he made me feel. Or cherished. Or adored. Or protected. Or loved.

I cared about James—and that was why I had to end things. Because no one went and broke their family’s hearts the way he would have to if we stayed together.

“Carrie?”

The photos fluttered from my fingers like flower petals on the breeze, dropping to the desk and revealing the man who’d been in the frame, now standing in the flesh.

Handsome, wind-tossed and winded, in front of me. His hands gripped the doorframe, spreading his navy suit jacket wide. His gaze, driven and determined, locked on mine in a way that wouldn’t relent.

My lips parted. “James?” I blinked and looked at the clock. “W-What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be on the boat.”

“I’m supposed to be right here, Carrie.” He regarded me possessively and stepped forward, his hands dropping to his sides.

I shook my head. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t look at him and turn him away.

“No, you’re not.” I kept my gaze locked on the photos spread on my desk. “I won’t be responsible for hurting your family, James. I know everything you’ve gone through to salvage this business. I won’t be the one to jeopardize—”

“You’re not the one to jeopardize it.”

I gasped at his low growl, my eyes darting back up to the man who was now just inches from my longing body.

“You’re the one who makes it all worth it.”

“I’m not.” My head swiveled. “I’m just—”

“The woman I want to spend the rest of this adventure called life with,” he insisted, his low, coarse voice warming me.

I choked on a sob. “S-Stop being so sweet.”

“Alright, I can do that, too,” he quipped and reached behind him. I watched with surprise as he pulled the beret out of his back pocket and onto his head. “Now, mademoiselle, I’m not leaving this office, this building, or this moment without you by my side.”

“James…” I shook my head, covering my face with my hand.

I sucked in a breath as warm