Chapter 14 - THE KISS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SAVING HIM
Julian kissed me six weeks later.
Not because anyone had a gun.
Not because someone was watching.
Not because he needed to protect me.
We were in his kitchen.
I was making grilled cheese.
Badly.
“You’re burning it,” he said.
“I know.”
“You could lower the heat.”
“You could leave.”
“This is my kitchen.”
“Technicality.”
He laughed.
Gabriel slept in a bassinet near the window.
I looked at Julian.
He looked different these days.
Less polished.
More tired.
Happier.
Human.
“What?” he asked.
“You smile more.”
“That sounds accusatory.”
“It is.”
He stepped closer.
“You’re responsible.”
My heartbeat changed.
“That sounds dangerous.”
“It is.”
Silence.
Then he touched my cheek.
Slowly.
Giving me time to move.
I didn’t.
“Tess.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve spent months trying to decide if wanting you is unfair.”
“Why?”
“You worked for me.”
“Past tense.”
“You saved my life.”
“That doesn’t make me your employee.”
“You discovered my son.”
“Still not employment.”
He almost smiled.
“And you’re Charles Mercer’s daughter.”
“Please don’t make that romantic.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
His thumb brushed my cheek.
“I’m forty-one.”
“I know math.”
“You’re twenty-seven.”
“I also know my age.”
“You deserve something uncomplicated.”
I looked toward the sleeping baby.
Then around the mansion containing three generations of criminal evidence.
“Excellent place to look for uncomplicated.”
He laughed.
Then I kissed him.
Mostly because he was overthinking it.
He froze.
Then kissed me back.
Gentle.
Careful.
Nothing like the dangerous man newspapers described.
When we separated, he rested his forehead against mine.
“That was a terrible idea.”
“Probably.”
“Again?”
“Yes.”
The second kiss lasted longer.
Three months later, I moved into the guest wing.
Six months after that, not the guest wing.
My mother returned publicly from the dead.
That was awkward.
Charles received multiple life sentences.
Sloane pleaded guilty.
Brynn testified and entered witness protection.
Elise built a quiet life with Noah.
Julian turned Mercer Shipping into a fully legitimate international company.
And I did something that shocked everyone.
I returned to Aster Row.
Not as a maid.
As director of employee protection and ethics.
Julian stared at the job offer.
“You invented a position.”
“The hotel needed it.”
“You’re going to investigate rich people?”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“They’re doomed.”
One year after the engagement dinner that started everything, Julian took me back to the same private dining room.
Empty this time.
No Sloane.
No fake belly.
No assassins.
He poured champagne.
I stared suspiciously.
“What?”
“Last time you held champagne here, someone was planning to kill you.”
“Fair.”
He set down the glass.
Then pulled out a small box.
“No.”
He froze.
“I haven’t asked yet.”
“You’re making the face.”
“What face?”
“The proposal face.”
“I have a proposal face?”
“Yes.”
He sighed.
“Tess Callahan.”
“Julian.”
“Will you let me finish?”
“Maybe.”
He opened the box.
A ring.
Simple.
Elegant.
No Mercer crest.
No enormous stone.
No family expectation.
“You walked into my life because someone tried to use you against me.”
His voice softened.
“And then you chose to save me anyway.”
My eyes filled.
“You gave me the truth when everyone else gave me what I wanted to hear.”
He lowered himself onto one knee.
“Will you marry me?”
I looked at him.
Then at the ring.
Then toward the doorway.
“Where’s Mateo?”
“Outside.”
“Your mother?”
“Not invited.”
“Elise?”
“At home.”
“Any hidden pregnancies?”
“No.”
“Dead doctors?”
“No.”
“Assassins?”
“Hopefully no.”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
For once, Julian Mercer looked completely stunned.
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He stood.
Kissed me.
Then the lights suddenly went out.
I froze.
Julian did too.
“Tell me that’s romantic.”
“No.”
A red emergency light flickered.
Then Mateo shouted from the hallway:
“Boss!”
Julian reached for his weapon.
The doors opened.
Mateo stood there holding an envelope.
“What?”
“This was delivered downstairs.”
Julian took it.
No return address.
Inside was one photograph.
Henry Mercer.
Kathleen Callahan.
And a baby.
Me.
On the back, Henry had written:
IF JULIAN EVER FINDS TESS, TELL HIM THE TRUTH ABOUT WHY I PROTECTED HER.
My stomach dropped.
May you like
Julian looked at me.
Apparently one last secret had survived.
