“Thank you. And I couldn’t have done it without you. I don’t want to do it without
you.”
The sob came out of nowhere, catching her in the throat and tightening her body into
a coil of energy.
“Oh no. Did I say the wrong thing again? Please, no, please don’t cry,” Rick faffed
about, apparently looking for tissues, and finally handing her the box George had
found earlier.
Felicity hiccupped through the sob and fought back the tears. “No, no. I’m fine, sorry.
It’s just—it’s quite overwhelming.”
“Of course. Sit?”
She shook her head. The realization of how much it had cost him to offer this to her
started easing out of her body and her breath quieted. This was bigger than any of
the lies she’d felt betrayed by. It was bigger than anything he could have said, any
other gesture he could have made. And yet he’d offered that up too. He’d told her
his deepest hurts, his darkest memories. “You’re not an evil bastard.”
The frown lines on his face dropped and he threw back his head and laughed. “I’m glad
to hear it. Does that mean I’m forgiven for being such an ass?”
The small nod belied the strength of her emotions, but she wasn’t ready, yet, to let
everything out. He must have known what she needed to hear and took her hand. “You
asked me if I’d loved the old you and I didn’t really answer.” He took a breath. “I
guess the straight-up answer is no.”
She pulled her hand away. “But you said—”
“No, wait. The answer is no because I have real love to compare it to. When we were
together it was a great partnership, a good business venture, but this, what we have
now, what we can grow together, this is love. I love you, Felicity. I love all of
you, past, present, and especially future.”
“Oh man, thank God.”
“Does that mean you love me too?”
She nodded through her tears and practically fell into Rick’s open arms. Sniffing,
she unclenched her hands and smoothed back the paper she was still clutching. “I guess
I’m coming back with you after all. I won’t need this.”
Rick pushed her back a little. “No. This is for real. You can decide which way we
go with the investors.”
“But I don’t know. I don’t remember anything about it.”
“I’m not asking you to do it alone. It’s your patent, but it’s still Biogena’s future.
If you’ll let me, I’d like to be part of your decision-making process. And you’ll
have a board of advisers if you decide to go ahead and okay the investment.”
Felicity nodded. “I wouldn’t stop the development of something that can help others.
I’d never do that.”
“I know. You have too much love for that.”
“And us? We’ll just take it one day at a time? Even without the last five years to
pick up from?”
“One day at a time. And anyway, it’s okay. I’ve got memories aplenty for the two of
us.”
She smiled at him even as she shook her head. “I guess I’ve got memories of us too
now. The
new
us. And seeing as I’ve lost the last five years, there’s loads of space for new memories.
Memories we’re going to make together.” She leaned in and, as Rick pressed his lips
over hers, the kiss washed away every last shred of doubt. This was what she’d been
looking for when she ran from her old life. Who knew that it was back there, waiting
for her all the time, just where she’d left it? Only she knew in her heart she hadn’t
loved the old Rick like this. “Lucky I found you the second time around.”
“Lucky I found
you,
you mean.”
“Lucky we found each other, Cashypants.” They gazed at each other for a moment that
stretched into a wonderful, potent future before Felicity smiled. “Didn’t you bring
a bottle of champagne with you, or is that ice bucket just happy to see me?”
Laughing, Rick kissed her, again, fast and hard on the lips. “Who knew I’d be glad
to have a wife with amnesia? Seems a knock on the head brings the sass right out of
a girl.”
“A wife?”
“Of course. You might have lost the ring, but I’ve still got your promise. That is,
if you still want to?”
Felicity bit her lip, suddenly coy. “I don’t know what to say—”
“Just say yes.”
The smile felt as if it had been brewing forever. “Yes. Yes, of course. Oh, my God.
I’m getting married!” She threw her arms around his neck and pulled Rick’s face into
a kiss.
Rick laughed again as she let him up for air. “That’s quite a different reaction from
last time. But I like it,” he said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tightly
into his body. A body she was going to get to know almost as well as her own. Felicity
had to hold in the squee of glee that attempted to get out. Who knew she was the wedding
type?
“Married! Man, this is crazy. We’re getting married, Cashypants!”
“Well, then,” Rick said, chuckling, as he released her and pulled a shell, broken
and smoothed by the sea into a misshapen ring, out of his pocket. He pushed it onto
her finger. “Marry me soon. And stop calling me Cashypants.”
“Sure, just as soon as I come up with a new nickname. How about Hubbylicious?”
Rick groaned, but as he pulled her into yet another kiss, Felicity felt the bubble
of happiness wrap around her completely. Amnesia might have stolen five years, but
it had given her everything she’d forgotten she wanted.
Acknowledgments
There is nothing like seeing your hard work happily ensconced in readers’ hands to
make an author feel fantastic. Thanks to all readers who bought
The Boss and Her Billionaire
, and thus made the case for me to keep up this romance writing business! I loved
diving back into the world of The Pacific Empress and giving Felicity her own story.
Thanks also to Entangled Publishing and especially Alethea Spiridon Hopson for the
encouragement and hilarity along the way. A big high five to Rima Jean for sharing
the speedy deadlines, to Laura Anne for emailing from the road, and to my critique
partners Bronwyn Evans, Carmen Falcone, and my romance cheerleading team Trudi Jaye,
Tania Hutley and Sharyn Barrett.
About the Author
Michele was born in the mid 1970s amid a burgeoning sprawl of vineyards and new retirement
homes. Despite training in law (or perhaps because of it) she has been a dancer, producer,
writer, and all round arty type in various countries for most of her life. Now back
home in New Zealand after travelling extensively, she writes full time in an office
surrounded by whispering trees.
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