Chance Encounters (22 page)

“Yeah, but this time I don’t feel guilty. Or bad about loving you back.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so you love me?”

“You know I do.”

“Say it.”

“I love you, Jackson Parks.”

“It’s about time.” He brushed at her hair and traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “Now stop talking.” He pulled her close and his mouth found hers, hungry with desire.

“I’m never going to get tired of doing that.” Jackson’s eyes turned dark and he held her tightly.

“I’m counting on it,” Caroline replied, her grip on him equally as strong.

Their mouths came together again, pulled in by some unexplainable force. Driven by desire, lust, and passion, they lost themselves in each another, content to finally be together, where they belonged.

Chapter Twenty-One

…
Six Weeks Later…

“I can’t believe you’re really leaving.” Bailey pouted from the couch.

Caroline sat on the floor and continued to wrap her framed photos, nestling them carefully in the open cardboard box in front of her. “Yes, you can,” she said, without looking up.

Bailey chuckled, “Yeah. I can.”

Bailey’s living room was crowded with stacks of boxes and suitcases, all filled with Caroline’s belongings. Only a few boxes remained unsealed, and Caroline crouched in front of one, tucking in the last item before she picked up her tape gun to seal it closed.

“It’s funny how things work out, huh?” Bailey picked up a sweatshirt from the pile of clothing on the couch, folded it, and handed it down to Caroline.

“How do you mean?” Caroline asked as she leaned over the box.

“Well, for starters, Mr. Walters is letting you transfer to the New York office, so you already have a kick-ass job.” Bailey’s face screamed “You’re Welcome” as she continued. “And…one of your best friends lives in the city, so you already have a place to live…”

“All true,” Caroline cut in.

Bailey’s eyes narrowed impatiently. “Hey! I wasn’t done yet!”

Caroline leaned back and threw her hands up in the air. “Whoa.”

Bailey cleared her throat. “As I was saying…kick-ass job, place to live, oh yeah, did I mention the boyfriend?”

“Uh, no. I don’t think you did. Is there one?” Caroline teased. The word
boyfriend
conjured up images of Jackson’s eyes in Caroline’s mind and she suddenly felt as though she was drowning in a sea of blue…only she didn’t mind.

Bailey brought her finger to her lips and bit at it seductively. “Ooooh, is there ever.”

Caroline burst out laughing. “You’re such a nut! This is why I love you.”

“It’s funny how things fall into place when you’re on the right path.” Bailey’s eyes twinkled with delight and Caroline’s entire face was aglow. “Remind me again why you’re not moving in with Jackson?” Bailey picked up a pair of jeans and aligned the legs before folding them.

When a chuckle came out mixed with an exasperated breath, Caroline coughed. “I’ve told you this, like what? A million times already?”

Bailey huffed. “Just tell me once more.”

“You writing a book or something?”

“Ha! You wish. Just tell me why, after everything that has happened between the two of you, you aren’t seizing every moment like it could be your last?”

“I didn’t want to rush things.”

Bailey handed down the jeans. “Didn’t want to rush things? Why should you? I mean, you only called off your wedding for the guy…and he only almost died.”

Caroline grabbed the jeans and smacked Bailey’s arm with them. “Shut up. Seriously, this is a huge step. I just want to be smart about it.”

“No, you’re right, he’ll probably be sick of you in a week anyway.”

“You’re pretty much the worst friend ever.”

“Yay right! You know I’m kidding.” Bailey nudged Caroline’s ribs with her foot.

“I know. But that thought does linger in the back of my mind,” Caroline admitted.

“What thought? That he’ll get sick of you?”

“Not that, necessarily. But what if it doesn’t work out between us?”

“Do you really think it won’t?” Bailey asked with surprise.

“No, but you never know. I mean, things happened really fast since his accident. I don’t want to be careless. So until we’re sure, I’m living with Tracey.”

“Makes sense.” Bailey nodded with approval.

Caroline folded the last box top and ran tape across it before wiping the dust off her hands on the leg of her jeans. “All done.”

“Should we start loading them into your car?”

“Yeah. We need to get on the road soon.” Caroline glanced at her watch.

“Will it really take us six whole days to get there?” Bailey whined and let out an annoyed breath.

“I don’t know,” Caroline admitted. “I’ve never driven to New York from San Francisco before.”

“I was just asking, jeez.”

“I swear if you annoy me, I will ditch your ass in the middle of Nebraska or something,” Caroline warned, wagging her finger.

“You will do nothing of the sort or so help me God, I will
hunt.you.down
,” Bailey threatened.

“You’d have to catch me first,” Caroline challenged and tossed the box she was holding at Bailey.

The cell phone’s ring broke up the horseplay. Caroline scrambled around desperately trying to locate the sound until Bailey pointed toward the couch. Caroline dived over the couch and pulled the cell phone out from under a throw pillow.

“Hey, Tray.” Caroline raised her eyebrows as Bailey waved
hi
and grabbed a box. “We’re just packing up the car now and then we’ll be on our way.” Caroline nodded her head against the phone. “Yep. I know. I can’t wait! I’m so excited!” A smile spread across her face. “Thank you so much for letting me stay with you. I know, it’s just…I know. I love you too. See you soon!”

“We should go,” Bailey reminded her, pointing at her watch.

With one last long, deep breath, Caroline tossed her blue duffle bag’s strap over her shoulder and reached for her brown leather suitcase. Bailey held the last two boxes as they turned for the door.

Caroline paused in the doorway to look around the old apartment one last time. Her eyes followed the walls down the hallway and stopped on the photographs that hung there, sans frames. She saw an old photograph of herself and Bailey from high school that made her smile.

“Goodbye, San Francisco,” she whispered as excitement flowed through her. She longed to see Jackson’s face and couldn’t wait to be back in New York City.

“Let’s go already!” Bailey’s voice echoed in the stairwell outside the apartment door.

Caroline turned, her heart racing with anticipation, and headed out the door.

Epilogue

Caroline was lost in thought. She could hardly believe it had been three years. It seemed like ages ago…like when she tried to remember her life before Jackson. Of course she remembered everything, but the memories didn’t hold the same feelings any more. The drama, the hurt, and the pain she had caused…were all now deeply rooted in the past, a past so distant that it almost felt like another lifetime.

The last Caroline had heard, Clay was rapidly moving up the corporate ladder and was doing well. Apparently, he had recently proposed to his co-worker, Gina. Caroline smiled to herself, thankful that Clay had finally been able to find happiness.

She looked at her reflection in the antique mirror that hung on the dark wall and adjusted wisps of her hair one last time. In the mirror, she saw the reflections of Tracey and Bailey smiling from ear to ear. She grinned back at her two best friends, and thought about how stunning they both looked in their knee-length black cocktail dresses, remembering the fun and silliness that they’d shared while shopping for them. Caroline stood up, adjusted the layers of her long white gown, and walked toward her bridesmaids. She slipped an arm around each of them, wanting to give them each one last hug before the ceremony began.

“You look beautiful, Care,” Tracey said, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Not as pretty as us, but you’re a close second.” Bailey winked.

Caroline laughed. “Well, we can’t all be the super hot bridesmaids…someone has to be the bride.”

Caroline glanced down at the ring on her left hand. A stunning, heart-shaped diamond nestled inside her fiancé’s design. Her heart fluttered against her rib cage with excitement and joy.

“Better you than me—that’s for sure.” Bailey elbowed Tracey. “Right, Tracey?”

Tracey picked up a tissue and leaned toward the mirror, dabbing at her eyes. “Oh definitely.
I
don’t want to marry Jackson.”

“Hey!” Caroline frowned for a second, then laughed.

Tracey turned and brushed Caroline’s veil from her shoulder. “Are you ready to do this?” she asked.

Caroline’s face brightened. “I can’t wait to do this!”

Bailey handed Caroline a bouquet of white tulips and opened the large wooden door. She peeked out and called, “She’s in here, Mr. W,” and Caroline’s father stepped in and gently took his daughter’s hand.

As the music began to play, Tracey and Bailey walked slowly into the sunlight, while Caroline waited patiently behind. Tracey linked her arm in Tommy’s as they walked down the makeshift aisle; Alex and Bailey followed close behind.

The music transitioned and Caroline fought off the butterflies that flapped wildly inside her. Her dad leaned over to kiss her cheek, and whispered, “You ready?” Caroline nodded and gave him one more squeeze before tucking her arm through his. They walked through the old barn doors and out into the warm glow of the setting sun.

Friends and family stood in rows filled with white wooden chairs, heads turned toward the bride and her father. Caroline smiled at a relative who waved shyly, and continued the slow walk down the grassy aisle strewn with petals. Colorful gerbera daisies were tied to the chairs that lined the aisle, mirroring the bright flowers that dotted the meadow in the farmland.

Her eyes followed the colorful petals up to the altar, where
he
stood.

The sight of Jackson in his black tuxedo nearly took her breath away. Even through the long-sleeved shirt and tuxedo jacket, she could still make out the shape of his well-toned arms and broad shoulders.

Caroline’s gaze locked onto his and everything else disappeared—she heard no sounds, saw no faces. There was only the blue of his eyes looking soulfully into hers.

She suddenly realized that she had never felt more at peace in her entire life, had never felt more comfortable, or felt more “right” than she did at that very moment.

Caroline knew that her choice to give herself to this man for the rest of her life was the right one. There were no feelings of doubt. There was no indecision. There were no questions.

This was where she was meant to be. And Jackson was the man she was meant to be with. How they got to this point no longer mattered. It wasn’t about the past. It was about their future.

Together.

Forever.

They had both always known it.