Page 103 of My One and Only

Late that afternoon, as they were getting ready to head home, Jo’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, and her gaze flew to Cam’s. “Mel.”

He lifted his chin at her. “Answer it.”

Jo cleared her throat and took the call. “Hi, Mel.”

“Hey, Jo. I have what I think’ll be good news for you.”

“Okay,” Jo said cautiously. “Hit me.”

She listened for a while, then jumped to her feet. “Are you kidding me? Of course I’m in. That’s perfect.”

She listened again for a few minutes, then said, “Thank you, Mel. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. As soon as I’m sure I’ve tied up all the loose ends here and taken my ten days, I’ll be ready to go. Thank you.”

She turned off her phone and stared at Cam. “That was Mel.”

“Yeah, I heard,” he said. “What’d she say?”

Jo jumped up from her chair and reached for Cam. Hugged him tightly, then kissed him hard. Then she leaned back and cupped Cam’s face in her hands.

“One of our two agents in Chicago is moving. Bree Gordon’s husband, Jameson Ford, accepted a faculty job at Stanford. They’re moving to Palo Alto, so Mel needs a second agent in the city. She and Dev have been brainstorming who to offer it to, but after she found out I wanted to stay here, she said I was the logical candidate.” She grinned. “Said from the tone and wording of my reports, she suspected you and I had something going on.”

Cam gripped her hands. “Really? You’re staying in Chicago?”he asked.

“Yep.” Jo blew out a breath. “Not sure of the details, but I can probably live here in Ogden. I’ll have to talk to Cody, the other Chicago agent. He lives in Evanston, where his wife has a law practice, but that’s a lot closer to the city.”

Cam wrapped his arms around Jo. “Feels like Christmas,” he murmured into her neck. “Like a gift I never expected.”

“I never expected this, either,” Jo said, hugging him more tightly. “Since I won’t be leaving in ten days, we’ll have to have that conversation with Fiona sooner rather than later.”

“We’ll talk to her tonight. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled that you’ll be here permanently.”

Jo looked up at him, her eyes shiny. “Not as thrilled as I am,” she managed to say over the lump in her throat. She held him tightly, burying her face in his neck. “It’s like all my dreams came true. I have you, and I don’t have to leave you behind.” She stared up at him, and tears spilled down her cheeks. “I’ll be working in Chicago. Forty-five minutes away.” Her voice watery, she said, “I’ll have to be away some nights, but maybe the other Chicago agent and I could work something out. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Cam began throwing the papers on his desk into his briefcase. “Let’s go home. I can work from there. We need to tell Fiona our good news. Need to let her know that you’re not leaving.” He smiled. “She’ll be as happy as I am.”

Jo drew a shuddering breath. “I love you, Cam Pierce. And I love Fiona. It took me a long time, and a lot of detours, but I’m finally back in Ogden. Where I belong.”

“And back with me,” Cam said.

“Yeah. That’s the most important thing. Finally the stars aligned and I’m back with you.” She reached up and kissed him. “My one and only, always and forever love.”

Epilogue

Three years later

Jo stood up at her desk in the PK Construction company office and pressed her hands against her lower back. She was nine months pregnant and couldn’t wait to hold this baby in her arms. He was playing havoc with her back, dancing on her bladder all the damn day, and kicking every time she tried to fall asleep.

She took a deep breath and headed for the door. She needed to eat, and she’d curl up with Cam in his office and re-heat some of the mac and cheese she’d brought from home this morning. Fiona had packed it for her, along with an apple, and she’d hugged her daughter tightly. Fiona had laughed when Jack kicked her in the belly, and Jo had smoothed her hand over her baby bump.

After locking her office door behind her, she walked toward Cam’s office. Rolling her eyes, she corrected herself -- shewaddleddown to Cam’s office.

Once she reached it, she stopped to catch her breath, then knocked.

“C’mon in,” Cam called.

She opened the door and stepped inside, hurrying toward Cam. They’d both been busy that morning, and she hadn’t seen him since they arrived at the building and kissed each other goodbye.

“Jo,” he said, his eyes lighting up. “You come for some lunch?”

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