Page 75 of Suddenly Desired
“So we send it,” Ellie said, the excitement fizzing up inside her.
Blake nodded. “We send it. I’ll email it to the board, and then my APEX group chat. One of those guys will know how to make it blow up.”
“And I’ll email it to all the news outlets,” Ellie said.
“And I’ll make brownies,” added her mum as she kicked off her wellies and filled the kettle.
“Sounds like a plan, Mum,” said Ellie. She pulled the laptop to her and opened up a new email. “Strap in, Blake,” she said. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
She fired off the file, passing the laptop to Blake. He typed a message, then emailed the video to the board. When it had sent, he closed the laptop lid.
“There’s no one I’d rather be on the journey with.”
Epilogue
One year later
“Careful, Blake!” laughed Ellie, as he carried her through the door of their farmhouse, almost banging her head on the lintel.
“Sorry,” he said, not looking sorry at all. His grin was wolfish, his sapphire-blue eyes burning with something that had nothing to do with the champagne they’d been drinking all afternoon.
He looked devastatingly good. His hair was longer now, sun-streaked and perpetually tousled. His shirt was undone just enough to show off his taut muscles and tan, and his jeans hugged his body in all the right places.
The last year had changed them both. They spent most days outdoors, working the land, riding horses, and having ridiculous amounts of sex under the stars that made their past city lives seem unthinkable.
“You’re impossible,” Ellie murmured, her arms wrapping around his neck as he dipped his head and kissed her, deep and slow. His breath was full of strawberries and mint from the cocktails they’d made that morning, and for a moment, the world outside the cool, stone farmhouse ceased to exist.
He pulled away just enough to let their foreheads touch. “You are everything, Ellie Mae,” he murmured, voice rough with emotion. “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”
Ellie’s heart swelled, but she smirked mischievously. “Then I forgive you for nearly concussing me on our wedding day.”
Blake laughed, carrying her deeper into their home before finally setting her down in their kitchen — though he didn’t let go of her completely. His hands lingered on her waist, his thumbs brushing over the soft fabric of her wedding dress.
“You do realise you just got married in a sunflower dress, right?” he teased, trailing a finger along the thin strap over her shoulder.
Ellie grinned. “And you just got married in jeans.”
He shrugged. “I mean, we do look pretty damn good.”
She rolled her eyes and turned towards the window of the large country kitchen, looking out to where their closest friends were gathered outside, clinking glasses and laughing in the golden evening light.
The wedding had been chaotic, hilarious, and perfect. Nobody had worn suits. Nobody had worn designer gowns. Even the vicar had rolled up his sleeves and drunk whisky after the ceremony.
They had written their own vows and promised them to each other, barefoot in the farmhouse yard, with only the people who truly mattered watching.
Blake wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her against his chest.
“You make me so damn happy,” she whispered.
His voice was a warm growl against her ear. “That’s my job now. My sole purpose in life — especially since you’re the breadwinner.”
Ellie laughed, leaning back into him. He wasn’t wrong. LifeWrite had exploded. Within weeks of launch, it had ten million users. Now? That number was staggering. The last time she’d checked her bank balance, she’d nearly fainted.
Her success was hers alone. And that meant everything to both of them.
After the infamous takedown of David, Michelle and Josh, everything had changed overnight. Fired without golden parachutes, forced into 300 hours of community service, and slapped with seven-figure fines. And, in a way, that had been a better punishment than jail as Michelle had to get her handsdirty. Social media, the means of their scheme to destroy Blake, had become their ultimate downfall as the ceaseless posts ensured their crimes could not be forgotten. Heartbook had recovered, but Blake had refused to return. He remained the founder and major shareholder but was no longer the CEO, letting the new board deal with the day-to-day stress.
A loud crash echoed from outside, followed by yelling.
