Page 70 of Unpredictable
“I don’t know,” he hedged. “I don’t like it. I don’t like lying to her.”
“Neither do I, but it’s for the best. Just until after the wedding.”
“And then you’ll tell her?”
My shoulders relaxed slightly. I was so close to getting him to agree. “I promise.”
“Fine.” He let out a heavy sigh. “But if this blows up, I am not taking the fall.”
“Geez. What happened to no man left behind?” I teased.
Something shifted in his eyes. “My loyalty lies with Olivia.”
I stepped closer, patting him on the back. “Good man. Now, I believe you have some packing to do.”
“I do.” He grinned, this time a genuine smile, as he shifted from foot to foot. “Thank you. This is—” he dipped his head before meeting my eyes again “—incredibly generous.”
“You’re part of the family now,” I said, and I found that I finally meant it.
“Thank you.” He cleared his throat. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted—to be part of a family.”
I nodded, sensing this was difficult for him. In all the time I’d known Connor, he’d never really opened up to me. Olivia had told me bits and pieces about his childhood, but the PI I’d hired when they started dating seriously had filled in the details. I’d never told Olivia, of course.
From the file, I knew that his mother was dead. His father in jail. He’d spent most of his childhood with a grandmother who was now deceased. He didn’t have a family—not in any sense of the word. But my daughter loved him, saw something in him that made her want to marry him. And after today, I felt like I finally understood. The knowledge had been there all these months. I’d always liked Connor, but I finally felt like I respected him—as a man, as my equal.
“Go,” I said, unwilling to delve further into my emotions. This was enough for now.
He nodded. “Tell Juliana goodbye for me.”
I walked him over to the French doors off my office, opening them to let the warm night air breeze through. He started down the path toward his car when he paused, turning back. “Harrison.”
“Yeah?”
“Olivia wants you to be happy.”
I knew she did. But would she be happy about my relationship with Juliana? And if she wasn’t, then what would I do?
Chapter Twenty-One
Alexis’s heels clicked against the wood floors, the only sound in the house apart from my breathing. I’d signed the contract, packed everything up, and we were doing one final walk-through of my house before Harper and Lauren came over for drinks to celebrate.
I pressed my hand to the wall, lingering as a memory washed over me. Ryan and me on Christmas morning. We’d waited too long to go tree shopping and were stuck with a pathetic excuse that would barely support an ornament. Instead of being sad at the reminder of our Charlie Brown Christmas tree, though, I smiled. I was grateful for the memory. Grateful for the time I’d shared with such a wonderful man, brief as it was.
“What’s this?” Alexis asked, drawing my attention from the living room.
She plucked a piece of paper from the back of the built-in bookshelves. Somehow, I’d missed it—the white paper blending in with the painted wood. She handed me the envelope, and I could tell there was something in it. But it wasn’t addressed to anyone, and I figured it might have belonged to the previous owners. I opened it, never expecting what I’d find inside.
I gasped when Ryan’s familiar scrawl greeted me, my heart pounding as I stared at my name written at the top.
“What is it?” Alexis asked.
“It’s—” I let out a shaky exhale. “A letter from Ryan.”
“Oh my god,” she whispered.
I sank to the floor as I read the contents—shocked by the discovery, by his words.
Jules,
