Read Online New Beginnings by Lori Maguire - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lori Maguire
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him.
“No, these belong to you now. I want you to have them. My mother would have wanted you to have them. Since I found you, I can now understand just how much my father adored my mother. One day, hopefully, you can give them to our son to pass on to the woman he adores.” His voice was thick with emotion.
I hugged him hard. “You were lucky to have had two people who cared so much about each other and their family. I’m only sorry that I will never get the chance to know them.” I continued to hold him closely. “Thank you. I will treasure them until it is time to pass them on.”
We stayed locked in our embrace for several minutes.
“Help me with my dress?” I asked him.
“It would be my pleasure,” he replied.
Back in the bedroom, I slipped my dress on and turned for him to zip it. He kissed me softly on the back of my neck as he slowly pulled the zipper up.
“Turn around,” he said. “You look beautiful. I really like you in red.” He paused for a moment. “Did you … pick this dress out?” he asked cautiously.
I knew what he was getting at. He wanted to know if I had picked the dress out or if Devlin did. My sweet, jealous man. I rushed to put him at ease.
I grabbed his hands firmly in mine. “I found the dress. Devlin played no part in choosing it.” I said adamantly.
“Good.” He gave me the half smile that I loved so much. “I can’t wait to show you off tonight.”
“About that.” I looked down and fiddled with the lace on my dress.
Xavier stilled my hand. “What is it, baby?” He grasped my chin and forced me to look at him. “Are you nervous?”
“I know it seems silly, but I am. You’re the big boss man. I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“Sweetness, that’s not possible, and you have nothing to be nervous about. I know there will be many people there you haven’t met yet, but everything will be okay. Everyone is going to love you,” he reassured me.
He held his hand out so I could steady myself while I slipped my shoes on. Grabbing my coat, he held it open so I could slip it on. He tucked my hand in the crook of his arm and led us out of the condo.
Stewart was waiting at the curb with the limo. He opened the door when he saw us approaching. “Good evening, Mr. Hart,” he said politely. “Ms. Martin.” He nodded at me. As soon as we were seated, Xavier wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.
“When I saw Carline she mentioned that she will be there tonight,” I said nervously.
“Yes, she most likely will be. Her father was my father’s right-hand man. Even though he retired shortly after my father was killed, he’s still a part of the company. I invite him to the party every year.” He held me tighter. “I’m not going to let you out of my sight, Ella. Stewart and Marissa will both be there as well. Everything will be fine,” he said soothingly.
“I’m sure it will be.” But, if Carline was going to be at the party then Stephen will be as well. Shit! The last time I found out I was pregnant I had that run-in with Stephen that effectively ended my pregnancy the same day I found out about it. I just took the pregnancy test this morning. Without thinking, my hands covered my abdomen protectively. I promise you, little one, that I will protect you.
“Hey, is everything all right?” He rested a hand over my hands as they covered my abdomen. The gesture brought tears to my eyes. “Do you feel okay?” he asked, voice full of concern.
I quickly pulled myself together. “I’m fine. Just a little nervous.” I smiled weakly at him.
“It’ll be all right, sweetness,” he assured me again.
We pulled up to the grand entrance of the Fairmont Olympic. A hotel employee, who seemed to be waiting patiently for our arrival, rushed up to Xavier, and eagerly escorted us to the Garden Room.
The room was split into three levels, with three stairs separating each level. Round tables that could seat six were on each level. They were
“No, these belong to you now. I want you to have them. My mother would have wanted you to have them. Since I found you, I can now understand just how much my father adored my mother. One day, hopefully, you can give them to our son to pass on to the woman he adores.” His voice was thick with emotion.
I hugged him hard. “You were lucky to have had two people who cared so much about each other and their family. I’m only sorry that I will never get the chance to know them.” I continued to hold him closely. “Thank you. I will treasure them until it is time to pass them on.”
We stayed locked in our embrace for several minutes.
“Help me with my dress?” I asked him.
“It would be my pleasure,” he replied.
Back in the bedroom, I slipped my dress on and turned for him to zip it. He kissed me softly on the back of my neck as he slowly pulled the zipper up.
“Turn around,” he said. “You look beautiful. I really like you in red.” He paused for a moment. “Did you … pick this dress out?” he asked cautiously.
I knew what he was getting at. He wanted to know if I had picked the dress out or if Devlin did. My sweet, jealous man. I rushed to put him at ease.
I grabbed his hands firmly in mine. “I found the dress. Devlin played no part in choosing it.” I said adamantly.
“Good.” He gave me the half smile that I loved so much. “I can’t wait to show you off tonight.”
“About that.” I looked down and fiddled with the lace on my dress.
Xavier stilled my hand. “What is it, baby?” He grasped my chin and forced me to look at him. “Are you nervous?”
“I know it seems silly, but I am. You’re the big boss man. I don’t want to embarrass you.”
“Sweetness, that’s not possible, and you have nothing to be nervous about. I know there will be many people there you haven’t met yet, but everything will be okay. Everyone is going to love you,” he reassured me.
He held his hand out so I could steady myself while I slipped my shoes on. Grabbing my coat, he held it open so I could slip it on. He tucked my hand in the crook of his arm and led us out of the condo.
Stewart was waiting at the curb with the limo. He opened the door when he saw us approaching. “Good evening, Mr. Hart,” he said politely. “Ms. Martin.” He nodded at me. As soon as we were seated, Xavier wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.
“When I saw Carline she mentioned that she will be there tonight,” I said nervously.
“Yes, she most likely will be. Her father was my father’s right-hand man. Even though he retired shortly after my father was killed, he’s still a part of the company. I invite him to the party every year.” He held me tighter. “I’m not going to let you out of my sight, Ella. Stewart and Marissa will both be there as well. Everything will be fine,” he said soothingly.
“I’m sure it will be.” But, if Carline was going to be at the party then Stephen will be as well. Shit! The last time I found out I was pregnant I had that run-in with Stephen that effectively ended my pregnancy the same day I found out about it. I just took the pregnancy test this morning. Without thinking, my hands covered my abdomen protectively. I promise you, little one, that I will protect you.
“Hey, is everything all right?” He rested a hand over my hands as they covered my abdomen. The gesture brought tears to my eyes. “Do you feel okay?” he asked, voice full of concern.
I quickly pulled myself together. “I’m fine. Just a little nervous.” I smiled weakly at him.
“It’ll be all right, sweetness,” he assured me again.
We pulled up to the grand entrance of the Fairmont Olympic. A hotel employee, who seemed to be waiting patiently for our arrival, rushed up to Xavier, and eagerly escorted us to the Garden Room.
The room was split into three levels, with three stairs separating each level. Round tables that could seat six were on each level. They were
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