Embrace Me (40 page)

“
Does it show that much?” I panted when he released my lips.

“
Just a little,” he smirked, hitting my behind lightly before walking back out to the builders.

I could watch Charlie take pictures all day. After we’d been to the beach, he carried on his artistic talent in our poppy field. I lay in the field on a white fleece blanket, gazing at him.

Charlie was in his photographer zone. His face was serious as he captured the field from every angle.

“
I could get some amazing prints from this field. The scenery is amazing,” he mused when he finally joined me on our blanket.

“
That’s just your pure talent,” I replied, still a little dazed.

“
Turn your head slightly,” he whispered. I looked up at him in confusion before he snapped a picture of me.

“
Oh, Charlie,” I groaned, hiding my face. “You’re meant to be taking pictures of the field, not me.”

“
You’re far more beautiful, Shan,” he sighed, moving so he could pull my hand away from my face. “Don’t ever hide from your beauty.” Charlie always gave me so much confidence. I moved my hand away and he grinned, picking up his camera.

“
Where did you want me to put my hand?”

“
Just under your chin…that’s it,” he praised as he began to snap away. When he watched me this way, the heat always soared through my body. I was lying on my back, my long brown hair sprawled across the green grass while he took his last few photos.

“
God, you’re a masterpiece, Shannon,” Charlie groaned, moving so he was hovering above me.

“
Only you make me feel that way,” I panted, running my hands into his hair.

“
Are you sure this is going to be enough for you, Sweetheart?”

“
What do you mean?”

“
You could have anything—anyone. Am I enough?” He was being ridiculous.

“
You are all I will ever want,” I whispered without a shred of doubt. “The moment I first laid eyes on you, I wanted you, but I never thought I’d be lying here with you now.”

“
So we are finally full circle,” he mused, his thumbs slowly tracing my lips. “This is it.”

“
Yes. Finally, we’ve arrived where we were always meant to be.”

“
I would do it all again to get here,” he murmured, kissing my lips.

“
So would I,” I breathed against his mouth.

I let it all go in that kiss and surrendered to everything. All the danger, the hurt, and the fear was behind us now.

All I had left to do was live.

Epilogue

Three years later

“
Shannon!” I could hear Charlie calling me. “They’re here!”

“
Coming!” I called, drying my hands.

“
Shall I wake Sophie up?” he asked, kissing my lips.

“
Go on. She might need changing,” I smiled, watching him race to get our daughter.

We had conceived almost a year after our wedding. It was still difficult to get my head around the fact Charlie and I were parents, let alone that I was already expecting our second child.

I opened the door to Grace and Mac. Once I left New York, Grace took over running the marketing side of Downing International with Lorna, which involved spending a lot of time with Mac. As fate had it, they fell in love, much to Charlie’s and my surprise. It seemed Charlie could influence Mac’s womanizing ways, after all. Once he and I were married and expecting Sophie, Mac saw the life he wanted.

“
Here she is,” Mac smiled, “my wonderful sister-in-law.”

“
Hi, Mac,” I beamed, hugging him tightly.

“
How are you? My nephew is growing, I see,” he said as he patted my stomach.

“
Mac,” I laughed. “He could be a girl.”

“
You look wonderful, Shan,” Grace beamed.

“
So do you,” I replied as Mac and Grace walked into our home.

“
Look, Sophie, Uncle Mac and Auntie Grace have come to see you.” I would never get used to seeing Charlie with our daughter. It always made me breathless, knowing that he and I had created this precious little gift from our love for each other.

“
Hello, Sophie!” Mac put on his best baby voice. “Are you going to give Uncle Mac a kiss?” Sophie giggled, hiding her face in Charlie’s shoulder. “Do I have to tickle you to get one?” She giggled even louder, squirming in Charlie’s arms.

“
It’s okay, Sophie, Daddy will protect you.” Charlie smirked at his brother. “You’ve lost your touch with the ladies, Mac,” he teased, putting Sophie on the ground so she could walk. She stumbled a little, but she had only been walking for a few weeks.

“
She is so cute, Shan,” Grace sighed as Sophie stumbled over before clinging to my leg.

“
She is a handful though.” I smiled as she held her arms up for me to pick her up.

“
What time is everyone else getting here?” Mac asked, sitting down.

“
Lorna and Bradley are in London at the moment, visiting his sister. They will arrive tomorrow along with Jennet and my mom.”

“
I can’t believe Sophie will be two tomorrow. Where has the time gone?” Grace cooed as Sophie beamed her perfect smile at her.

“
I know!” I looked towards Charlie, who was watching me in awe. I had no idea why he looked at me that way—as if I was the air he breathed.

“
Well, I think we should start the celebration early.” Mac smiled, taking an envelope out of his pocket. “This is for Sophie,” he said as he passed the envelope to Charlie.

I watched as Charlie opened the envelope. “Mac, this is too much.”

“
I got lucky with some stock shares. I want you to put it in her trust fund. I’ve set up another account for when baby bump arrives.” Charlie moved over to sit next to me, handing me a trust fund worth over half a million dollars.

“
Mac,” I gasped. “We don’t…”

“
I know you don’t need it, but I want to provide for them. They are my family. I don’t care if you waste it all on toys, or if they blow it all when they turn eighteen.”

“
Thank you,” I whimpered, hugging him tightly. “Sophie and baby bump are lucky to have you, Mac.”

“
Shan,” Charlie chuckled, pulling me into his arms. “Try to sleep. You’ll be exhausted in the morning.”

“
There’s so much to do in the morning. Did you ring the caterers?”

“
Yes.”

“
What about the marque? What if it rains?” I was panicking. Charlie ran his hands over my stomach soothingly, and I could feel our baby flutter at the touch.

“
Sweetheart, relax. Everything is under control. Mrs. Gray will be here first thing in the morning. You have nothing to worry about.”

“
Do you think we’ve gone overboard? I mean, it’s only Sophie’s second birthday.”

“
No. It’s not our fault she has so many people who love her. It will be nice to get everyone together.”

“
I can’t believe you got Mrs. Gray to organize everything. She is busy enough, you know.”

“
She offered, actually. She has a real soft spot for you Mrs. Downing-Collins.” It was easy taking part of Charlie’s name when we married. I wanted to belong to him in every way possible. It still sent my heart racing when I heard him say my name.

“
She did us proud on our wedding,” I sighed, running my hands down his chest. Charlie and I married on the beach near our house. The reception was held in our own back garden, which was over three acres of land. It was breathtaking. Mrs. Gray organized the wedding I had always dreamed of.

“
She did indeed,” Charlie smiled, kissing my lips.

“
I still can’t believe what Mac and Grace did. Should we accept it?”

“
I don’t think we have a choice. Mac wants Sophie and baby bump to have it.”

“
Our children will be the most spoilt children in England,” I teased.

“
No, that will always be reserved for the Field family,” Charlie sniggered.

The Fields and Downings had come to an understanding now—the truce still intact in a small way. Sir Phillip and Veronica had softened a little, and were concentrating more on their children. It wasn’t all about money and power anymore. They finally understood the two companies would never merge, so the power feud was over.

It didn’t mean everything went back to the way it had been, though. I knew Megan would always love Charlie, and I didn’t want to be drawn into what was right and wrong. I knew our love was right no matter what she said. I didn’t need her in my life, but it was comforting to know some bridges had been mended after our meeting in London. I was free—I owed Megan nothing anymore.

Once Charlie and I moved to England, it became easier to distance ourselves. I wasn’t pulled into events that put me in contact with the Field family. As the years drifted by, we all just moved on. Will finally found someone and married a year after Charlie and me. Megan began dating Tim Scott again, and to my surprise, got engaged. She may even be married now. I wasn’t too sure. None of it really concerned me anymore. I had my life, and I was finally living it.

Sophie was giggling as she blew out the candles on her enormous pink birthday cake.

It was so satisfying, looking around at all the people I loved. I had come so far thanks to most of the people who were stood around this table.

Charlie was right: the moment Mrs. Gray arrived, I stopped panicking. She had an amazing calming effect on me.

“
See, my dear? It has all gone effortlessly,” she whispered in my ear while she began to serve the cake.

“
You didn’t have to do this, you know.” I smiled, passing her some napkins.

“
I would never turn down a chance to come and see you.”

“
Thank you,” I sighed, touching her arm. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

“
Charlie would have come that day whether I sent your letter of not. Seeing the two of you now, I have no doubt about that. I’ve told you all this before.”

“
But you did send the letter, and
that
was what made him come,” I grinned.

“
You are a remarkable woman, Shannon. I always thought that about you. The things you were willing to sacrifice to keep him safe? No one deserves more happiness than you.”

“
I’m so happy,” I beamed as Charlie came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me.

“
Are you two hogging the cake?”

“
No,” I teased, handing him a piece.

“
Your mother has arrived,” he whispered softly. “She’s annoyed her plane was delayed.”

I looked in the distance, seeing my mother with Sophie. She doted on her. With Sophie, my mother could see the years she had missed with me.

“
I’m so sorry I’m late, Lizzie. The stupid plane was delayed. What is the point of having a private plane if you have to wait for the air space?”

“
It’s okay,” I smiled, hugging her tightly. “You’re here now.”

“
How is my second grandchild?” she asked, looking down at my stomach. “What are you hoping for Sophie? A baby brother or a baby sister?”

“
Sister,” Sophie sniggered, jumping up and down in my mother’s arms.

“
Well, we’ll find out in three months,” I sighed, rubbing my expanding stomach.

The day slowly moved into evening once Sophie was put to bed. Only close family and friends remained, and we all sat looking out towards the sea with a light log fire burning away.

“
You sure have a life here,” Bradley sighed. “I think I would give the city up for this.”

“
They have the best of both worlds,” Mac replied. “They can dip in and out whenever they want. Very clever, if you ask me.”

“
Why, thank you, dear brother,” Charlie laughed. “Compliments from you are few and far between.”

“
Now, boys,” Rachel teased, “no brotherly rivalry tonight.”

“
You never did beat me at golf last month.” I rolled my eyes at Mac. Charlie and Mac were so competitive it drove Grace and me crazy at times.

“
There’s still time. I’ve been taking lessons,” Charlie muttered, getting up to get more drinks.

“
He’ll never beat me,” Mac muttered to me under his breath.