The Billionaire Playboy (27 page)

“You're right,
but I kept telling myself we were a temporary fling. Nothing serious so it
didn't matter how things ended.”

Charlie wrapped
her arms around herself and Jake suspected there was more to her story.

“My mom was
devastated when my dad left. I decided that I never wanted to end up like her. I
figured skipping the whole love thing was better. I've always kept
relationships strictly fun and unemotional. I figured that was safer.” A
nervous laugh escaped her. “Until you.”

In his mind he
could imagine what it must have been like for Charlie as a little girl after
her father walked out.
 
Anger toward the
man he'd never meet welled up inside him.

“I understand if
you don't forgive me, but I needed to apologize. I was wrong and I wanted you
to know I'm retiring from the Navy. I shredded my re-enlistment documents last
night.”

Charlie took a
step back as if to leave and Jake realized he'd been silent for too long,
wrapped up in his own thoughts. “Don't go. I get why you reacted the way you
did and I shouldn't have assumed you'd get the message from Cindy. In the
future we need to communicate better.” Even though she didn't answer him, he
wrapped both arms around her slim waist and pulled her close to him. He had no
intention of letting her walk out of his office.

Charlie's
forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Future?”

“I know my
reputation sucks and you probably think I've said this to hundreds of women but
I love you, Doc.” Once the words were out Jake wondered if perhaps he'd said
too much. She'd come by looking for forgiveness not necessarily a declaration
of love.

“I love you too.”
Charlie smiled and put her arms around his neck. “And I don't care about your
reputation as long as you’re mine.”

Jake lowered his
head toward hers so he could kiss her. “I'm all yours, Doc.”

Epilogue

A wolf whistle
had Charlie turning toward the door.

“You look
incredible.” Jake closed the door behind him and walked toward her.

He was dressed
in a black tuxedo and she thought the same thing about him. “Thanks. Your
sister helped me pick out the gown last month.”

During the six
months they'd been dating she had developed a close relationship with Jake's
half-sister Callie. They spoke on the phone often and whenever Callie came to
Washington to see her father she always stopped in for a visit. After having to
decline several invitations to visit New York because of work, Charlie had
finally made it up the month before.

Jake wrapped his
arm around her waist and began to leave a trail of kisses down her neck. “What
do you say we skip the party downstairs? No one will notice.” Jake reached the
base of her throat, then began to work his way back up the other side.

As tempting an
offer as it was, Charlie didn't want to miss the New Year's Eve party the
Sherbrookes had planned. When she arrived at Cliff House two days earlier the
place had already been a buzz of activity with preparations. According to
Jake's mother, the Sherbrookes had been throwing a New Year's Eve ball at the
mansion since 1900, and it was attended by everyone from top government
officials and multimillionaires to A-list celebrities. Every time Charlie thought
about that fact she almost had to pinch herself.

Actually she'd
been doing a lot of that during the past six months with Jake. Not that she was
complaining. She was in love with an incredible man who loved her and she had a
fantastic new position at Memorial Hospital. Life couldn't get much better.

“What do you say?
Should we let everyone celebrate without us?”

Charlie pulled
his arms away from her waist. With him so close she was about ready to give in.
“I have a better idea. Let’s go down for a little bit then come back up here
for our own mid-night celebration.”

Jake sighed and
shrugged his shoulders. “If that is what you
really
want.”

She almost
laughed at his expression. He looked as if she had just taken away his favorite
toy.

“But if we're
going down there you're going to need some more jewelry. Everyone down there is
going to look as if they just stepped out of Tiffany's.”

Other than the
diamond stud earrings she had on, Charlie didn't have any jewelry with her. She
figured Jake knew that so she didn't know where he expected her to get more. Before
she could ask however, she saw him pull a ring-sized jewelry box from his
pocket.

“I think this
would be perfect,” he said holding the open box up to her.

Nestled inside
was the largest sapphire she'd ever seen surrounded by tiny diamonds. She'd
never seen anything so exquisite up close. Speechless, she stared at it.

“Well?” he
asked.

“I don't know
what to say. It's gorgeous.”

“Simple. Say
yes.” He flashed her one of his teasing lopsided smiles. The very one that sent
her heartbeat into overdrive.

“Yes? To what? I
didn't hear a question.” Charlie still didn't touch the ring.

Jake studied her.
“Really? You don't get it?” he asked. Then he reached for her hand and slipped
the ring on her finger. “Charlotte O'Brien will you marry me?”

Her entire life
she'd told herself marriage was the last thing she wanted, but now she wanted
nothing more. “How could I ever say no to you?” Charlie didn't give him a
chance to respond. Instead she leaned in to kiss him.

The
End

Coming Soon In
The Sherbrookes of Newport Series

Sara's
Book and Lauren's Book

About
The Author

I started
writing at the age of 10 and never stopped. When I am not chasing my 3 young
children or two dogs around I am working on my writing or reading a romance
novel. Currently, I am working on book 3 in the Sherbrookes of Newport series.
You can visit my website www.christinatetreault.com or follow me on Facebook to
learn more about my characters and to track my progress. I love to hear from
readers.