“Where is your date? A young lady as beautiful as you should not be here alone.”
“Oh, I’m not. My husband is around here somewhere,” she answered vaguely. She wasn’t going to do anything to spill the beans. That was what Jasper would be doing later on.
The older woman winked at her, “I knew a young beauty like you wouldn’t be here alone.”
Lily laughed, “No, I am definitely not alone.”
She thought over the last week. She was far from alone. She had her husband with her, someone who loved her and cared for her more than anyone, and she loved and cared for him in return. He completed her.
They took a risk, every time they met up, that someone would see them, but the fun was worth the risk.
She heard a tapping on the microphone that was on stage
“Hello, good evening ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming here tonight to celebrate the much-deserved promotion of one of our most loved pilots, Jasper Stewart. If you would all join me in a round of applause as we welcome him to the stage?”
She joined the audience in a standing ovation as they watched Jasper walk to the stage. He looked absolutely amazing standing there. She smiled at him as he took to the microphone.
She sat down when the applause died down, and waited for Jasper to begin his speech.
11
Epilogue
Jasper cleared his throat. He didn’t think he would be as nervous as he was.
He placed his hands on the podium after adjusting the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming tonight.
Receiving this promotion is an honor. There are many successful, talented people working within the company, whom I have the privilege of piloting for. I work with an outstanding crew and have an exceptional boss.
I would like to thank the board for this recognition. I am humbled to have been considered and to have received this distinguished promotion that is one that is sought after by many pilots within the company. I hope to continue the same work ethic I have established throughout my time at Worlds Apart Airlines.
Next, I would like to thank my cabin crew. I wonderful group of people who make flying each flight a joy, and a pleasure. Each member of my crew is valuable and is like a second family. We have all been through so much, and I am a lucky Captain to have them behind me.
Lastly, I would like to that the woman who is my world, the one person who makes my life easier just by being a part of it. The one woman whom I love above all else, and more than anything: My beautiful wife, Lily.”
He looked directly at her when he spoke the next words.
“Sweetheart, if it were not for your understanding, patience, and love, I would not have had the chance to work the hours I have worked to receive this promotion. I love you, Lily Doll, and am so blessed to be your husband.”
He paused for a moment as the shock of who his wife was hit the crew. None of them had any idea that Lily was his wife. Shock, surprise, envy: all the emotions graced the faces of each person they knew.
Lily, though, sat there with a brilliant smile across her gorgeous face, and a look of pride shining from her. She was his best friend.
He finished his speech, “Thank you, all. This promotion is an honor.”
He stepped away from the podium, walked off the stage to his wife, and held her hand as she stood up.
“You were wonderful,” she smiled at him and he returned it with a kiss.
“You are wonderful. Have I told you that lately?”
She laughed, “You tell me that every time you touch me.”
“How about we get out of here and celebrate at home?”
“I think that is a perfect idea. We can let them all sit in shock,” she was cracking up now, and he couldn’t hold back the laugh that burst from within him.
“They were pretty surprised, weren’t they?”
“Oh, they sure will. I can’t wait until our next flight.”
“Neither can I, Doll. Neither can I.”
With her by his side, they would never be Worlds Apart.
* * *
THE END
Ashlee Shades is a Contemporary Romance author who enjoys writing sensual and hot romance stories featuring alpha bad boys, independent heroines, and sometimes, she sneaks in sweet moments between the leading characters.
* * *
Ashlee enjoys spending her days either reading when she's not writing...or hanging out on social media (as much as her husband and two teenage boys will allow). What an addiction, right?! Her reading and writing genre of choice is a steamy romance.
* * *
If you enjoyed Ashlee’s story and would like to read more of her work, visit her website at ashleeshades.weebly.com to learn more about her writing.
SWEET BLOSSOMS
ANNIE REYNOLDS
Copyright © 2017 Annie Reynolds
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of events to real life, or of characters to actual persons, is purely coincidental.
* * *
ISBN-13: 978-1542969444
Created with Vellum
SWEET BLOSSOMS
DAISY SWEET
I had given it to him to treasure and protect but he threw away my heart as if it was nothing. I hated him, I hated his confidence and his cockiness and his stupid sexy smile but most of all I hated that I still loved him. It was far too late for us, Oliver Coxen had left me shattered once and it had taken a long time to put the pieces back together.
* * *
And now he’s back in town and I wasn’t stupid enough to make the same mistake twice.
* * *
OLIVER COXEN
Once she’d looked at me like I was magical, as if I held the key to unlocking all the secrets to the future. The hope that had radiated from her intense stare had always affected me in the most peculiar way. I didn’t deserve her. Daisy Sweet was everything pure and beautiful in the world. She could be the light to my own darkness.
* * *
And now I was back in town and I wasn’t stupid enough to let her go twice.
1
oLIVER
* * *
I bounced my thumb against the steering wheel to the beat of the music, allowing myself to be absorbed by the latest punk rock song released by Chasing Nation. I felt like the shackles that held me in the City were starting to come loose. The closer I got to my home the further I got from the demons that were on my back.
Home.
I needed this break like a junkie needed their next hit. I needed to be home where everything was the way I had left it, where I could be the person I used to be, where I hoped I could be a better person. Even just for a little while.
My thoughts are invaded with a pair of eyes that I’ve been unable to forget, it had always been her eyes that had gotten me through the darkest of the days but it had always been those eyes and the sadness they held that broke my heart a little more every time I saw them.