Chapter Twenty-Seven

Izzy

When I wake up, I have no idea what time it is. It’s dark outside, but I can’t find my phone to check the time. It’s always in my back pocket—has it fallen on the floor? I push up, then blow out a breath as the room swims a little. Oh yeah, the whisky.

It all comes back to me in a rush then. Nix took my phone after Albie checked my emails on the laptop. He went out to ring Hal, but there’s no sign of him.

I sit up and run my tongue across my teeth. Outside, I can hear voices coming from the living room. Not just Nix and Albie—it sounds as if there are quite a few people there. Jesus.

I’m tempted to lock my door again and refuse to let anyone in, but I know they’re probably only worried about me.

I get up and walk somewhat unsteadily to the bathroom, go to the loo, splash water on my face, rinse my mouth with mouthwash, and brush my hair and clip it up. Then I walk to my bedroom door and open it.

Slowly, I walk along the corridor to the living room. To my surprise, the voices are jovial, intersected with laughter every now and then. They’re keeping their voices low, but I recognize them—Nix and Albie, obviously, Leon, Stefan, Fitz, and Hal. He’s the one speaking now, talking softly, and I can’t catch what he’s saying, but he doesn’t sound angry.

I reach the living room door, and I pause there a moment, shoving my hands into my jeans and hunching my shoulders.

Hal’s sitting in one of the armchairs, a whisky in his hand, one ankle resting on the other knee. He looks relaxed, and he’s smiling at something Leon’s saying. How can he look so calm after what’s happened today?

God, he’s so handsome. My heart melts just to look at him. I love this guy so much. I rest my temple on the doorjamb, feeling lovesick and weary.

Nix is the first to see me, and she says, “Oh, hello!” causing the others to look around. Everyone sits up, and Hal puts down his drink and gets to his feet.

He walks across the room and comes up to me. In front of everyone, he slides a hand beneath my chin, lifts it so he’s looking into my eyes, and then he kisses me. It’s a long kiss, heartfelt and sweet, and it brings tears to my eyes. Then he slides his arms around me and gives me a big hug.

I bury my face in his shirt. He’s wearing his spicy aftershave, and I make a note to ask him to throw away his vanilla scent.

“Aw,” everyone says, and Albie adds, “I think I’m gonna cry.”

Hal gives a soft laugh and moves back. He takes my hand and leads me toward our friends. “How are you feeling?” he asks me.

“I’m okay. A bit fuzzy.” I still don’t understand why he’s smiling. “What’s going on?”

“I’ve been to see Rosie,” he says. My eyes widen. “Albie told me about the emails and texts,” he adds.

I look down, embarrassed, but he lifts my chin again and gives me a firm look. “You should have told me,” he scolds.

I glance at Albie, who stands and holds out my phone. “I deleted them,” he says. “And the emails. But I’ve got a copy in case we ever need to prove what she did.”

“I told her if we hear one word from her, I’m going to the police, and I’ll get a restraining order taken out,” Hal tells me. “I’m not messing around. I’ve tried playing good cop and that hasn’t worked, so now I’m being the bad cop.”

I feel as if someone’s opened the curtains and it’s blazing sunshine outside. “You think that’s it?”

“That’s it. Her father was there when I went around, and he said he’s going to send Rosie to Christchurch to stay with his sister. He will—he doesn’t want to lose the contract with the Ark. She’s gone, Izz. It’s over.”

I swallow hard and look around. Everyone’s smiling. They must all know what happened out on the cliff, and what Rosie’s been doing. I’m embarrassed, but I’m touched that they’re all there, showing their support.

“I’ve made a decision,” Hal says, bringing my gaze back to him. “I’m not going to Hawke’s Bay.”

My jaw drops. “Oh.”

“I’ve spoken to Noah, and he’s fine about it.”

“You shouldn’t make that decision for me,” I begin to tell him.

“I didn’t,” he says firmly. “I don’t want to leave the bay. I love it here. We’ve all worked hard to make the Ark what it is, and we’re nowhere near done. I want to continue working on it, with all you guys. I don’t want to start again. I’m nearly thirty, for Christ’s sake. It’s time I settled down and started being a grown-up.”

The others chuckle, and my lips curve up.

Hal clears his throat, and for the first time he looks uncertain. “With that in mind…” He takes a deep breath and then, to my shock, he drops to one knee. “I don’t have a ring yet,” he says. “I want you to choose one you like. But I don’t want to wait to ask you. So here goes. Isabel Fitzgerald, you’re my best friend, and have been for eighteen years. I’m crazy about you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, and even though you don’t believe me, I’m going to love you forever. Will you marry me?”

His eyes are wary but hopeful. He’s not sure what I’m going to say.

Tears well in my eyes. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

His expression turns to relief, then to exultation, and he gets up, takes my face in his hands, and kisses me, while around us everyone cheers and gets up to come over. I’m enveloped in hugs, and we break apart to laugh and accept everyone’s congratulations.

The guys kiss me on the cheek, and then Nix throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly.

“I’m so happy for you,” she whispers. “He loves you so much.”

“I know.” And I do know. Love doesn’t come with a guarantee, and I can’t be sure Hal will feel the same way about me in one year or ten years’ time. But he loves me now, and that’s all that matters.

*

An hour later, the others start making their way out, and then Albie and Nix tell us they’re going to bed. It’s late, nearly eleven p.m., and I need to get to sleep because it’s a normal working day tomorrow. Hal’s going to stay the night here with me, but for a moment we cuddle up on the sofa, looking out through the window at the dark night.

“Tomorrow we’re going to start house hunting,” he says. “I want somewhere close to work, near the beach and with a garden for the dogs and kids.”

“Dogs and kids?” I smile.

“Yeah. You got a problem with that?”

“Nope.” I lift my face to his, and he gives me a long, lingering kiss. Then he puts both arms around me and rests his cheek on the top of my head.

“I’m so sorry about what Rosie did,” he says softly.

“Let’s just forget about it.”

“Yeah, we will. But I just wanted to say I’m sorry for the hurtful things she said.”

I sigh. “She knew me well enough to know how to get to me. She understood—better than I did, somehow—how jealous I am deep down.”

“Jealous?” He lifts his head to look at me.

I study a crease in his sleeve. “I didn’t use to be. Or at least, I ignored it, shut it away. But once Rosie started, I kept thinking about the other girls you’ve been with…”

He sighs.

“It’s all right,” I tell him. “It’s not a big thing. I’ll get over it. And I’m glad you have experience, because I don’t want to be with someone who’s fumbling around. I like that you know what you’re doing. But if I think about it too hard, I get all these strange feelings when I think you’ve been with other women, and you’ve done the same things you’ve done to me, and more, to them…”

“I’m sorry.” He kisses my forehead. “I didn’t know you felt like that.”

“I suppose I’ve always thought of you as mine,” I admit for the first time. “Is that strange?”

“No.” He smiles. “I’ve always thought of you as mine, too.”

“Why did we take so long to get together?”

“I don’t know,” he says, somewhat sadly. “I was an idiot, that’s why.”

“It’s Fitz’s fault.”

“Yeah, he’s not here. Let’s blame him.”

We both smile.

“Is he all right with us getting married?” I ask Hal.

“Don’t care,” he says breezily. Then he grins. “He’s fine. I asked his permission.”

“You did not.”

“No, I didn’t. I did tell him what I was planning, though. He’s fine with it.”

“And how about Noah? What did he say when you said you didn’t want to go to Hawke’s Bay?”

“He said he thought I was going to say that. He’s got someone else in mind who already lives over there.”

“And you’re sure you’ve made the right decision?”

He runs a finger down my nose. “I am. I felt better once I’d made up my mind. I suppose I kept thinking it’s a great opportunity, and I’d be mad to pass it up. I kept thinking of all the animals we’d be able to save. I could do real good over there. But… I’ve worked hard. I love the Ark, the place, the people here. I want to stay. I want to do something for me for once.”

“You’re the most selfless man I know,” I tell him. “I think you deserve it.”

He studies my face. “I’ve got plans for the Ark here. I want to talk to the board about them. And you, Izz. I’m going to ask them to bring you in.”

I stare at him. “What do you mean?”

“As a director. As my wife.”

“But I don’t have any money to invest.”

“You’ll get half of my money, sweetheart.”

“Hal! I couldn’t take half your money.” Five hundred million dollars? It’s Monopoly money. I can’t even conceive of that amount of cash.

“Well, it’s yours, and it’s more than enough to buy you a share in the Ark. Leon and Albie do so much work with the Ministry for Children. I’ve been thinking, we could open a petting farm here.”

“Oh, what a great idea.”

“There’s all that land on the other side of the Ark, on the opposite side to Noah’s house. It could be like a miniature park, where kids could come and play with the animals, and learn how to treat them properly, and with respect. We could organize class trips with the primary schools. It would increase the rehoming opportunities too, if the kids knew that the animals they were playing with needed new homes.”

“It’s an amazing idea, Hal.” My head’s still spinning from his offer to bring me onto the board of directors. I feel incredibly touched by that gesture. I don’t care about the money, but to be part of the organization that runs the Ark? It makes me want to cry.

“I hope they’re happy tears,” he murmurs, seeing my eyes glisten.

I nod. “Very happy. I love you.”

“Aw, sweetheart. I love you, too. And now I think we should go to bed.”

“I’m still a bit drunk,” I warn him. “If you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking, I might doze off halfway through.”

“Oh, I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” He gets up and pulls me to my feet. “Your room is next door to Albie’s, isn’t it? How thick are the walls?”

“Not very, but I’ve heard his headboard banging against my wall enough times not to care.”

He flicks off the living room light. “You’re coming around to my way of thinking. I like that.”

“I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore,” I tell him. “We’re going to be married. It’s all legal.”

“I don’t know. I think some of the things I have planned are still illegal in some countries in the world.”

“Hal!”

He laughs and leads me toward the bedroom. “Hop on board, honey. We’re on a voyage of discovery, and I intend to show you all the sights.”

I let him take me in and close the door, and then he presses me up against the wall and lowers his lips to mine.

We’re getting married. He’s going to be my husband forever, if I play my cards right.

Sometimes, wishes really do come true.

*

The Billionaire Kings

I often write an epilogue to my stories, but there isn’t one for this book, because the story of Noah’s Ark will be continued in Book 2, and I want to make sure I keep the timelines right!

My Boss, the Billionaire (Book 2) – Leon and Nix’s story – will be released on March 2nd. To be informed when the story is out, why not join my community? You’ll be able to download my free starter library!

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Three Wise Men

If you haven’t read them yet, maybe you’d like to catch up with Hal’s father and uncles, the Three Wise Men—Brock, Charlie, and Matt?

The Perfect Gift (Three Wise Men Book 1)

Consultant pediatrician Brock King lost his wife to cancer two years ago, and he’s convinced the love he felt for her only comes around once in a lifetime. Then, while visiting the children’s ward, he meets single mom Erin, and suddenly his future doesn’t seem so bleak. Brock offers to take Erin away for her birthday, no strings attached, to give her the perfect gift every single mom would kill for—a night in an exclusive hotel. Will she take him up on his offer, which might (if she’s very lucky) end up with hot sex with a billionaire? Or should she take the moral high ground and say no?

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Other Series by Serenity Woods

For an up-to-date list of available books, please visit the page on my website.

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About the Author

Serenity Woods lives in the sub-tropical Northland of New Zealand with her wonderful husband and gorgeous teenage son. She writes hot and sultry contemporary romances with a happy ever after, and would much rather immerse herself in reading or writing romance than do the dusting and ironing, which is why it’s not a great idea to pop round if you have any allergies.

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