The Birthday Deadline (Billionaire Brides) by Ella Cari Page A

back, pulling me into his arms. He held me tight, pressing his lips against the top of my head, "I told him everything, I told him he could keep the business, all that I wanted was you."
    My head swirled, trying to process everything, "You want me?" I gasped, "You really want me?"
    "Yes." He responded, holding me tight, "I'd rather have you than anything else." His lips descended on mine, expressing in his gentle kiss the words that he struggled so deeply with.
    "And you'll have her." Cornelius's voice rang out from the doors of my shop.
    We parted, turning to face the elder Fox billionaire. Beside him stood Juliet. Though there was pain in her eyes as she watched us embrace, she smiled.
    "I'm sorry, son." Cornelius said, eyes shamefully cast on the ground, "I was cruel."
    "It's not me you have to apologize to." Sebastian said quietly, gesturing towards me, "It's Delilah."
    Cornelius cleared his throat, hesitantly stepping forward towards me.
    "Delilah..." He said, shaking his head, "I can't even begin..."
    I took his old hands in mine, squeezing them gently, "I can't even begin to imagine how much a father loves a son." I whispered, "But I'm grateful that Sebastian has someone to look out for him that cares so sincerely."
    The old man looked up at me in surprise, lips parting.
    "You can keep your business, Sebastian." Cornelius said, looking up at him, "It was a mistake of mine to hold it over your head. I hope you forgive me. I hope you all forgive me." He glanced back at Juliet as he spoke, "I was nothing but a bitter old man."
    Sebastian gently squeezed his father's shoulder, shaking his head, "It's alright, Father."
    Cornelius shook his head, but smiled, "Come now." He said softly as he turned to face me, "Show me these beautiful flowers I've been hearing so much about."
    I laughed, taking his arm in mine as I led him towards the potted flowers, their sweet fragrances lacing the air.
    It suddenly occurred to me that I’d been right, the other day, waking up beside Sebastian. This birthday that we shared was a day of joy and exuberance. As I gazed around the walls of my shop, Sebastian coming to stand at my side, his arm wrapped tight around my body, I remembered my parents.
    Their memory did not weigh down my heart, but lifted it. They would be proud of this shop, they would be proud of my dedication to our dream, they would be proud of the life that I was headed down.
    The billionaire’s birthday deadline had not been a curse, as we so believed. It’d been a chance for us to meet, to get to know each other, to fall in love.
    Together, Sebastian and I would share many more birthdays wrapped in the embrace of each other, looking forward to each new day that brought us closer and closer.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    The End.

 
    Thank you for reading!
     
     
    For updates, info, and further reading, check out Ella Cari’s author page at http://www.amazon.com/author/ellacari
    Readers can contact the author at [email protected]
     
    Also by Ella Cari:
     
     
    Between Billionaires
    Head editor of a struggling magazine, strong willed and fiery Miranda needs to figure out some way of saving her staff from unemployment and her company from certain bankruptcy. She’s willing to do anything and everything to make it work.
     
    Suddenly, Miranda finds herself trapped between the steamy affections of a newsroom celebrity and her sexy old college flame who’s recently taken over his lucrative family business. Both hunky billionaires want to help Miranda’s magazine flourish, and both want to help themselves to her hand in marriage in return.
     
    Which billionaire will ultimately win Miranda’s love?
     
    Woman of Fire
    Chronicles of Lyria, Book 1
    One man, one woman of fire, and a whole lot of secrets. 
After the scorching wrath of a mystically imprisoned mage is accidentally unleashed upon the kingdom of Thade, a young man finds himself enthralled by the woman’s spirit and lack of control. 
Lyria has one