Romance: The Damaged Billionaire Page 6
“That’s no excuse for the way you acted.”
“I’m sorry.”
I look at him and don’t say anything.
“Being with you, I was able to be myself. I’ve never felt so open and comfortable than when I was talking to you about my issues. That was real. I wasn’t faking it. I was genuinely opening up to you like I’ve never done with anyone before.”
“Okay… but you threw it all away. I don’t know if I can get over that situation, Archer. I opened up to you to in ways that I’ve never opened up with anybody and then you just shunned me. I felt so torn. I felt so used that I couldn’t even stand to be around you. I can barely look at you now.”
“I’m standing here as a man telling you that I was wrong. Please forgive me. I’m sorry,” he pleads, “I will do whatever it takes to get into your good graces again. Please let me prove to you that I’m a changed man. I will do whatever it takes.”
I stare at him and I can see that he seems genuine but I really don’t know if I want to walk that road with him again.
He really did hurt me.
“Look, Archer, I just don’t know.”
“Please.”
“I don’t know…”
“I’ve never once cared about what a woman said before I met you. From the moment that I opened my eyes in the hospital room, I knew that I wanted nothing more than to be around you all the time. Let me take you out on a date and prove to you that I can be the man for you.”
“If I do this and it’s pretty big if… you have to give up your drinking and go to AA meetings. Addiction is a serious problem and you will need all the help that you need to kick the problem. I will not date a drunk.”
His eyes fall to the floor again, “I will stop drinking. I will do anything that you ask. Now will you please go out on a date with me?”
“You can’t take me anywhere. I’ve read your file - you’re not even allowed to leave the hospital for the next two weeks.”
“Then please be patient. Let me take you out the day I leave this place.”
“Where would you take me?”
“To one of my favorite places.”
Chapter 15
2 weeks later…
Archer and I walk into a fun park and it’s completely empty.
We had to wait until his back healed to go on our first official date with one another and now that he can move around, he’s taking me to his favorite spot – the fun park.
It has mini golf, rides, fairy floss, and laser tag.
The smile on his face when he walked into the fun park is as big as I’ve ever seen anyone smile.
The memories of his happy childhood moments coming flooding back and he is giddy like a schoolboy.
He hasn’t had a drink in two weeks and is starting his AA classes soon.
As we walk around, I see there is a table in the center of the mini golf area with roses and wine sitting on top of it.
I turn and smile at him. “You did all of this for me?”
He nods his head. “Yes, I wanted to make you feel special. The whole park is ours for the night.”
“You already make me feel special every day that we’re together,” I say as I kiss him on the cheek.
“I wanted to show you how special you are to me. This has been my favorite place to come since I was a kid, and I wanted to share it with you.”
“Thank you. This is completely different to where I was thinking our first date would be.”
“You were expecting a fancy restaurant with a fancy meal?” he says with a smirk.
I punch him playfully in the arm. “I actually don’t know what I was expecting. I just knew that whatever you did it would be special.”
“You’re right about that. Have a seat at the table.”
We walk over to the table in the mini golf area.
He pulls out my chair for me and I take a seat as he sits across from me.
Our dinner is served the second we sit down, and it is delicious.
We eat, we chat and we laugh. Hopefully this will add more good memories of the fun park for Archer.
Once we have finished dinner and dessert, Archer stares at me.
“Lara, I love you more than life itself. You pulled me from a dark place in my life. I never thought that I would find anyone who understood me or would want me for anything more than just my money. You have brought laughter into my life along with a whole lot of pleasure. Right now, you are my entire world and there is nothing I want to do than to spend the rest of my life with you and to continue to make you the happiest woman in the world. I would move the stars and the moon if it would put a smile a face.”
“Thank you,” I smile and stare at his beautiful eyes, “Now come on, you brought me to a fun park so let’s have some fun. I’m dying to kick your butt in a game of mini golf.”
“You can try but I must warn you - it’s my sport.”
“Put your money where your mouth is, Phillips.”
He laughs as we head off to enjoy the fun in the park.
I have indeed found my rainbow after the storm.
Epilogue
One year later…
I look into the room and see Archer putting Junior down in his crib for a nap.
He is such a good Dad to our son.
He helps feed him, change him, gets up with him in the middle of the night, and plays with him nonstop.
He could hire a nanny to do all that hard work, but he wants to be involved in every step of Junior’s life journey.
He is determined to be a better father than his Dad was, and he is doing a great job at it. He attends his AA meetings every week and hasn’t touched a drink since he made the promise to me in the hospital.
I walk into the room and kiss him on his neck and he turns around to look at me.
“I can’t believe that something this small could bring us so much joy,” he says as he continues to look down at our son.
“I know. He is the greatest thing ever. I can’t wait until we make him a little brother or sister,” I say.
He laughs. “Well let’s get married first and wait until that he is at least a year old.”
I laugh. “I know, baby, I was just saying.”
“Did you finish going over our guest list for our wedding?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to invite your stepsister?”
I thought about everything that Joanne had put me through – how she had ruined my childhood and stolen my boyfriend.
“Of course,” I smile. “Her and Jack are still going strong. I think Jack has actually settled her down. She seems calmer.”
He kisses me passionately on the lips. “You know that I support you in any decision that you make. If you’re happy for her to come, then so am I.”
“I know, and I appreciate it. And just think - in two months I’m going to be Mrs. Archer Phillips.”
“And that’s when I will officially become the happiest man alive. I love you.”
“I love you to, baby.”
The End
Other titles by bestselling author Jodi Cooper:
Hired for the Billionaire’s Pleasure
The Billionaire’s Demands
The Billionaire Games
The Exclusive Club
The Billionaire’s Mansion
Return to the Billionaire’s Mansion
Interviewing the Billionaire
The Billionaire Actor
The Billionaire’s Assistant
The Secret Billionaire
Bad Boy Biker
The Billionaire Boss
The Billionaire’s Holiday Mansion
The Billionaire’s Wish
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