Forever Now (The Barrington Billionaires Book 6) Read online

  “Of course. We probably should stick around anyway, because Andrew said he and Helene want to make it official soon as well. He didn’t say it, but I think he needed to resolve things with you before he could move forward with her.”

  “I think you’re right. And I wouldn’t want to miss that wedding, either.”

  Family had always been a priority to Kade, and it was heartwarming to see that despite everything else that had changed—he hadn’t. He’d made sure Pamela and Dave, as well as Annie’s parents, were just as much a part of the wedding as Sophie and Dale. When Kade loved, he did so with thoughtfulness and unmatched loyalty. He’d be a good husband, an amazing father to their children, and with unsurprising ease, was already learning to straddle his two worlds. He was changing the focus of his tour company to search and rescue support and training. They were starting in Wabonga as well as Bright, with plans of expanding across Australia. Volunteers would not only receive the best equipment and training, they’d be compensated for any income they lost at work during rescue missions. Kade had been prepared to fund the entire project himself, but as soon as the story had broken, donors began to line up to be part of it.

  Ah, the power of the Barrington name.

  Annie was making changes as well. Her company was already expanding to include a line of private jets for international commuters, and Kade had purchased a building in Boston for her satellite office. Another man might have suggested that Annie didn’t need to work anymore, but Kade understood how much her company meant to her.

  Love wasn’t about having to choose.

  Just before the carriage stopped, they passed a line of their immediate family. Everyone was smiling and waving—everyone except Ian. Annie gave Kade’s hand a squeeze when she saw his expression change as he noticed a lack of enthusiasm from that particular brother.

  “He’ll come around,” Annie assured him.

  Kade nodded once, then his smile returned. “Alessandro says love heals all wounds.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “I can’t argue that. Do we know anyone with the balls to take him on?”

  Annie was momentarily lost in the sensation of his lips once again grazing over hers. When he raised his head and her ability to think coherently began to return, she snapped her fingers and said, “Claire!”

  As Kade helped Annie out of the carriage, he glanced from her friend to his brother and back. “She’d definitely call him on his shit.”

  Annie clapped her hands together. “Are you up for a little matchmaking, Kade?”

  “I can’t imagine Ian would want me to get involved with his private life.” A slow smile spread across his face. “Let’s do it.”

  Annie followed her heart and kissed him soundly, not caring they had an audience. “Do you know how much I love you, Kade Thompson-Barrington?”

  He swung her around, kissing her deeply and getting himself tangled up in her train. “Can’t be as much as I love you, Mrs. Annie Thompson-Barrington.”

  With a blush, Annie looked around and confessed, “Is it wrong I’m enjoying today? I mean, I would have been happy with anything. I know the whole fairy tale huge wedding is over the top, but it’s also . . .” She struggled for how to put it into words. After a lifetime of thinking the day would never happen, having it be so magical somehow fit.

  “Somehow right,” he finished, knowing her almost better than she knew herself. “We’ve worked hard, Annie. We’ve made sensible, good choices, and always tried to do for others before we did for ourselves. No, life isn’t a fairy tale, but if we do it right, it might be better than one.”

  In the circle of his arms, surrounded by family and friends, she said, “Amen to that,” and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back with the same intensity.

  No, theirs had not been the easiest of roads, but if she could go back and do it all over—she’d want it to turn out the same way.

  They were lovers as well as best friends.

  And they had their forever now.

  THE END

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  Never Good-bye will be the next book in this series and is expected to release early 2019.