Summer reads box set boo.., p.102
Summer Reads Box Set: Books 1-3,
p.102
"So you came all the way to Moscow to get one?"
He grinned. "I do what I have to do to get the shot. You know that. I called your apartment a couple of days ago. I spoke to Elena. She told me you were on your way here."
"Is that why she ran off so suddenly?" Julia asked, suddenly making sense of Elena's odd comment that there were some things they needed to do on their own.
He nodded. A moment passed; then he said, "I have something to give you." He set down the camera and pulled an envelope out of his jacket pocket.
For some reason the sight of another envelope made her nervous. "What is it?"
"It's from Stan. I finally tracked him down. He told me everything, how he helped set up the defection, how much he wanted your mother to dance in the United States."
"Did he know about Brady's plan to kill them?"
Alex shook his head. "No, not at all. You see, Julia, Stan had a huge crush on your mother, Natalia. He met her a few times, and he wanted very much to help her. I guess they became friends on a few of her trips to the United States. He was devastated when she was killed. And he told me he was sorry that he hadn't been honest with us. He believed he was protecting me and you. Like my father, Stan thought that the Russians killed your parents. As an apology, he sent you this. Open it."
"I'm afraid. I don't want any more bad surprises."
"This is a good one."
She took the envelope out of his hand and pulled out a photograph. Her heart stopped beating as she realized what she was seeing. It was a black-and-white family picture of Natalia, Sergei, Elena, and herself. She pressed it to her heart as she blinked back a tear. "It's all of us together," she whispered.
He smiled at her. "Stan thought you would like it. He said Natalia gave it to him a long, long time ago."
"I love it. I'll have to thank him when I get back. I'm glad he wasn't involved, Alex. I know you care about him." Julia blew out a breath, seeing a new light sparkle in Alex's eyes. He obviously wasn't finished. "Was there something else?"
"Elena told me that she thinks you're in love with me.
"I can't imagine why she'd say that," Julia replied, her heart racing as he took a step forward.
"Maybe because I told her I was in love with you," he said.
"What?" She couldn't possibly have heard him say the words.
"You heard me." He moved closer until he was just inches away. "I missed you, Julia."
"You did?" she whispered, gazing into his eyes and seeing the love he was talking about.
"Yeah, I missed your smile and your beautiful blue eyes, the way you lick your fingers after you eat something really delicious, how excited you get when you try something new, the light that shines out of you when you talk about music and changing the world one melody at a time."
"Oh, Alex," she murmured, incredibly touched by his words.
"I tried to forget you. I buried myself in work, thinking it would fill me up the way it used to, but it didn't. There was still a hole in my heart. I didn't actually know I had a heart until I met you. You see, I put it on ice about twenty-five years ago, just a few weeks after I left this very square."
She put her hands on his shoulders. "It must be hard for you to come back here."
"No, it's easy, because you're here, and because now I know what I want. Which, in case you haven't figured it out yet, is you. I want to be with you, Julia."
"Even if that means a permanent address?"
He nodded. "Wherever you are is where I want to be. I've lived most of my life thinking I was just like my father, that photography was my sole passion, that the world was my backyard, that it was more important to show what was happening in the world than to live my own life. But my father gave it up for love. He gave it up for me." He put his hands on her waist. "And I'm willing to give it up for you."
She bit down on her lip, her eyes tearing. "Really?"
He smiled. "Absolutely. You're an incredible woman, Julia—smart, sexy, brave—and you never quit. You inspire me."
"I feel the same way about you, Alex. Your courage, your sense of adventure, the way you embrace new things constantly amaze me. And you're really good in bed, too," she added with a smile.
"It's about time you mentioned that," he said with a sexy growl. "I think I'm the luckiest man on earth right now." He leaned over and placed a tender, passionate kiss on her lips.
"And I'm the luckiest woman," Julia murmured against his mouth. "Do you know why I came here?" she asked him, pulling away for just a moment.
"Tell me."
"I wanted to connect with my parents. The letter my mother wrote to us made me realize that my parents lived their lives with purpose and passion. They were willing to risk everything for love and family. That's the way I want to live. I don't want to play it safe. I want to follow my heart—wherever it leads. This trip was the first step."
"Where are you going next?"
She moved deeper into his embrace. "Right here. I love you, Alex. I was going to come and find you after this trip." She paused. "I don't want you to stay in one place for me. I want to go with you wherever life takes us. I have some thoughts of my own about spreading music around the world. I could use a partner for that."
"You've got one. And if the last few weeks are any indication, I think you and I are going to have a very exciting life."
She gazed into his eyes and saw a future filled with promise. Now she knew not only where she'd come from... but where she was going.
# # #
I hope you enjoyed these three novels! If you’d like more summer reads, grab the Summer Reads Series:
SUMMER READS - Books 1-3, Vol. 1
Summer Secrets
Golden Lies
Don’t Say A Word
SUMMER READS - Books 4-6, Vol. 2
One True Love
Just The Way You Are
All She Ever Wanted
SUMMER READS - Books 7-9, Vol. 3
Almost Home
Some Kind of Wonderful
Love Will Find A Way
SUMMER READS - Books 10-12, Vol. 4
Daniel's Gift
Ryan's Return
Ask Mariah
The Sweetest Thing
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Wish Series Boxed Set
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Ask Mariah
Don’t Say A Word
Golden Lies
Just The Way You Are
Love Will Find A Way
Sweet Somethings
Summer Secrets
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Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of 68 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. With over 12 million copies sold, twenty-three of Barbara’s books have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists, including SUMMER SECRETS which hit #1 on the New York Times!
Known for her emotional and compelling stories of love, family, mystery and romance, Barbara enjoys writing about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary adventures.
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Barbara Freethy, Summer Reads Box Set: Books 1-3
