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Back The Runaway Heiress Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. PRAISE FOR MEG TILLY AND HER NOVELS
  3. TITLES BY MEG TILLY
  4. Dedication
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
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  10. 5
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  67. 62
  68. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  69. Excerpt from SOLACE ISLAND
  70. 1
  71. 2
  72. 3
  73. 4
  74. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  75. What’s next onyour reading list?

Her familiar face softened, as did her voice. “It’s not you, Mick. For all your bluster and shenanigans, you’ve been a great boss. Best I ever had. Actually, it’s because of your generosity that retiring a few years early is even an option. You see, in those split seconds between hopping off that cliff and realizing it was all going very wrong, I thought of all the things I’ve always wanted to do and have never done. It’s true what they say, my life did flash before me, and it was short and uninspiring. I haven’t lived, Mick. Not really. I’ve existed. Have meandered through life being dutiful and reliable and boring as hell. You see, none of us know how long we have, Mick, but by God, I want to make sure I begin to live fully.”

He nodded, his throat a little tight. He felt lost. Cut adrift. “Where will you go?”

“Not sure.” She smiled at him fondly. “I’m thinking maybe to get a little cabin by the sea. Watch the waves lap the shore, listen to the wind in the trees.”

“Okay.” His mind spun with images of Lois hang gliding intermingled with thoughts of the present and memories of the past, the workload waiting at the office. “Tell you what, let’s not make any drastic decisions.” He couldn’t imagine his office without her. Lois had been by his side from day one. Helped him navigate the shark-laden waters. “You’ve had a bit of a shock. Focus on getting better. Get some rest. We’ll deal with what comes next once you’re back on your feet. No pressure. But you might feel differently after lying around for six months.” Hopefully she would.

“Mick.” Her voice was soft. “You’re going to be fine.”

“I just think it’s best if we leave your options open. You want some time off. Fine. We’ll check in with each other in September. If you still feel the same way, I’ll accept your decision. Until then, I’ll make do with temporary help.”

22

Sarah was doing a deep clean on the oven when Mick blew into the kitchen like an electrical storm lighting up the place with his presence. “Why did you scream like that?” he demanded. “Made me feel like a fucking ogre.”

“I didn’t scream—”

“Damn right you did. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Well, you shouldn’t sneak up on people.”

“Whatever.” The man was in a mood. Again. “Why didn’t you pick up the phone? I was calling all morning.”

“In my list of duties, you never mentioned answering your personal house phone—”

He impatiently waved her words aside. “If you had picked up the damn phone, I wouldn’t have had to drive all the way back to get you. Grab your purse and whatever else is necessary,” he barked. “I need your help at the office.”