That's it for today. Enjoy Love Billie
“It’s not the lie that breaks you. It’s the part where you realize they didn’t trust you with the truth.” By Unknown.Noah pulled up outside her office just as the sun was dipping out of sight. The streetlights had just flickered on. April stood on the steps like she had been waiting a while, her heels dangling from one hand, a paper coffee cup in the other… he would guess tea, probably cold. Her other arm was crossed tightly over her middle, like she was holding herself together after a long day.He would get his driver to drive her to and from work. She didn’t need the stress of traffic every day but she also didn’t need to be waiting for him.She smiled when she saw him. That little smile, the one that managed to hit him like a punch every damn time.He got out of the car without saying anything, just walked around to open the passenger door for her.“Such a gentleman,” she teased lightly as she climbed in, brushing her shoulder against his as she passed.He kissed her cheek before
“Sometimes the damage isn’t done when they leave. It’s when they come back and expect nothing’s changed.” By Unknown.Dinner was quiet, but not uncomfortable. They ate on the couch with the news muted in the background, both of them poking at their stir-fry that had gone a little soft from the delay. April didn’t seem to care. She’d curled one leg under herself, hair falling out of the tie she’d thrown in, chopsticks in one hand, the bowl in the other.Noah watched her as he chewed, setting his bowl down after a few bites. His appetite had disappeared somewhere between the first bite and the weight of what was still unresolved.She glanced at him. “You’re not eating.”“I’m trying,” he said.She didn’t push.Another few minutes passed before April set her bowl on the coffee table and leaned back, rubbing her hand over her stomach absently, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.“So…” she said eventually, her voice tentative. “What do we do now?”Noah looked at her, unsure. “About Max?”“About
“Sometimes the past knocks on your door when you least expect it—and this time, it wants answers.” By Unknown.The doorbell rang.Poppy froze mid-step, holding Jade’s pink jumper in one hand and a storybook in the other. She had only just put Jade to bed. The house had been calm for all of two minutes.Another chime echoed through the townhouse.She hissed under her breath, tossing the jumper and book over the arm of the couch. “For the love of God…”Her bare feet padded quickly across the floor. She didn’t look through the peephole, something she never forgot to do. Except tonight. Her only focus was on making sure the doorbell didn’t ring a third time and wake her daughter.She unlatched the door and pulled it open in one swift motion.And then she couldn’t breathe.Max stood on her front step.All six feet and stupid-handsome inches of him. Broad shoulders under a charcoal coat, dark jeans hugging long legs. His hair was tousled like he’d run his fingers through it too many times. H
Chapter TBA“Sometimes it’s not the truth that hurts—it’s how long it was hidden.” By UnknownPoppy took a few extra minutes upstairs. She peeked in on Jade, who was curled up in her bed with one leg flung out from under the covers, her mouth slightly open in the way only small children could manage. The soft lullaby from her nightlight played quietly in the background.She didn’t stir.Poppy stood in the doorway and exhaled, trying to slow her heartbeat. Her fingers were trembling, so she gripped the doorframe and took a breath. The sight of Jade’s tiny body, peaceful and unbothered by what was happening downstairs, helped ground her. But only just.She moved back downstairs only when she thought she was ready to face him again. Just as her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She picked it up. April.She answered quickly, her voice a little breathless. “Hey.” Max was standing where she had left him.April’s voice was immediate, worried. “Hey, are you okay?”Poppy hesitated. “Yeah. I mea
“Touch is the first language we learn. It speaks even when words don’t.” — UnknownThey didn’t speak much as they cleared the lounge room. The dishes clinked softly as Noah gathered their bowls, and April followed him into the kitchen. The stir-fry had gone untouched for the most part—lukewarm and congealed in the pan. Noah scraped the contents into the bin while April loaded the dishwasher.“I feel this is so wasteful. We should have just had a sandwich. I know it didn’t take a lot of effort, but still.”“I chopped,” he corrected.She gave a soft snort and leaned over to rinse the pan. Noah watched her for a moment, his eyes tracing the curve of her spine under the fabric, the way her neck moved when she tilted her head, loose strands of hair falling forward.He stepped up behind her, resting one hand lightly on her hip.She didn’t stop. She just kept washing. The sooner this was done, the better.“You good?” he murmured into the space between her ear and her shoulder.April rinsed th
April woke up still in Noah’s arms.It was early. The kind of still that made the air feel suspended. The light spilling through the bedroom curtains was faint and silver. April turned her head slightly, careful not to disturb the man sleeping beside her. His arm was draped over her middle, hand resting instinctively over her stomach.She watched him for a moment. His lashes fanned out over his cheek, his mouth relaxed in a way it never seemed to be during the day. Even in sleep, he looked like Noah. Unapologetic. Unflinching. But here, wrapped around her like a vine, he looked different. Younger. Softer.They still had a way to go. She still hadn’t told him she loved him. April did, but she wasn’t ready to say it out loud. She didn’t know what she was waiting for.She shifted slightly and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.He stirred, his arm tightening. “What time is it?”“Too early,” she whispered.He hummed in response, his voice still deep and sleep-rough. “Come back to sleep.”She d
“In golf, as in life, it is the follow through that makes the difference.” By Unknown.The sun was finally beginning to do its job by the time Noah pulled into the long, winding driveway of the country golf club. The parking lot held a lot of luxury cars. But on the course, none of that mattered. Just because you had money didn’t mean you could play.He spotted Max before he even got out of the car.The actor stood just beyond the clubhouse patio, dressed down in a navy quarter-zip and golf pants, his dark sunglasses perched on his head as he watched a group of older men chatting nearby. He looked more tense than relaxed. And very out of place.Noah walked up to him, golf bag slung over one shoulder. “You look like you want to bolt.”Max turned, managing a tired smile. “I didn’t sleep. Didn’t feel right after seeing Poppy and Jade. My mind was on a loop all night.”“She let you see Jade. That’s something.”Max nodded slowly. “She’s beautiful. And small. I didn’t think I’d get emotional
“To love someone is to risk not knowing if they’ll ever say it back.” By UnknownApril was already back home by the time Noah returned from golf. She’d changed into leggings and a tank top, her feet tucked under her on the couch, a mug of tea cooling beside her.Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She had Noah’s iPad in her hands, looking at baby names. Being with Poppy and Jade today had got her thinking about it. What was a good name for a baby?Because they wouldn’t always be a baby. Being at school with a bad name could be terrible. Kids could really be cruel. She remembered being at school with one kid named Scott… great name, but the kids had called him Scotty Snotty. It was the kids that had been little shits. How could actors or famous people call their kids’ stupid names? April often laughed at them when they got announced. Thinking poor kid.Now it was their turn to think of a name that wouldn’t put their child into therapy.She didn’t hear him walk in until
April pulled her car into the underground parking garage beneath Harringtons, the soft rumble of the engine echoing against the stark concrete walls. She glanced at the dashboard clock. 8:12 a.m. Early, but she liked it that way. Quiet, still, no one around to pull her into impromptu meetings before she had a chance to settle. If Noah had his way this morning, she would have been late.Grinning, she slipped the gear into park and killed the engine. The silence that followed was oddly sharp, too complete. She reached over for her handbag, slinging it over her shoulder, and opened the door, her heels clicking against the floor as she stepped out. The sound echoed off the concrete walls.The moment she shut her door and hit the lock, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.She paused.It was instinct. A tightening in her chest. A shift in the atmosphere that had nothing to do with the cold. She wasn’t alone. Usually, she wouldn’t have minded. It was common for her staff to come and g
Six weeks later.The soft Saturday morning light poured in through the bedroom windows, casting a warm glow over the sheets tangled around April’s legs. She lay on her side, one hand resting over her slowly growing belly, the other curled under her pillow. Beside her, Noah was already awake, propped up on one elbow, just watching her.“You’re staring,” she mumbled, not even opening her eyes.“I’m allowed to,” he said, brushing her hair back from her cheek. “I’m admiring my girls.”She cracked one eye open, giving him a sleepy smile. “You don’t know it’s a girl yet.”He leaned down and kissed her belly. “I have a feeling.”An hour later, they were in the car, heading to the clinic for her second-trimester appointment. April watched the city pass by outside her window, but she was only half paying attention. Her nerves were fraying. It wasn’t that she thought something would be wrong, but pregnancy had a way of stirring up worry even when everything seemed fine.Noah reached over, threa
The front door clicked shut behind them with a soft thud, the sound swallowed by the quiet stillness of the Harrington estate.April’s heels echoed faintly in the empty hall, her fingers still laced through Noah’s. The place smelled like memory, old cedar and roses, polished wood, her childhood. She had loved it here. She was so glad they had renewed their vows in the garden she loved so much.For a moment, the silence felt too big. Too final. Like stepping out of one life and into another. Her dad was gone, but she held him in her heart and this place would always be here.Noah, in his usual effortless way, broke the weight with a grin.“Well, Mrs. Crawford,” he murmured, his voice low, teasing, “you have exactly fifteen seconds to tell me which room we’re sleeping in before I throw you down right here on the marble floor.”April raised a brow, smoothing her fingers up his lapel. “Not the master-suite.”Noah blinked. “Why not?”“It was my father’s room, and I still feel guilty moving
The sun filtered gently through the tall windows of the Harrington family estate, casting soft light onto the white floral arrangements that lined the garden path. April stood just inside the drawing room, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she stared out at the rows of white chairs set up on the lawn. Everything looked perfect.But it wasn’t nerves twisting in her stomach—not quite. It was something deeper. Quieter. A solemn ache that this moment, this day, was finally hers. Theirs. A peace she hadn’t known she was waiting for pressed into her chest like a soft ache. It was overwhelming and still, somehow, comforting.They weren’t getting married again. They were already married. But today was a promise. A real one. A clean slate, with no secrets between them. A vow, this time, given by choice, not circumstance. Not blackmail.Behind her, the door creaked open, and Poppy stepped in with a smile. “You ready?”April turned, her mouth curving with emotion. “Almost.”Poppy walk
April stepped into the house with a sigh, dropping her purse on the hallway table and slipping off her heels with a grimace. Her feet ached, her shoulders were stiff, and she hadn’t even had the energy to take off her blazer before Noah’s voice floated from the living room.“You’ve got thirty minutes to get ready,” he called. “Dinner reservations. And before you argue—we’re celebrating your win.”She frowned, stepping further into the room. He was standing by the bar cart, dressed to kill in a black suit with no tie, his shirt unbuttoned just enough to show a glimpse of skin. He looked... devastating.April blinked. “Wait, what win?”Noah came over, kissing her cheek lightly. “You, standing up for yourself. Your win. You put them in their place and walked out with your head high. We’re celebrating.”Her heart softened, but her pride flared slightly. “We lost the Paris group acquisition because of that damn leak.”Noah smiled patiently. “And yet, you didn’t let them rattle you. You mad
The elevator doors opened with a low ding, and April stepped onto the executive floor of Harringtons with her head high and her spine straight.She could feel it immediately… something was wrong. It was the shift in the air, the whispered voices that stopped when she passed, the subtle tension strung too tight across the office. April had a feeling she was going to be very pissed before the morning was over.Her heels clicked a sharp rhythm as she moved toward her office. Neil was already waiting by the door, a folder clutched in one hand, a look on his face that said this wasn’t going to be a normal day. She could already feel her blood pressure rising, the heat in her temples building with each silent glance tossed her way.“Neil,” she greeted calmly, her voice smoother than she felt.“Can I speak with you?” he asked, voice low and tense.She nodded, pushing open the door to her office. The moment it shut behind them, Neil dropped the polished professionalism he wore like armor.“Th
The morning light spilled lazily across the bedroom, catching on the mess of tangled sheets and bare skin. Noah stirred first, blinking against the soft gray light filtering in through the curtains. He shifted, his body deliciously sore, and smiled when he felt April tucked against him, her hand splayed possessively across his stomach.For a long moment, he just lay there, breathing her in. Her scent clung to the sheets, warm and sweet, threaded with the faintest trace of last night’s passion. His chest tightened, a slow ache he welcomed. She was here. She was his.He tilted his head, pressing a kiss to her hairline. April murmured something incomprehensible, shifting closer, her thigh sliding up to hook over his hip.“Careful,” he whispered against her temple, amusement threading his voice. “Unless you want a round two before breakfast.”April cracked one sleepy eye open, her mouth curving into a wicked smile. “And miss food? Never.”Noah chuckled, sliding out from under her carefully
Noah kicked the bedroom door shut with a soft thud, never loosening his hold on her. April giggled against his mouth, her hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer, her body molding to his.He didn’t rush. He kissed her slowly, deeply, his tongue teasing her lips until she opened for him, tasting her with a hunger that simmered beneath the surface. His mouth devoured hers, coaxing, teasing, claiming. Every stroke of his tongue was a promise: tonight, he was going to worship her.April whimpered softly, pressing into him. Her scent surrounded him, sweet and clean, a heady mix of her shampoo and her skin. He couldn’t get enough.Noah’s mouth traced the corner of her lips, down the line of her jaw, savoring the faint taste of her skin. He pressed kisses to the hollow beneath her ear, nipping lightly at her earlobe, feeling her shiver in his arms.“Noah,” she breathed, fingers sliding up into his hair, tugging lightly.He growled low in his throat, hands sliding to the b
Noah got home first.He hadn’t planned it that way, but a meeting ran short, and he found himself pulling into the driveway an hour earlier than normal. It wasn’t even properly dark yet. The brownstone looked quiet from the outside, the porch light just flickering on with the motion sensor.He shut the door behind him and leaned against it for a second, exhaling slowly.He still hadn’t told her.Four days.Four days of smiling and kissing her forehead and pretending he hadn’t threatened to destroy half her family behind her back. The guilt sat heavy on his chest, a slow, grinding weight he couldn’t shake off.Noah ran a hand through his hair. It had felt right at the time. It was right. David and Porsha had needed to hear it. Needed to be scared. But it didn’t change the fact he should have told April. Not because he thought she’d be angry. She probably wouldn’t be. But because this… them… was supposed to be built on trust now. No more secrets. No more half-truths, even if they were me