A Wild Affair (33 page)

“Well, looks like you're offering me a second chance with the woman I love. Which means I'd be a damn fool if I didn't act grateful.”

“You would?” I barely dared ask the question.

“Yes, I would. Let's not forget that you orchestrated the best launch of a financial fund in the history of advertising.” He grinned. “I'd be even more a damn fool if I put another wedge between Jarvis and Milton Advertising, don't you think?”

I gulped. “So you're not going to tell Max?”

“Seems to me there's nothing to tell.” Chester winked. “A kiss ain't nothing in my book.”

“But he doesn't know … it was me. I was the leak.”

“Hugh was the leak,” Chester said firmly. “He's the lowlife, Jess, not you. And you've learned from your mistake, right?”

I nodded firmly. “God yes. Completely. Completely and utterly.” And I had. I knew that one day, in the distant future, I would come clean with Max about the Hugh debacle. But not now. Now I just wanted to marry the man I loved.

“So then there's just one last thing to do, isn't there?”

“There is?” I looked up at him tentatively. He held out his arm.

“Get you married,” he said. “You'd better call your friend Helen back.”

“ ’S all right, I was here all along listening,” Helen said, appearing through a door. She shrugged helplessly. “Couldn't help it.”

I laughed. “Okay then. We're ready?”

“Ready,” Helen confirmed. “Jessica Wild, let's turn you into Jessica Wainwright.”

“Wild Wainwright.” I smiled. “Wild Wainwright?” Helen asked interestedly. I nodded and grinned. “I'm always going to be a little bit wild, after all …”

G
EMMA
T
OWNLEY
is the author of
The Importance of Being Married, When in Rome …, Little White Lies, Learning Curves
, and
The Hopeless Romantic's Handbook
. She lives in London with her husband, Mark, and son, Atticus.