Now That I've Found You
Chapter 1
As they embraced in the 91st Street Garden, with Brinkley by their side, Kathleen felt as though she were dreaming;
Joe Fox (the man who was once her fiercest business rival) and NY152 (the man who stole her heart with his words) were one and the same.
When she looked into Joe's eyes, his face held a smile that melted her heart. Gently, he brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. "I hope you're not disappointed."
Kathleen's eyes filled with tears.
"Disappointed? Nothing could be further from the truth. I love you, Joe."
"And I love you, Kathleen."
Her breath caught in her throat as he pulled her toward him, kissing her over and over. When they parted, she turned to admire her surroundings.
Almost immediately, Joe wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his body on her back. It was like being wrapped in a soft blanket.
Kathleen was truly in awe of the garden. It was one of the most beautiful places she'd ever seen. How odd that she hadn't known about it until now. It was a colorful paradise, right in the heart of the Upper West Side.
Her mother would have loved it here. At the first thought of her mother, a familiar ache settled in her chest. The pain of knowing that the woman she loved most was gone forever. Sometimes the pain was so bad that it was so great that she almost couldn't breathe. It was the worst feeling in the world.
The touch of Joe's lips on her neck startled her and she leaned into him.
"I'm sorry if I frightened you." Joe said.
"I-I was just..."
"Thinking about your mother?" Joe offered.
Kathleen gasped in astonishment. "How did you know?"
Joe's heart-melting smile returned. 'Well, from all the wonderful conversations we shared. You mentioned her so often that I feel like I knew her. You said she liked flowers, so I hoped this one would bring back happy memories."
Kathleen was touched beyond measure. If there had been any doubts about her feelings for him, they all disappeared in that moment. It was then that she realized that she loved this man more than it was possible to love anyone. Overcome with emotion, she took his face in her hands and kissed him.
"Thank you." She whispered, as he held her in his arms.
"Thank you so much."