True Love (Volume 4) (Now and Forever)
Read True Love (Volume 4) (Now and Forever) Online
Authors: Melissa Johns
TRUE LOVE
BY
MELISSA JOHNS
TRUE LOVE
MELISSA JOHNS
Copyright © 2013
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under U.S
. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or
stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the
publisher
Dedication
This book is dedicated to all my
fans around the world. I always wondered what people would think about me if I released my stories. I never imagined the response that I would get from them. You have been supportive, critical and everything in between. I have read every email, every Facebook post and every tweet. Thank you for spreading the word!
By: Melissa Johns
FIRST LOVE (Now & Forever Series #1)
EVERLASTING LOVE (Now & Forever Series #2)
FOREVER LOVE (Now & Forever #3)
ICE DREAMS PART ONE
Her website is now up:
http://melissajohns.webs.com
Stop by her blog:
http://firstlovethenovel.blogspot.com
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“Like” her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/firstlovenovel
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Alex was thirty two years old and a very attractive man. People told him all the time that he was a catch. He had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a chiseled body. Being a fit, healthy six foot tall man, any woman would be lucky to have him but he still hadn't found his true love. Every relationship that he experienced ended with a cheating girlfriend, a better opportunity or they returned to their first love. He wanted to get married, settle down and have a family but every time he opened up his heart, it would be stomped into the ground.
His sister
, Peggy would tell him that he was too eager and jumped into relationships without giving them a second thought but Alex thought of himself as a romantic. Maybe it was time for change. Maybe he needed to take a step back and rethink his life.
He was
very proud of his success in the art world. Alex grew up in a family that appreciated all forms of fine art. His father passed away from cancer years ago but left him with a strong passion for treasuring priceless masterpieces.
Alex worked for years at the
Buffalo Art Museum as the youngest curator in the museum's history at the age of twenty eight. But after his father passed away, he decided it was time to design a venue that could house his favorite pieces. It was always a dream that he shared with his father.
The doors of the Lakeside Gallery ha
d been opened for two years and had achieved great success. Alex helped to design the rundown dilapidated building into a place that people could walk around and fall in love with the masterpieces just as he had as a young child with his father.
As h
e sat in his office and looked over the lake, he decided that he couldn't focus on the paperwork in front of him. He started to think about her again. It had been two years since the love of his life walked out on him and he still hadn't been able to let her go.
Emily Stone, now
Emily Mason was the reason that his past two relationships had crashed and burned. He couldn't get her out of his head. Alex was a football fanatic and every time he went online, he would see the pictures of Denver's famous quarterback, Eric Mason. Alex wanted their relationship to work in every aspect but her heart always belonged to Eric and when he looked back, he never stood a chance.
Ale
x heard his assistant, Becca drop some contracts on his desk as she entered his office. "Are you ok, Mr. Smith?"
He spun around in his chair and smiled at her. "Yes, just thinking of someone that I haven't seen in awhile."
"An old friend?" she asked.
He grinned. "She was more than that to me, Becca."
She smiled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
He waved his hand in the air. "You didn't.
I’m just lost in a thought that I shouldn’t be. How are the exhibits coming along?"
"They are beautiful. Y
ou should come downstairs and see them."
“
That’s a good idea, lead the way." Alex followed her out of his office and walked towards the grand wooden staircase. He glanced around the upper floor and stopped as he reached Emily's portrait of her daughter, Emma. Those sections of the floor were from his personal collection and of those, his favorite pieces. He remembered the first time he met Emily and knew that he would fall in love with her. She was young but had a very mature attitude about her. He purchased her first public painting at a local fundraiser and made it part of his permanent collection.
He
turned away from the painting and walked down the main staircase and into the atrium. The centerpiece of the gallery was a large stone fireplace that sat against the far wall. He felt it brought certain kind warmth to the gallery.
"Mr. Smith, we put the exhibit over here in the west room.
I thought it needed more space. Are you ok with that decision?"
Alex walked around the room and viewed the contemporary art pieces. The
new artist was from California and very mainstream at that moment. "It looks fantastic. I'm very happy with your vision, Becca. You did a great job on your first exhibit."
"Thank you, I really enjoyed
putting all the pieces together."
Alex grabbed the folder out of her hands and flipped through the pages. "Do we have a meeting
with Ms. Matthews scheduled?" he asked.
Becca quickly responded. "Yes, she will
arrive tomorrow afternoon for a short meeting with you. Her agent said that she likes to see all of her displays before the show starts and she will be here for two nights to answer questions from the public."
"Sounds fantastic,
I think you have it all covered and because of that, I'm going to go see an old friend. I will return later this afternoon."
Alex left the gallery and hopped into his car. He drove
a short distance down the road to another gallery owned by his good friends, Henry and Barbara.
As he stepped through the door, he rec
ognized her perfume instantly and standing in front of him was Emily Mason.
Emily turned towards him and smiled. Alex quickly remembered how beautiful she was. Her brown eyes glimmered at him. She had grown her hair to her shoulders. Even though she was dressed very causally in her jeans and red blouse, she looked amazing.
"Emily, how wonderful to see you," Alex said as he smiled.
"Alex, it's been way too long. How are you?"
"I'm doing ok. I'm here to talk with Henry."
"He ran upstairs to grab the information from my last show," Emily explained.
Alex walked closer to her and heard her breathing stop as she took a step back. "
How are your exhibits going?"
"It's been incredible and it's all thanks to you. You made my dreams come true."
Alex smirked. "I'm very proud of you, Mrs. Mason."
Emily couldn't help but laugh. "I see that you haven't
changed, I used to love when you were so formal with me."
Alex
’s thoughts were interrupted as Henry returned. "Alex, what a wonderful surprise, what can we do for you today?"
"I wanted to let you kn
ow that starting this Wednesday. We will be displaying the contemporary works of Eve Matthews. I wanted you and Barbara to stop in. Her pieces are truly beautiful and original."
"Absolutely, I heard she was the next up incomer," Henry said. "Isn't it great to see Emily again?"
"It was definitely my lucky day that I came to visit you," he said as he glanced towards Emily. He smiled as he noticed the familiar blush spread across her cheeks. He missed running his fingers across it and feeling her warmth.
Emily tried to change the subject. "How's Sue?"
Alex frowned. "We broke up over a year ago."
"I'm so sorry
, Alex. I honestly thought you made a good pair."
Alex shrugged. "It wasn't meant to be."
Henry handed Emily the sealed envelope. "Everything you need is inside. You really have created a fan base here."
Emily smiled with pride. "What would I do without you, Henry?"
"Well, I do have an announcement to make and it's good that you are both here."
Emily frowned. "What's wrong, Henry?"
Henry looked at Alex and back at Emily. "Thanks to the huge success of your last show, Barbara and I have decided it's time to retire. We want to see the world before it's too late."
"Henry, I can't do this without you
r guidance," Emily pleaded. “You can’t leave me now!”
"Don't be silly. You have matured into a young professional
artist and whomever takes claim of your next show will not want to let you go. Just continue to have faith in yourself."
Emily hugged Henry. "I
really want to wish you all the best but I’m not happy about this."
Henry laughed.
"Thank you and Alex, I want to talk with you about buying my inventory. I want to know they will be looked after properly."
Alex nodded. "Of course but we can discuss that later."
"I need to run along. My mom is watching the kids,” Emily explained.
Alex spoke up. "I will walk you out, Emi
ly. Henry, I will be in contact and give Barbara my best."
He opened the
front door for Emily and waved back at Henry. He followed her towards a brand new black SUV. "Wow, nice truck."
Emily laughed. "Yeah, Eric insisted on
having a safe vehicle for when we were in town with the kids."
"I can't blame him. Are you getting used to the
rich and famous lifestyle?"
Emily smirked. "It's nice to be comfortable. We are trying to
be smart and plan for our future so we will always be taken care of."
"
That’s a smart way to live life. How is your family?”
Emily beamed. "They are wonderful. Eric is doing so well
in Denver. He is a true leader of that team. Emma has turned into a beautiful young girl. She started school and loves to draw like her mommy and Lucas is your typical boy. He is always into trouble and if Eric has his way he will grow up to be football player."
Alex smiled at her. "I'm so happy for you, Emily."
She frowned and reached out to touch his arm. They both felt the electricity instantly as she pulled away. "What about you? What happened with Sue?"
Alex leaned back against her truck. "Do you want the truth?"
Emily nodded slowly. "Yes, of course."
"She wasn't you. At the time, my heart was still broken. Maybe at a different point in my life, we would have been perfect for each other but she could see there was no passion.
I had no choice but to end it."
"I'm so sorry, Alex. I never meant to hurt you like that. I respect you so much and only want you to find happiness."
Alex smiled and nodded. "I know that I shouldn't ask you but would you like to have dinner tonight? A public place, just as friends, I would love to talk more with you."