Page 120 of The Perfect Rom-Com

“I’m not letting you out of my sight again, sir.” I close the gap between us so his chin is at my forehead. “This close, see? You’re going to be stuck to my side forever. I certainly hope you thought this through, because that’s how it’s going to be.”

He’s grinning as the tension releases from his shoulders and I cling fast. “It’ll be a little challenging to fly to Italy to sell your book this way.”

“We’ll buy a double-seater,” I say, and kiss him before he can come up with another word.

“Somebody catch this!” Melinda says distantly in the fog.

“This better not be a publicity stunt.” I pull back momentarily with a grin.

He chuckles low and whispers in my ear, “I warned you I’m not a conventional agent, Bryony Page.”

And he leans down, tucking a lock behind my ear.

His hands thread through my curls, clutching me as his lips meet mine with an unspoken agreement to never be so far away again.

Epilogue

“This heartwarming paean to forgiveness and found family wrapped in a delightful romp and romance is, in many ways, the perfect rom-com. Meet Me Under the Bridge is a triumph.”

—#1 NYT bestselling author Anne Sanderworth

“Shall I take your bags, madam?”

“Stop it. You’re creeping me out.” I blow out a frosty breath as I hold my suitcase while bouncing on my toes.

“Madam would quietly prefer I take the bags.” Penny reaches for the handle.

“No. I’ve got it,” I say, holding firm.

“Madam says no, but really she is begging me to relieve her arm of the luggage to protect her delicate writing hands.”

Penny is tugging at my bags.

“Jack, stop her. People are going to think I’m a horrible person,” I say to him, who watches, bemused, while we stand at the entrance doors to the tour bus, waiting for them to open. People are loitering around, cameras out.

“They already know about the two of you,” he says casually, ignoring the flash of cameras all around. “The posts will say ‘Bryony Page and Penny Matthews at It Again.’”

The day Penny lost her mind and highlighted all over Amelia’s blouse during the outrageous stunt, I hired her. Well, technically Jack did. He said, and I quote, “Penny Matthews is going to be the best PA of your life.”

And he was right.

Honestly, half the time I go to autograph books, people want her to sign it too. With a highlighter.

In addition to being the world’s best assistant, Penny has become one of my closest friends. And turns out, her calligraphy skills are absolutely to die for.

Honestly, next to my chicken-scratch signature (the same one my students ridicule me about still), her loopy y’s and crossed t’s are works of art.

She addresses all the invitations to both book events and fundraisers for The Bridge. Of which there are many.

I’ve dropped down to half time at The Bridge—it was a difficult decision, but in the end, one for which I was immediately grateful once the tour schedule was in place. Tuesday and Thursday mornings to noon at The Bridge, usually followed up with a lunch date with Gran and Gloria. And the rest of the week, I write. And tour. And just, in general, do whatever I want.

Most of the time with Jack.

And I love it.

I love it all.

“So sorry, I got hung up!” Gloria races across the parking lot, one massive suitcase sliding against the pavement in each hand.