I’m lucky.
I’m so incredibly, unbelievably lucky.
“Do you think people are going to refuse to call him Andrew because they don’t think it’s similar enough to Anna, is that it?” he teased.
“Ha, ha,” I grunted, picking up a pillow and miming that I was going to launch it at him.
I return to the desk just as Rusty’s ears perk up and his eyes open.
I glance across the wide open-plan office to the tall Victorian-style door, easily wide and tall enough for two normal-sized people, or one and a third Wayne Wakefield.
Rusty yips merrily as my husband pushes the door open, Andrew cradled in his arms. He smiles at me over the top of our sleeping son’s head as I walk toward him, taking Andrew and inhaling his scent, his sweet, wonderful scent that somehow never gets old.
Having just come from the office, Wayne is still sheathed in a suit of silver, his top button undone to show a slice of chest. His arms press against the jacket of his suit as his neck pops from side to side, sighing.
“It’s done?” I ask, reading him.
Reading him is easier than reading a book these days.
“It’s done,” he says with satisfaction. “I’ve finally cleaned up Comet. For once and for all. No more pulling teeth every time I want to make an ethical decision. What about you?”
“It’s done,” I smile. “The second book is completed. Well, the first draft.”
“I know it will be as loved as the first,” he says. “How couldn’t it be? I’m married to a genius. Hear that, Andrew? Your mother is a certified writing genius.”
I blush, my heart feeling floaty and warm as Wayne kneels down to play with Rusty. With my son close to my chest and my husband wrestling with the terrier, I feel like I could float, higher and higher, right through the roof and into the sky.
Then, crazily, I feel tears fill my eyes, freaking tears for no reason, drifting down my cheeks.
Wayne hugs Rusty close to him and looks up at me, smiling, just smiling.
Because he knows without having to ask that they’re tears of happiness.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
TEN YEARS LATER
Wayne
“So you met Mom here?” Andrew asks, carving a fine line on the ice with his skates as he darts ahead of me.
I grit my teeth in a smile as I struggle to keep up with him, the skates feeling ungainly on my feet even after wintering here for the last seven years. It’s almost as though being seven foot and over two-hundred and seventy pounds makes it difficult.
But it’s worth it to see the smile on Andrew’s face, his hair the same deep brown mine was before it turned the silver of fading snow.
He smiles as he stops in a whoosh of ice, and gestures to the house, the cabin built into a rock formation, the place that will always hold a special place in my heart.
“In a way,” I tell my son. “Down the road. But this is where we fell in love.”
“You know that’s gross, right?” he grins, and then mimes sticking a finger down his throat. “Love. Ew.”
“If I could catch up with you, little man, I’d make you pay for that.”
“Dad,” he groans. “I haven’t been ‘little man’ since I was like six.”
“You’ll always be a little man to me,” I smile. “Even when you’re old and gray, I’ll see you as the little baby who still needs his diaper changed.”
This makes him laugh even if he thinks being ten makes him too cool to laugh at his old man’s jokes.
I turn at the sound of more skates to find Winter sliding over with Hope and Jessica trailing behind her, the six year old twins pictures of their mother with their long blonde hair and bright green eyes.
Winter still takes the cold breath from my lungs, guiding herself on the ice steadily, her body honed and yet still curvy after years of childbirth and ice-skating and life.
She has her hair tied up in a ponytail and it lashes behind her, her pale blue winter coat doing nothing to hide the beauty of her body beneath, a body that, even after four children, is the sweetest fucking thing imaginable.
“He’s finally asleep,” she says. “Jarvis is with him. And the nanny.”
“Mommy, you don’t have to feel bad for skating for a little bit,” Andrew says, ever the perceptive one.
More and more lately, Andrew has been asking questions about the business, asking me if he can skip school to come to the office. I tell him no, of course, and impress upon him the importance of education. But the way his eyes light up at the idea of making a positive difference in the world touches my soul.
“I don’t feel guilty for that,” Winter says, exchanging a look with me, and my chest threatens to explode all over again at the sassy look in my wife’s eyes.
“What then, Mommy?” Jessica smiles up at her. “Cause I’m never guilty. Nah uh. Like the time Hope-Pope ate the last cookie and said it was me.”
“Nah uh,” Hope says. “It was you and you know it was.”
“Girls,” I laugh, skate-walking over. “We caught you eating one half of the cookie each, remember?”
They giggle in their secret identical-twin way, exchanging looks that are so secretive they make confidence and security bloom inside of me.
Whatever happens, Hope and Jessica will always have each other’s backs.
“Where’s Mommy?” Andrew mutters, and then we all turn to find her skating toward the other end of the lake.
“This is why I felt guilty,” she yells over, breathless and vivacious and just goddamn perfect. “Because the last one to the other side doesn’t get any pie later.”
Oh, shit.
I can only walk awkwardly up the lake as Jessica and Hope surge forward like sprites, moving slightly like nervous deer, and yet light enough that they can skim across the ice. Snow swirls and dances in the air around Andrew as he confidently cuts across the lake.
And then something clicks, and I smile.
This happens every so often on the ice.
I’ll find my stride and suddenly feel weightless.
I glide toward my family, letting my daughters’ proud giggles guide me, following the sound of my wife’s encouraging yells.
When I reach her – last, but not by much – I drag her into my arms and kiss her on her winter-cold lips, ignoring the ews and grosses of the children.
“I guess this means I don’t get any pie, eh?” I say.
She loops her arms around my shoulders and leans close, whispering so the children can’t hear, a quiet, angelic voice just for me.
“You’ll get more than pie later,” she says. “You know I can never say no to you.”
I feel a stirring inside of me and have to step away so that I don’t lose control.
“What’d you say, kids?” I smile. “Round two?”
I duck my head and skate down the lake.
And my family skates behind me.
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WARMING UP TO LOVE
The Warming Up to Love authors have teamed up to bring you nine new romances guaranteed to chase away the winter chill. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with joy, love, and hot book boyfriends & get ready to be warmed up to love!
Hugs and KISSES,
The Warming Up to Love Authors
Check out all the Warming Up to Love books!
Snowy Kisses by Elisa Leigh
Winter Kisses by Flora Ferrari
Unwrapped Kisses by Jenna Rose
Warm Kisses by Loni Ree
Naughty Kisses by Mayra Statham
Sugar Kisses by Megan Wade
Christmas Kisses by Mila Crawford & Aria Cole
Holly Kisses by Penelope Wylde
Mistletoe Kisses by Shaw Hart
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
&
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend
Book 69: Possessive Firefighter
Book 70: Football Next Door
Book 71: Doctor December
Book 72: Possessive Canadian
Book 73: Blue Collar Billionaire
Book 74: Possessive K-9 Cop
Book 75: Possessive Brazilian
Book 76: Hockey Obsession
Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA Fighter
Book 78: Halloween Next Door
Book 79: Possessive Russian
Book 80: Baseball Mine
Book 81: Cop’s Caribbean Captive
Book 82: Instalove Island
Book 83: Dad’s Best Friend
Book 84: Thanksgiving with Dad’s Boss
Book 85: Possessive Italian Neighbor
Book 86: Possessive Portuguese
Book 87: Possessive Christmas Cop
Book 88: Russian’s Obsession
Book 89: Possessive Doctor’s Christmas
Book 90: Possessive Parisian Pilot
Book 91: U.K. Boxing Day
Book 92: Jealous Russian Stalker
Book 93: Italian Mountain Man
Book 94: Aggressive Russian
Book 95: Possessive Valentine
Book 96: Possessive Hunter
Book 97: Dad’s Russian Mafia Friend
Book 98: Russian Teacher
Book 99: Australian Obsession
Book 100: Russian Next Door
Book 101: Dad’s Irish Friend
Book 102: Nanny for the Russian Mafia
Book 103: Best Friend’s Dad
Book 104: Basketball Babymaker
Book 105: Possessive Veterinarian
Book 106: Brother’s Fireman Friend
Book 107: Brother’s Canadian Cowboy Friend
Book 108: Summer Vacation with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 109: Dad’s Italian Mafia Friend
Book 110: Dad’s Irish Mafia Friend
Book 111: Dad’s Football Friend
Book 112: Possessing His Dancing Queen
Book 113: Brother’s Cop Friend
Book 114: Halloween With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 115: Claimed By Her Boss
Book 116: Possessive Rider
Book 117: Dad’s Ex-Biker Buddy
Book 118: Possessive Undercover Cop
Book 119: Falling For Her Boss
Book 120: Claiming His Fashionista
Book 121: More Than Dad’s Best Friend
Book 122: Thanksgiving With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 123: Bossy Italian
Book 124: Christmas With Dad’s Mafia Friend
Book 125: Maid For The Italian Mafia
Book 126: Nutcracker
Book 127: Cowboy Cerrone
Book 128: Chef’s Kiss
Book 129: Claimed By The Russian
Book 130: Bought By The Italian Mafia
Book 131: Hot Nerd
Book 132: Dad’s Italian Mafia Boss
Book 133: Mine
Book 134: Taken By The Thief
Book 135: Curves Ahead
Book 136: Her Mafia Valentine
Book 137: Doctor Valentine
Book 138: Maid For The Irish Mafia
Book 139: Winning Her Curves
Book 140: Dad’s Cartel Best Friend
Book 141: Dad’s Greek Mafia Friend
Book 142: Lawyer’s Obsession
Book 143: Attending Her Curves
Book 144: Maid for the Russian Mafia
Book 145: Priest
Book 146: Claimed By Dad’s Best Friend
Book 147: His Curvy Office Obsession
Book 148: Easter with Dad's Best Friend
Book 149: Veterinarian's Obsession
Book 150: Curves For Her Older Boss
Book 151: Mob Lawyer's Curves
Book 152: Maid For The Doctor Next Door
Book 153: Possessive Forest Ranger
Book 154: Nurse For The Russian Mafia
Book 155: Dad’s Fireman Friend
Book 156: Russian Mountain Man
Book 157: Possessive Italian Doctor
Book 158: Dad's EMT Best Friend
Book 159: Claimed By The Publisher
Book 161: His Curvy Castaway Obsession
Book 162: Claiming His Reunion Obsession
Book 163: Claimed By Dad’s College Friend
Book 164: Dad’s Detective Best Friend
Book 165: Attending The Russian Mafia
Book 166: Dad's Biker Best Friend
Book 167: My Dad's Russian Mafia Friend
Book 168: Possessive Landlord
Book 169: Gardener For The Mafia
Book 170: Possessive Fighter
Book 171: Claiming Her Sweet Curves
Bool 172: Possessive Camp Counselor
Book 173: Claimed By Dad's Italian Best Friend
Book 174: Possessive Neighbor
Book 175: 4th of July With Dad's Best Friend
Book 176: Claimed By Her Enemy
Book 177: Bodyguard’s Obsession
Book 178: Falling For The Player
Book 179: Possessive Alpha Cop
Book 180: Her CEO
Book 181: Falling For Her Dad’s Boss
Book 182: MMA Fighter�
�s Obsession
Book 183: Possessive Lawyer
Book 184: Claimed by the British Rockstar
Book 185: Summer Obsession
Book 186: Paris with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 187: Claimed by the Possessive Fireman
Book 188: Possessive Trucker
Book 189: Falling for Dad's Enemy
Book 190: His Undercover Maid
Book 191: Her Innocent CEO
Book 192: Bratva Boss’s Babysitter
Book 193: Sold to the Bratva Boss
Book 194: My Dad's Best Friend
Book 195: His Cabin Obsession
Book 196: Driver's Obsession
Book 197: His Unexpected Love
Book 198: London with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 199: Hot Neighbor
Book 200: Maid for the Hollywood Heartthrob
Book 201: The CEO and the Wedding Planner
Book 202: Claimed by the Italian
Book 203: Dad’s CEO Boss
Book 204: The Mob and His Messenger
Book 205: Rome with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 206: Haunted by Her Curves
Book 207: Her Vampire
Book 208: Bidding for Her Curves
Book 208: Claiming His Student
Book 210: CEO's Dog Trainer Obsession
Book 211: Pool Girl
Book 212: Possessive Writer
Book 213: Maid for the Mafia Informant
Book 214: Madrid with Dad’s Best Friend
BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS
Book 1: Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Best Friend
Book 2: Babysitter For Dad’d Russian Mafia Bear Friend
Book 3: Dad’s Bratva Bear Friend
LAIRDS & LADIES
Book 1: Possessive Highlander
Book 2: Taken By The Highlander
Book 3: Highlander Alpha
RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD
Book 1: Brooklyn Bratva
Book 2: British Bratva
Book 3: Bratva Billionaire
Book 4: Bratva Babysitter
Book 5: Bratva Boss
IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS
Book 1: Dad’s Irish Wold Shifter Friend
Book 2: Claimed By The Irish Wolf Shifter
Book 3: Claimed By The Enemy
COLLABORATIONS
Alpha's Arms (Makes My Heart Race Book 7)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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