“You’re hard already?” she says with disbelief.
“Did you look at yourself in the mirror before you came in here in that sexy as hell robe?”
“Matteo, it’s three in the morning, I haven’t shaved my legs yet this week, I’ve got bags under my eyes from being woken up in the night so often, and my tits, after getting sucked on what seems like half the day are starting to dr—”
“Drive me crazy, as they always do,” I say, sliding my hand up her pajama top. “Now, no more arguing or daddy bear’s gonna give mommy bear a spanking. You got me?”
“Oh, I got you all right,” she says, turning and shaking that sexy apple bottom at me.
“Oh, yeah, as soon as this diaper gets changed I’m coming for you. You better be laid out and ready to go when I get back, because I’m not going to waste another second tearing that pussy of yours to pieces.”
“Oh my god, you’re an animal!”
“You bring it out in me, just like that Russian bear shifter book thing you were reading the other night on your kindle.”
“Babysitter for Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Friend?”
There’s a keyword stuffed title if I’ve ever heard one.
“Leave my friend Flora Ferrari alone! That was her first attempt at paranormal romance and it was damn good!”
“You’re damn good. Now go get in bed, put your feet up, and I’ll be right in to make the toes on those pretty little feet of yours curl.”
“Like you always do.”
“Always,” I agree, and Mandy gives me a wink and scampers back to the bedroom.
“Now, just to remember how this diaper duty thing works.
I make quick work of Maria’s mess, and get washed up. I’m getting pretty good at this whole parenting thing, but it’s only because my other half showed me the way, just like she showed me a house doesn’t make a home.
But she does, and we did…together.
I think back to that long book title she mentioned. Babysitter for Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Friend. That’s a good idea actually.
I’m Italian, not Russian, but we could use a nanny, and another maid, to take care of things around the house. That will allow me to take care of my constant need for her, or at least try as I know there’s no way my thirst for her could ever be quenched.
As a matter of fact, she’s learning the ways of the Italian family more and more every day. And I think she’s really starting to understand I’m serious when I say I want ten children.
The best part is I know she wants it too.
That settles it. She gave birth three months ago. I don’t know much about how long she needs to wait to get pregnant again or any of that other doctor stuff, but I know what I want and that’s another baby in my woman’s belly.
I’m giving our chef the night off tonight and making some spaghetti Bolognese with red wine myself.
And after that? We’re making another baby, our second of ten.
You can count on it.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Mandy
Forty-nine more years later
We step out of the small Roman Catholic church in the Italian countryside in a city so small I’m not sure it has a name, let alone is on a map.
And this is exactly what Matteo wanted for his eighty-seventh birthday…to renew our vows in front of our ten children, thirty-seven grandchildren, and already eight great-grandchildren.
It’s pretty incredible that Matteo was thirty-seven when he met me and now, fifty years later, we have thirty-seven grandchildren. I don’t mention the number though because Matteo thinks it should be equal to fifty, not thirty-seven.
Then again he’s the one who’s always pushing the couples in our family to have more children. As a woman who gave birth to ten, I just keep my mouth shut as my empathy for having just one child is beyond belief.
But what I can believe is that we lasted this long. We beat the odds, especially in today’s terms, but I never felt like it was us against the world or the odds stacked against us.
Once Matteo put that ring on my finger so many years ago everything just felt so right, so perfect, and all my problems, and stress just melted away. All I felt was love, for him, our children, and the world.
It’s amazing what finding the right person to share and enjoy your life with can do for you. It’s a saying he loves, and he’s absolutely right…because for me it’s him.
“Grandma, Marco and I want to go squash grapes for wine with our feet. Is that ok?” Mara asks.
“Sure it is, honey,” I say, as I pat her little head as she tugs on my dress before taking off screaming in jubilation that she gets to do more fun things today…with her family.
We step outside the church to numerous congratulatory responses from our family and other members of this “town.” We don’t know them, but it’s ok. I like the idea of celebrating with the locals, although apparently one man’s had a little too much to drink.
“How did that old geezer get a nice young woman like you?” one man, who looks to be about forty says, the stench of wine on his breath even though it’s just now creeping up on noon.
I can’t tell if it’s a joke, or if this guy really has a thing for more, but it doesn’t matter. One second I don’t see Matteo as he’s off to talk to other members of the big family we created, and then the next he’s there like a heat-seeking missile…grabbing the much younger guy by the arm, twisting him, and pushing his face down toward the dirt, but not in it.
“I’ve got a tip for you, son. Don’t ever talk like that to a woman who’s already spoken for.”
“Are you serious, old man. I’m gonna kick your—” the man wiggles, trying to get free, but Matteo’s grip is like a noose in quicksand. The more the guy fights, the worse for him it gets.
“You on stem cell treatment or something?” the guy moans once it’s clear he’s not getting out of this.
“Stem cell treatment?” Matteo, very surprisedly asks. I can’t believe he’s engaging this guy’s question.
“Lots of old people take it to extend their quality of life.”
Matteo gives the guy a shove and he gets a mouthful of dirt, before dusting himself off and standing to face my man, who now has his fists up.
“I don’t need no damn stem cells. The only cells I need are the ones in my family, science guy.”
It’s only then I notice the guy has some sort of science fair shirt on. Even at eighty-seven my man is still quick as a fox and sharp as a tack.
“And if you don’t get out of here, and leave my family alone, you’re gonna wish you were in a cell instead of six feet under.”
The guy has a clear shot at Matteo, but he doesn’t put up his fists to fight. Instead he tucks his tail between his legs and just walks off, humiliated.
“Screw you grandpa,” he says, under his breath.
“It’s great-grandpa to you, loser!” Matteo shoots back, to a loud roar from our family, who knew not to jump into the fight despite the massive age difference.
“You really do still have it,” I say, moving in close to him for a kiss. “Thank you for protecting my honor.”
“If by it, you mean you, then yes…I do and always will. And you never need to thank a man for what he’s supposed to do.”
“You guys didn’t?”
They all nod, even the young ones who were about to run off and stomp on grapes.
“Kiss her!” a few of our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren yell, until it sounds like a chorus, or a chant at a sporting event.
“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Matteo says.
And just like that I feel my feet come off the ground as he scoops me up and dips me, before his lips lock down on mine.
“I’ve still got it alright. And by got it, I mean it’s never too late for number eleven.”
I almost choke mid-kiss. “Another child?
”
“When it comes to loving you, or having children, ol’ Matteo’s never done!”
“Just like I’m never done loving you.”
“My woman,” he growls.
“My man,” I say, just before the pop of numerous wine bottles rings out.
“Today’s gonna be my best birthday yet,” he says as he stares deep into my eyes, still dipping me inches from the ground.
“You say that every year.”
“Every year since I’ve had you, and all of them,” he says, his head moving in a half-circle to indicate everyone around us, yet his eyes staying locked on mine, “to celebrate with me.”
“Always together,” I say.
“Forever.”
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
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
BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS
Book 1: Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Best Friend
Book 2: Babysitter For Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Friend
Book 3: Dad’s Bratva Bear Friend
LAIRDS & LADIES
Book 1: Possessive Highlander
Book 2: Taken By The Highlander
RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD
Book 1: Brooklyn Bratva
Book 2: British Bratva
NEWSLETTER
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