“No, I already know the answer, it’s just what’s going to happen.”
“Well, I like a man with confidence.”
Derek chuckles. “I’m glad. Now, let’s go inside so I can show you how much confidence I have.”
Epilogue
Teagan
One year later
“I’m so nervous I could pee,” I say to my husband as we’re waiting in the back room.
Derek kisses my temple. “You’re going to do great.”
“Easy for you to say.”
He’s not the one who will be judged today in front of hundreds of people. I had to paint an extra ten paintings for this opening. Mr. Sterling believes we’ll sell all twenty-five that are being showcased.
“It is easy because I know how talented you are. I know how hard you worked to give this gallery what they wanted, even if it meant you were in that studio while I was getting rid of the dolls, which seemed to multiply.”
There wasn’t a choice in the matter. Mr. Sterling is also a romantic and offered to still showcase my paintings, but allow me to do it remotely. Of course that came after three other galleries were posting that they were interested as well, but I felt after leaving him in the lurch, it was the least I owed him.
Plus, he came with the best offer.
Derek and I agreed to spend our family honeymoon in Palm Beach and took the very nice check the gallery offered for rights to my next ten paintings.
I smile at the man I love more than anything. “You and I both benefited from my hard work, otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to hire the contractor to put on the addition.”
While that house was perfect, it was a bedroom and bathroom short. The girls are getting along, but asking them to share a bedroom was going to put an end to all the progress they’d made. We used my first check to put an extension on the house, giving us another two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
It was the best decision we ever made, other than putting the ugliest couch in history as the centerpiece for my art room. Each day I’m inspired to not create anything that horrible, but then I remember how loved it is, like the people in my life.
“Yes, and I never thought we’d survive the construction.”
It took freaking forever to be done, but the last three months have been bliss. “But we did, and now the four of us are living under one roof.”
“Now we need to build them separate houses so they stop bickering…”
I laugh and nod. He’s not wrong, but they get along so much better, now that they’re in high school.
“Well,” I say as I wrap my arms around his middle. “I would like that for other reasons.”
Derek grins. “And what might that be, wife?”
“I think you know.”
“I could use a little help to be sure.”
“Could you?”
He brings his lips close. “I could.”
“How about I give you a hint?”
I love when we are playful like this, which is pretty much all the time. We haven’t had any big fights, not even when the girls are wearing on us. Each day that we’re together, we seem to just enjoy. After spending so many years apart, wishing we could be together, it’s impossible for us to be angry, because we’re finally a family.
“Does it have to do with my impressive and thorough skills in bed?”
I nod. “Oh, most definitely.”
“And would it have to do with the fact that you have to bite on pillows when I’m using said skills?”
“You’re rather impressed with your skills, husband.”
He brushes his lips against mine. “Are you not?”
I kiss him softly. “I’m very impressed.”
“Good.”
“Do you want to kiss me?” I ask.
“I always want to kiss you.” I know the feeling. He’s highly addictive and makes me always want more. “However, if I kiss you, I might not stop and then your dress will be wrinkled and you’ll be pissed.”
Would I? I mean, sex with my husband is a good reason for a wrinkled dress. Then I remember that people are going to want to talk, shake hands, and hopefully buy my art, which would give me the opportunity for another showcase.
“You’re right. But tonight…”
He does in fact kiss me, but is careful not to mess my clothes or hair. “Tonight, I’m going to rip this dress off of you and wrinkles will be the least of your concerns.”
I like the sound of that.
I give him a quick peck and take a step back. “I’m really looking forward to that.”
He walks close, takes my hand in his. “I’m really looking forward to the rest of our life.”
Me too, because with Derek Hartz by my side, there’s nothing I can’t do. And that’s something real.
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Acknowledgments
To my husband and children. You sacrifice so much for me to continue to live out my dream. Days and nights of me being absent even when I’m here. I’m working on it. I promise. I love you more than my own life.
My readers. There’s no way I can thank you enough. It still blows me away that you read my words. You guys have become a part of my heart and soul.
My editor, Amy Pierpont, and the entire Forever team, thank you for making this book everything I dreamed of.
My agent, Kimberly Brower, I am so happy to have you on my team. Thank you for your guidance and support.
My beta reader, Melissa Saneholtz: Dear God, I don’t know how you still talk to me after all I put you through. Your input and ability to understand my mind when even I don’t blows me away. If it weren’t for our phone calls, I can’t imagine where this book would’ve been. Thank you for helping me untangle the web of my brain.
Christy Peckham: I couldn’t imagine my life without you. You keep me on track in a way that no one else could.
Melanie Harlow, thank you for being the good witch in our duo or Ethel to my Lucy. Your friendship means the world to me and I love writing with you. I feel so blessed to have you in my life.
Bait, Stabby, and Corinne Michaels Books—I love you more than you’ll ever know.
About the Author
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed—reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
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Corinne Michaels, All I Ask
All I Ask Page 28
