“You have another baby boy!” the EMT says, wrapping him in a blanket and laying him on my chest.
My eyelids feel thick and heavy, and my vision is blurry with tears. My entire body feels weak. I lay back and look over at the baby on my chest. He’s perfect with his dark hair, tanned skin, and blue eyes. He has a small dimple on his chin, just like his daddy.
When we make it to the hospital, we’re taken in, and the three of us are cleaned up before being placed in a room together. The babies pass all their inspections. They’re completely healthy while having all their fingers and toes.
Trent hands me a baby, and he attaches easily. Then he hands me the other to feed at the same time.
“We have to think of some names for these little guys,” Trent says.
I laugh. “I never thought I’d be the mom of twin boys.”
I look at my boys, trying to think of names. “How about I name one, and you name the other?”
Trent nods. “I like that idea.”
“Okay, the baby on my left will be Tucker Michael.”
“And the baby on your right will be Tanner Scott,” Trent says.
“Tucker and Tanner. I like it,” I say with a smile.
“Me too,” he whispers, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Our first night in the hospital, we spend it alone, just me, Trent, and the boys. But the following day, everyone comes to visit and hold the boys for the first time. Maddie and Bennet come in with their new daughter, Sandra, who they call Sandy for short. Maddie holds the baby girl while Bennet leans over, checking out the boys.
“I say we try for a boy next time,” Bennet tells Maddie.
Maddie smiles. “A boy, huh?”
Bennet nods with a wide smile. “Well, you better start praying because I’m pregnant,” she announces.
We all cheer. “When did you find out?” I ask.
“This morning. I haven’t even been to the doctor yet. I took an at-home test.”
“Are you serious?” Bennet asks, his smile only growing bigger by the moment. He closes the distance between them, and she nods. “Yes!” He kisses her deeply, making me want to look away to give them a moment. “Thank you so much, baby,” he whispers against her lips.
Her face is red when he pulls away, but she shrugs. “We’re going to be one big, happy family,” she says, looking at the baby girl in her arms.
I feel the threat of tears coming on, and I don’t bother holding them back. I can’t wait to move into our new house with our boys, get closer with all of our friends who are now neighbors, and have everyone grow up like family.
I look around at everyone in the room that means so much to me, and I feel my heart begin to swell with love. I don’t know what I did in my life, but whatever it is, I’m glad I fought every fight I did. Everything good, bad, and in between lead me to this moment. It led me down this road and gave me the life I have now. A life that would’ve been so different if Trent and I hadn’t gotten hammered and married in Vegas one crazy night.
Epilogue
Mia
LOST NIGHT IN VEGAS
* * *
“HELP!” I call out when Trent passes out. It seems like everyone in the building crowds around us, checking his pulse and breathing.
Levi smacks him across the face a couple of times, and Trent’s eyes open. “Stop, man,” he complains while smacking Levi back.
Levi laughs. “He’s fine. He’s just drunk. Come on, let’s get him up to his room. Levi and Bennet each take one of Trent’s arms and hang them over their shoulders. I follow them up to unlock the room and help get him into bed. They toss him, and he lands on the bed with a thunk.
“You got him?” Levi asks as they head for the door.
“Yeah, I’ll be back down soon,” I tell them, moving to take Trent’s shoes off. I remove his socks and shoes and toss them onto the floor. I then grab a trash can and put it next to him and leave out a bottle of water and some Tylenol for when he wakes up. I press a kiss on his forehead before leaving the room.
Back in the casino, I order a mixed drink and join everyone just as they’re taking a round of shots. I toss one back and chase it with a sip of my fruity mixed drink. Maddie, Jazz, Val, and I end up moving around the casino on our own. We play the slots, 21, and this other game that I lose because I have no idea how to play, but more importantly, we drink. And we drink a lot! We have pitchers of margaritas with shots of tequila interlaced. When my vision is more than doubling, and it feels like my stomach is rolling, I decide I better head to the room.
“Guys, I’m about to puke my weight in alcohol. I’m going to bed,” I tell the group with only a slight slur to my words.
“That’s a good idea,” Levi says, grabbing Dani’s hand. Dani jerks her hand away, not realizing that it’s Levi.
She laughs when he gives her a sidelong look. “Sorry, honey. I thought you were Maddie again. She’s been trying to hold my hand all night.”
Maddie giggles. “Sorry. I’m just so used to Bennet being the one standing by me.”
We all laugh as we head for the elevator, and we all walking into our rooms at the same time. When I close the door behind me, I’m surprised that I can’t see Trent’s feet at the foot of the bed. I rush deeper into the room to find the bed empty. Suddenly, the bathroom door opens, and he walks out.
“I’ve never puked so much in my life,” Trent says, falling back onto his bed.
I sit on the edge of mine and breathe deeply. I nod my head. “Yeah, I have a feeling I’m going to be spending my evening the same way.”
He looks over at me with a grin. “You can’t get hungover if you don’t stop drinking.”
I laugh so hard I fall over. “That’s the worst advice I’ve ever heard. You want me to get alcohol poisoning?”
He waves his hand through the air, dismissing the idea. “That only happens in the movies.” He stands, opens the fully restocked minibar, and grabs all the bottles, dropping them onto the bed. “Come on. Let’s finish our game.”
I giggle at the prospect of learning all his deep, dark secrets. “Okay,” I agree.
I pick up a bottle and unscrew the lid. “How do you really feel about me?” I ask.
He smirks. “I think you know damn well how I feel.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Fine. I love you. Are you happy now? I’ve been in love with you since the moment I met you.”
My mouth drops. He loves me?
“Now, how do you feel about me?” He raises his brow.
I laugh. “I love you too, stupid! How could you not know that by now?”
He laughs. “I thought you hated me.”
“I do! Because I love you, and I want to be with you, but you always run off, leaving me sad and alone.”
He nods. “I know, and I’m sorry.”
“So… stop.”
“Stop what? Hurting you or leaving you?”
“Both,” I blurt out.
He chuckles. “I’ve thought about this for a long time. The only way I can figure out to not hurt you is to not be with you.”
“Don’t leave. Or at least, take me with you!”
His face goes slack when I say that. Like I’ve put an idea in his head. “You want to go with me? Live out of hotels, bounce from country to country?”
“For you? I’d do anything.”
He leans forward, pressing his mouth to mine. He kisses me deeply and passionately. My hands move up to wrap around his neck, pulling myself closer. His hands find my hips as he pulls me onto his lap, where our kiss grows more urgent. My breathing is thick and heavy as his hands travel up my body.
He pulls away. “Marry me,” he whispers against my lips.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“Marry me. Then we can travel the world together.”
“But… how?”
“Come on. We’ll figure it out.” He takes my hand in his and pulls me from the room. We stumble from the room and into th
e elevator. He pushes the button, and the doors close. One second later, my back is against the wall with his lips on mine. His hands cup my cheeks, and he deepens the kiss. My hands tangle into his hair, pulling him closer. I need him. I don’t know if it’s because of what we’re about to do or if it’s because everything is finally out in the open and we can be together. But either way, I need him, now, completely.
The doors open, and he pulls away, tugging me from the elevator down into the casino. He walks around, looking from one way to the next.
“What are you looking for?”
“Someone to marry us,” he says.
I laugh. “And how do you expect to find that? We don’t even have a license.”
“Excuse me, sir. This beautiful lady here and I are looking to get married. Do you know anyone who could help us?”
He shakes his head and keeps walking.
He must have asked twenty different people, all of whom give the same answer.
Finally, he decides we need to split up. I go in one direction while he goes in another. I, however, don’t ask anyone. It’s a crazy thought. There are laws in place to keep drunk people like us from doing this. I don’t know why he thinks it will be so easy to get around.
Ten minutes later, Trent comes back with a man.
“Guess what?”
“What?” I ask.
“This is Mr. Taylor. He owns the jewelry store down the street.”
I smile and shake his hand. “That’s great.”
Tyler nods. “Yeah, and his son works at the courthouse. He can easily get us a license and be our witness.”
My mouth drops open. “Seriously?”
He nods.
“Let’s go!”
I take Trent’s hand, and we follow Mr. Taylor out of the casino, down the road, and to his shop. He unlocks the door and lets us inside, showing us all his best pieces. It doesn’t take long for us to pick rings.
“So, how can we get in touch with your son at this hour?”
“He’s right upstairs. I’ll see if he’s up,” Mr. Taylor says, rushing up a set of stairs that’s behind the glass counter.
I spin around to face Trent. “Are we really doing this? We’re getting married!”
He laughs as he pulls me against his chest. “That’s right. You’re going to be mine for the rest of your life.” His lips land on mine as his hands find my ass.
He squeezes, and it makes me squeal.
“These are the people that need the marriage license,” Mr. Taylor says as he comes down the stairs with a man behind him.
The tall, thin man with dark hair holds out his hand. “You folks wanting to get hitched?”
“That’s right. Can you help us out?” Trent asks.
“For the right price.”
“How much?” I ask.
“How much you got?” he counters.
Trent pulls out his checkbook. “As much as you want,” he says, sounding cocky.
The man laughs. “There can be no paper trail, my friend. Cash only. How much do you have?”
Trent starts pulling wads of cash out of his pockets. Slowly, he counts it out. “I have three hundred.”
“Sold,” the man says, bending down and getting something out of one of the desk drawers.
We give him all our information for the license, and he sits behind a computer, typing it all up. Moments later, he prints it off, stamps it, and slides it over. “I’ll file this at the courthouse on Monday morning with a future date and get a $70 money order for the processing fee.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” he agrees.
“Thanks,” Trent says, slightly falling to the side when he tries to shake his hand. A fit of giggles washes over me.
The walk back to the hotel doesn’t take but a few minutes and the ceremony isn’t long at all. We get married by Elvis and say traditional vows, exchange rings, and kiss. Minutes after, we’re back in the elevator, molded together as one.
He carries me from the elevator to the room where we fall into bed in a mess of clothing, sheets, and wandering hands.
“I love you, wife.”
“I love you too, husband,” I giggle as I slide down onto his hard length.
His hands hold my hips, lifting me up before pushing me back down. My ring sparkles when it catches the light as I move my hand around to the back of his neck. Our tongues dance together in unison as our bodies give and take everything they need from the other.
When he flips me over and slams into me from behind, my release washes over me like never before. Something between us is different. There’s friendship. There’s understanding. But now, there’s love, a love that’s always been there but now has been set free.
Trent and I, we’re married, and now we get to live the rest of our lives together. Where he goes, I’ll go. I’ll never have to watch him walk away again. I’ll never be left hurting or lonely. From now on, we’re a team. And I couldn’t be happier.
He empties himself into me with a rough thrust and a loud groan. His heart is pounding against my chest as his rushed breathing tickles my neck.
“Fuck, Mia,” he breathes out.
“We get to do this every day for the rest of our lives,” I tell him with a grin.
He lets out a deep chuckle. “I’m going to hold you to that.” He removes himself from me and lays at my side. I curl into him, resting my head on his chest. My leg drapes over his, and my arm rests on his stomach. “You think we’ll make it?” I ask.
“Make what?” he questions, not understanding my question.
“Do you think we’ll make it or end in divorce?”
He laughs and squeezes me tighter. “I finally have you. I’m never letting you go.” He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. Moments later, I hear his deep, even breathing. The sound of his heart lulls me into a deep sleep. His heat is warm and inviting, and I never want to wake up from this dream we’re in.
IF YOU LOVED Best Friend’s Baby, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER!
*****
It’s no secret I’ve always had a crush on my best friend’s older brother.
* * *
Damon Strickland, the center of every single one of my fantasies.
He’s a walking, talking temptation.
That cocky grin and those broad, athletic shoulders.
You know what they say about a man with big hands right?
Also by Alexis Winter
Slade Brothers Series
Billionaire’s Bride
Baby Secret
Loves me NOT
Best Friend’s Sister
* * *
Castille Hotel Series
Hate That I Love You
Business & Pleasure
Baby Mistake
Fake It
* * *
South Side Boys Series
Bad Boy Protector-Book 1
Fake Boyfriend-Book 2
Brother-in-law’s Baby-Book 3
Bad Boy’s Baby-Book 4
* * *
Mountain Ridge Series
Just Friends: Mountain Ridge Book 1
Protect Me: Mountain Ridge Book 2
Baby Shock: Mountain Ridge Book 3
* * *
**ALL BOOKS CAN BE READ AS STAND-ALONE READS WITHIN THESE SERIES**
About the Author
Alexis Winter is a contemporary romance author who loves to share her steamy stories with the world. She specializes in billionaires, alpha males and the women they love.
* * *
If you love to curl up with a good romance book you will certainly enjoy her work. Whether it's a story about an innocent young woman learning about the world or a sassy and fierce heroin who knows what she wants you,'re sure to enjoy the happily ever afters she provides.
When Alexis isn't writing away furiously, you can find her exploring the Rocky Mountains, traveling, enjoying a glass of wine or petting a cat.
You can find her books on Amazon or h
ere: https://www.alexiswinterauthor.com/
His Every Desire (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 72
