by Ali Parker
“Absolutely not. You’re going to have to work for it.”
I laughed before pushing her on her back and rising over her. “I’m prepared to work very hard.” I prodded her with my new erection. “Ready for round two?”
“You’re crazy.”
“I’m crazy in love with my woman.”
She reached up and put a hand to my cheek. “I do love you. Although you make me crazy sometimes.”
“You’ll keep me around though, right? As long as I make sure to give you an orgasm or two every night?”
I nudged her legs open with my knee before pushing inside her again. She let out a soft sigh. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeated with a jerk of my hips.
She gasped. “Yes, I’ll keep you around.”
I bent down and kissed her. She was my everything. I knew my life was never going to be the same. I didn’t want it to be the same. I was getting by, building an empire that was fit for a queen. She was my queen. Together, we were going to take that empire to the next level. Or live on a deserted island if she chose.
I didn’t care. As long as I had her beside me, I could do anything. I would never work another day in my life if that was what she wanted me to do. I would retire tomorrow and live in a small, one-room cabin up in the mountains. In fact, the idea actually sounded very appealing. I didn’t need all the trappings of my wealth.
I only needed her.
Epilogue
Harper
One year later
I stumbled out of bed, a little bummed to find it was empty. I rubbed my eyes and went into the main room of our suite. I smiled when I saw the Christmas tree in the corner all lit up. At first, I wasn’t keen on the idea of having Christmas at the resort, but Chase convinced me he would make it special. I trusted him to do exactly that.
We only arrived back in Vail two days ago. After giving up my apartment and moving all my things to Vail, we had been traveling Europe the last three months under the guise of scouting new locations for our next resort. In reality, we had been enjoying a very long, extended vacation together. It was exciting and romantic to see the world with him. The last year, we worked on our relationship. It wasn’t all smooth sailing but every bump in the road led us to a place that was much better. I looked forward to the coming year. There were bound to be more bumps, but I was ready to tackle them with him.
“Good morning,” he said, bringing me a cup of coffee.
“Good morning to you,” I said, taking the coffee but not drinking it.
He gave me a sweet kiss. “I just made breakfast.”
I rolled my eyes. “Made breakfast?”
“Yes, I picked up the phone and had breakfast made and delivered.”
I laughed, unable to resist his charm. “Thank you. I am very hungry.”
“I thought you were going to sleep in today?”
“I tried but I missed you.”
He gave me another kiss. “I couldn’t sleep. I guess I’m like a kid on Christmas morning.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Eat. I’m going to hop in the shower. Don’t you dare open any of your gifts.”
I grinned, my eyes going to the tree that had quite the pile of gifts underneath. “It’s so tempting. It looks like Santa came while I was sleeping.”
His eyes sparkled with excitement. “Maybe he did.”
He headed for the shower. I put down the coffee and peeled the plastic away from one of the glasses of orange juice on the room-service cart. I lifted one of the lids and found a stack of buttery pancakes. I was starving. I fixed myself a plate and sat down to eat.
The man was intent on spoiling me rotten. He treated me like a queen. At first, it had been difficult to accept his many gifts. He was always getting me things. I realized it was just his way. He didn’t expect anything in return, except my love, and that, I was happy to give.
The last year was a whirlwind. After spending several days locked up in this very suite after New Year’s, we collectively agreed I would go back to work for him. He insisted I wasn’t working for him but with him. He did make me feel like I was a partner rather than an employee. Together, we were working on the rebranding idea he had started with years ago.
We spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas and then had lots of fun making those ideas come to life. I loved my job. I loved my life. I loved him.
“Good, you kept your hands out of the tree,” he said, coming out of the bedroom wearing one of the big fluffy robes.
“I did. My hands were too busy on the cart. As usual, you went overboard with your room-service order.”
“I know you like your breakfast.”
“I do.”
“Are you done eating?”
I looked down at my half-eaten stack of pancakes. “Do I have to be?”
“I’m anxious to give you your gifts. One gift in particular.”
“I’m anxious to give you your gifts, but I’m also really enjoying these pancakes. Sit and eat with me. I’m going to need a full stomach to open all those.”
He smiled and sat down. “Cori will be by this afternoon,” he announced.
“Are her and Nick in town? I thought they were checking out some plant for his new startup?”
“They did. They wrapped up early. They are coming here today and then going to Malibu tonight.”
“They seem happy,” I commented.
“They are. I just hope this latest money-making scheme Nick came up with doesn’t backfire.”
I smiled, knowing how worried he was about his sister. “It’ll be fine. He’s been working hard on this. Cori is helping him. They’re doing it together which means she is invested in it as well.”
He groaned. “That’s what worries me.”
“They’ll be fine,” I assured him. He was the consummate big brother, always trying to look after his little sister, even if she was the same age as he was.
“Are we still having dinner with Jake and Parker tonight?”
“We are,” I nodded, taking another bite of the fluffy pancakes.
“Jake has done a great job here, don’t you think?”
“Yes, he has, and he deserves the extra responsibility. He’s earned it. One of these days, he is going to be your competition.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I know. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“Feel proud. You’ve taught him well. He’s got to leave the nest eventually.”
“Or I could just make this his nest,” he offered.
“Maybe,” I replied. I wasn’t going to push that on Parker and Jake. We already knew what happened when Chase made decisions for other people. This was their life to figure out for themselves. He could certainly offer the job, but ultimately, it was up to Parker and Jake to decide.
We finished our breakfasts and moved to sit in front of the tree. Chase handed me the first of many gifts. I truly was spoiled. I opened one after the other. His face was so full of love and joy. He genuinely loved to give. If it made him happy, I was happy to take every one of them. He opened the gifts I gave him. It was a back and forth of thank yous and plenty of kisses.
He handed me the last gift under the tree. “This is the important one,” he said.
I smiled and took the small box. My jewelry box was already overflowing with the many pieces of jewelry he gifted me with. I couldn’t wait to see what he picked out this time. I took the top off and saw a small black velvet box inside. I dumped it out and opened the box to find a gorgeous diamond ring with emeralds on either side. At first, I assumed it was a ring to match the earrings and necklace he gave to me a year ago.
When I looked up at him, he was smiling. “Do you like it?”
“Absolutely. It’s beautiful.”
He took the box from my hand and removed the ring. He held it in his fingers, still looking at me. “This isn’t just a ring. This is a symbol of my love for you. A symbol of the commitment I want to make with you. I love you with every ounce of my heart and soul. I
never want to be apart. I want us to wake up beside each other every day for the rest of our lives. I want to walk through this life with you by my side. I want you to be my wife. Harper Lincoln, it has taken us eleven years to get here but here we are. Will you please marry me? I promise to be the man you need and the man you want. I will stumble, and I will screw up, but I will always try to be the man you deserve.”
I could barely see him through the tears welling in my eyes. I bobbed my head up and down. “Yes. Oh god, yes. I want to be your wife. I cannot wait to be your wife. I’ll make plenty of mistakes, I’m sure, but I will try to be the best wife possible.”
He leaned forward and hugged me. He slid the ring on my finger. Both of us stared down at my hand adorned with the new symbol of our love. We shared a sweet kiss before I gently pushed him back to his seat on the floor.
“I have one more gift for you,” I told him.
He looked to the tree that was devoid of gifts. “Is it a pony?” he asked with a laugh.
“Not quite,” I replied and lifted the tree skirt and pulled out the envelope I hid under the blue velvet material last night. I handed it to him.
He held it in his hands, looking at me with confusion.
“Open it,” I encouraged. I had been dying to give him the envelope but made myself wait until today. I wanted to give him a gift he would never forget.
He slowly ran his finger under the flap and pulled out the single picture inside. I was fighting the urge to laugh as he turned it to the side and then up and down again. I saw the moment he realized he was staring at an ultrasound picture.
His eyes widened and his face paled.
He looked at me, shaking his head. “No way.”
I nodded. “Yes way. You knocked me up.”
“Seriously?” he exclaimed. “No way.”
I laughed again. “Yes, stud, you did it.”
“I didn’t think it would happen so fast,” he breathed, staring down at the picture.
“Me either. I guess you’re a little more potent than we both suspected.”
“We’re going to have a baby,” he whispered.
“Yes, we are. I hope you haven’t changed your mind. I know we were thinking we had a few months, but I guess fate had other plans.”
“Good. I’m so happy. I’m stunned. Don’t take my lack of words for anything except overwhelming joy.”
I knew he would be happy. He was the one who’d broached the baby subject. We talked about it, and after some discussion, we both agreed we were ready. My doctor said it would take some time for my body to get into a normal cycle after stopping the birth control. Clearly, my ovaries had other plans.
I thought I saw a tear slide down his cheek as he stared at the little nugget growing in my belly. He put the picture down and got to his feet, helping me to stand as well. His arms came around me, hugging me close but not overly tight.
“I love you so much,” he said with emotion in his voice. “I am thrilled to be starting this next chapter of our life together. This is our destiny. I always knew you would be the mother of my children.”
“I’m very happy I get to be the mother of your children.”
“And my wife,” he reminded me.
“Absolutely.”
“Wow,” he said with a nervous laugh. “We’ve got a lot to do. We have to search for a house. We have to decide where we’re going to live. And the resort in Europe? We should put that on hold.”
“Hey,” I said, cupping his face in my hand. “This isn’t going to happen tomorrow. We’ve got some time. It will all work out.”
He smiled, leaning forward to drop a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Yes, it will. I’m going to be the best husband and father you could wish for. You will never want for a thing. I’m going to take care of you.”
“I know you will.”
“This is the best Christmas ever. I thought last Christmas was, but this tops it by a mile.”
I agreed with him. “Until next year,” I said with a laugh. “Next year, it will be our baby’s first Christmas.”
His eyes widened again. “Oh my god, you’re right. I’m going to apologize now, but this baby is going to be spoiled. We have to get a house. I want a huge tree, like the one in the lobby. I want our families there. I want to share our joy.”
“I think that sounds like a great idea. For now, though, I think we should take advantage of the time we have together. Pretty soon, these little moments are going to be few and far between. I want you.”
I reached for his robe and untied the sash. He was naked underneath, just the way I liked him. He untied my robe as well, pushing it off my shoulders. His hand reached for my stomach. “I can’t believe he or she is in there. I can’t wait to meet him or her.”
I kissed him, sharing my excitement for our new lives together. He took my hand and started toward the bedroom.
“I wonder if it will be twins,” he said offhandedly.
It was my turn for my eyes to widen. My hand went to my stomach. The initial fear faded as his firm hand tightened around mine. There was nothing to fear with him beside me.
We could handle anything together.
The End
We need more love! I’m chanting. Are you? Lucky for us… There’s MOAR!
Check out book 1 in the Business of Love Series, Talk Dirty To Me!
A woman in the business of love that’s never been in a real relationship.
Check. That’s me. Nessa Night.
Now I know what you’re thinking. That sounds like a stripper name.
Hold up. Let me explain.
It’s my radio talk-show name. My incognito way of helping the world love deeper and more often.
Though my love life is like a ten-year-old fall leaf trapped between the pages of an old journal. #dramatic
I’m short. Curvy. Average at best.
And I’m a fraud.
For all the advice I give on the air, I have zero experience to back it up. I’m eternally single. Forever alone.
And the only man I’ve ever caught feelings for is one of my callers: Mr No Name.
Much to my surprise, he’s not unknown at all.
The grandson of the great Jack Daniels is my caller, and worse? He’s my brother’s best friend from high school.
Only one way to right these increasingly awkward wrongs.
High school reunion time. He wants in, and I want a date who looks like him.
The only thing off is his advice about love. It’s from Nessa night. Me!
And if he swoons over her (me!) one more time, I’ll have to give in and tell him.
Besides, I’m in the business of love.
If I don’t got this, who does? *Gulp*
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About the Author
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary and new adult romance writer with more than a hundred and twenty books behind her. She loves coffee, watching a great movie and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. The man is hot. Hello.
She’s a creative at heart and loves coming up with more ideas than any one person should be allowed to access. She lives in Tennessee with her hubs, teenage son, two grown daughters and first grand baby (yes!). Telling a good story that revives hope, reminds us of love and gives a vacation from life is all she’s up to.
Questions, comments or concerns? You can always email her at [email protected].
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Copyright © 2020 by Ali Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Eric Martinez
Cover Designer: Ryn Katryn Digital Art