“Yes, we are.” I smiled and climbed into bed in a pair of his boxers and a tee shirt that covered my ass.
“Did I tell you how sexy you look?”
“No, but thank you.”
“No, thank you.” I had a feeling sleep wasn’t coming right away.
Epilogue
James
Today was a special day for the lovely Mrs. Keaton, and I admired her from a distance as she shined brightly in her world. Elizabeth stood nearby as her assistant and gave me a wink and pressed a finger to her lips. My wife hadn’t noticed me yet.
We hired a different company to work with her because I cut all ties with my father after he refused to accept my brother’s guilt. Henry took the plea deal and was getting two years for his crimes, which I thought was fair since nothing was stolen and it taught me a valuable lesson. He was already four months into his sentence.
When her book came out, it was an instant success, and I was so damn proud that I did everything I could to help her shine. The lines were full the entire time despite the short notice about the signing, which made my heart burst for her. The agency told me it would happen because she was a bestseller, and they were right. I already had lots of security around her and the line. When I spotted who was there, I smirked and popped in front of a guy. He was pissed, but then I showed him the special badge that gave me VIP access.
I stood in line with my copy, waiting to have it signed. Of course, my personal copy was at home, but I enjoyed surprising the sexy author in front of me with her swollen stomach. As I reached her table, she asked, “Who should I make it out to?”
“‘My lord’ would be fine,” I stated, leaning a little too close, practically breathing down her neck.
“Hmm…I believe ‘my king’ would be better,” she teased back, lifting her eyes to meet mine with a neediness that almost made me drag her out of the chair.
“I love that I have been elevated in your eyes, sweetness.” I brushed my fingers against her jaw, watching the heat fill her cheeks.
“She’s married, my guy,” the guy behind me said as he tapped me on the shoulder.
“I know. Thanks for looking out.” I waved my ring at him and then bent down and kissed my wife. “I love to show my support.”
“Oh my goodness,” some woman gushed while staring at me. “You’re the perfume model.”
“Why, yes, he is, but he’s mine,” Ava stated calmly, but her tone was laced with that cool venom. I thought she might actually jump over the table.
“Wait, the amazing Ava J. Keaton is the model in the ad too,” she added. “I can’t believe it.”
“That’s how we met,” I stated, wanting everyone to know. I kissed her hand. “Now, she only has a few more minutes, so let’s get signing because she needs to get home for dinner.”
We stayed another twenty minutes for the last ten people. We had one more couple waiting, and then she was done. She’d been signing for two hours. It was a pop-up signing that our new ad agency had done at a local bookshop. The doors had been closed behind the last few and they were let out by the employees one at a time, and then my wife gasped.
“Mom, Dad.”
“Ava,” her mother whispered in tears. She ran to her daughter, who stood as they hugged. Her mother had no problem with everything. It was her father who she hadn’tforgiven easily. They were on shaky ground. He had made up the fake fiancé to send me packing, but I reminded her how we rushed everything.
When her mother finally released her, her father stepped forward and said, “I’m sorry, Princess.”
“I know, Dad.” He swallowed hard and looked at her belly with happy tears in his eyes. “I’m going to be a grandpa soon?”
“If you want to be.”
“Of course.” They cried together, and those were the only tears I’d allow my wife to have.
“How about we wrap this up and we go out to dinner? I’m sure Ava is starving.”
“I am. Elizabeth has been taking great care of me, but I couldn’t eat before because I was so nervous, and you can’t eat during.”
“Here.” I pulled her favorite snack out of my pocket.
“You hate sour gummy worms,” her father said.
