Her eyes shine when she realizes I'm not kidding.
Her fingertips trace along the edge of my jaw. “Even though I know you're probably right, maybe I should at leastpretendto play hard to get."
"No game playing. Complete honesty, always."
She grins as she tries to hold back a laugh. "Even if the games are hilarious?"
"Grumble."
Laila snorts, then snuggles against me, her thigh rolling over my hip. "How about a twenty-minute nap and then a few of those cupcakes followed by round two?"
"You got it. Best Valentine's night ever."
EPILOGUE
LAILA
* Eight Years Later *
I’m caught up in a blur of smiles and a whirlwind of people who want to shake my hand – people I know, people I don't, people I met an hour ago and have already forgotten. All I can focus on is getting out of here as quickly as possible. Finally, I escape the backstage area and head toward the rear of the hall.
When I took a job at a much larger publisher, although I enjoyed the work, I had to get used to things like networking. Looking down at the marble and bronze starburst trophy in my hand, I guess it was worth it.
I’ve just won my first literary award.
I really need to hug my family.
My gorgeous, handsome husband looks stunning as ever in his suit, sitting in a chair with two smaller versions of him standing beside either knee. Even though they look very dapper and dressed up, their dad is keeping a hand firmly on each of them.
“They were so good during the ceremony," Devin says as I lean down to give him a quick kiss while setting the trophy on a nearby table.
Chris looks up at me with big brown eyes, so similar to his father’s. "You looked very pretty on the stage, Mommy. I liked the sword thing in your hair." He’s only six but already understands the importance of genuine compliments.
"Thank you, sweetie."
I reach down to let four-year-old Wade jump into my arms. As soon as we're almost face to face, he sticks out his bottom lip. "We didn't get to go on stage with you, though."
"Sorry, love. Only the people getting the awards get to go there."
His eyes are darker than his father's, especially when he narrows them at me. "Grumble."
I burst out laughing as Devin picks up Chris with one arm and my trophy with the other. "Who's hungry?" he asks.
“Me!” the boys both squeal.
Devin grins. "Since Mommy just won the award, maybe we should let her decide where we go to eat."
I whisper into Wade's ear, then he laughs, shrieking, "Yay! Pie!"
"I guess that means we're going to Ray’s Diner?" Devin asks.
"Kid-friendly and a fabulous burger? Plus pie? It’s not even a question."
"Good point." He leans in to kiss my cheek.
As soon as we have the boys safely buckled into their car seats, Devin runs around behind the car to open my door. He uses the opportunity to kiss the daylights out of me, since the kids can't see.
“Your speech was perfect. Short, charming, and heartfelt.” His voice drops to dark smoke. “Plus, you were super sexy under those stage lights. I'm going to show you what it did to me later."
