“Everything all right, baby?” Harrison pulls me into his side.
I nod. “Everything is perfect.”
The band slows down, and there is an announcement that cocktail hour is now over, and we should take our seats, along with removing our masks if we choose.
I glance at Harrison in hisPhantom of the Operamask while he traces my butterfly one. “Let’s keep them on for a little while longer.” He moves in and whispers against my mouth. “These masks remind me that if you take chances in life, you may encounter something incredible, and tonight, they will bring me lifelong memories.”
I smile against his lips. I love this man.
For so long, after my accident, I was worried I would struggle to find my purpose again. I went along with life, not truly living. Only I had to wait a little longer to find out that two people, a gorgeous older man, and the most precious little girl, would flip my world around and give me life again.
EPILOGUE
Juliette
One Week Later
With a hot chocolatein my hand and a sleeping Claud in my lap, I rock back and forth in my chair, watching the snow fall over Aspen Mountain. It’s serene and calming, and I can see why Harrison and his brothers love to spend the holiday season here.
It’s Christmas Eve, and Harrison and I arrived in Aspen, Colorado, earlier today to meet the whole family—Claudina, Nate, Leo, Seb, Rosa, Javier, Mom, and, of course, Becks.
We’d been on our honeymoon in Napa Valley for the last five days and stayed in a small, quaint town called St. Helena.
We left soon after the wedding, which happened to be my twenty-fifth birthday, and had the trip of a lifetime.
Harrison knew the owners of a few vineyards, so it was a special treat to get private tours from them. We also explored new-to-us wines around the Napa region, relaxed at the spa, and even did a sunrise hot-air balloon ride.
And of course, the only thing Harrison cared about was the sex…lots of sex.
The hotel cottages were perched high up on a hillside, and ours looked into the most beautiful valley, with lush vegetation and vines growing along the slopes.
It was lavish, and the resort décor was exotic…five-star all the way. Not that Harrison knows how to do anything less.
He originally wanted to go somewhere secluded, with beaches, but I wanted to do something unique we wouldn’t normally do with Claud. So we compromised and did Napa in the winter, and we’ve booked a family trip to the South of France this summer, where Harrison has us staying on a mega yacht.
A yacht…a freaking yacht!
We’re going to hold a small party while we’re there to celebrate our nuptials with my French family. With such short notice, only my aunt, Mom’s sister, and two cousins could make it.
“Hey, baby,” Harrison calls out.
“Shhh. She’s sleeping.”
He kisses the top of my head and takes a sleeping Claud from my arms. “I’m going to put her to bed. Meet me in the living room. My brothers and I want to give you your Christmas gift tonight.”
“Gift as in singular?” I widen my eyes, excited. It must be good if they are all chipping in together. “Is it a puppy?” I ask excitedly.
He shakes his head, ignoring me, and walks upstairs toward Claudina’s room. He can’t say no to me for long. We’re going to get a puppy. I know it.
“Oh, good,” I say to Nate as he lights the fire in the fireplace. “I’m frozen from sitting by those windows.”
“Here.” Leo hands me his blanket, then gets himself another.
“Thanks.” I sit on the floor with my back against the couch and call Skye over to lie with me. Harrison walks into the room, scoots me forward, and sits behind me, pulling me back into his chest.
It’s just the guys and me. I’m not sure where everyone else is, but when Nate’s done and sits in the chair across from me, I can feel the air change.
Leo walks over and hands me a thin box tied with a bow. “Merry Christmas, Juliette.”
