Simone had been cast in an hour-long musical drama that had quickly become a huge hit across the country. The show focused on a group of Broadway stars and their life outside of the show, and she was quickly eclipsing the rest of the cast with her incredible acting skills and even better singing voice.
He was so proud of her for all her successes, and he couldn't quite figure out how she did it all. While filming the show, she had also recorded her first solo album that was set to launch next month. He'd witnessed her blood, sweat, and tears go into the record, and it was definitely some of the best he'd ever heard from her. She’d even finished her joint project with Lily Allen and it had been every bit the success that the record label producers had suspected it would be.
"Won't you still be working on the Legends soundtrack?" she asked, rubbing her thumb across the back of his hand. The smallest act, and yet his heart filled with love at everything she did.
Grant had been hired to do the soundtrack to a mixed martial arts fighter movie chronicling the rise and fall of a famous fighter from the Bronx. It was some of the most gripping work he'd ever done, capturing the grittiness and edginess of the script into the musical score. He'd had a chance to meet the fighter it was based on, Rory Kavanagh, and gotten all the inspiration he'd needed to pound out the perfect composition.
"I'll be done around the same time, give or take a few days."
"Really?" Simone turned to him, her face breaking into a smile. "Are you saying we might actually get a vacation?"
Grant wiggled his brows. "I think we will."
"Let's do it." Simone let go of his hand and then clapped her hands together. "We have worked so hard this last year. We need it."
"I agree," Grant replied, already looking forward to getting some downtime. He pointed to a large house on top of a hill in front of them. "Here's my parents’ house."
Simone gasped. "Oh, it's gorgeous, Grant. Absolutely breathtaking."
After he'd reached some success, he'd built the house for his parents to retire in. It was their dream home, and he had felt so honored he'd been able to give back to them in such a way. They'd always been there to support him his entire life, and it meant so much to him to be able to repay their many, many favors.
"Thanks." He pulled the car up the drive and parked to the side. Opening his door, he climbed out and rounded the car before opening Simone's door and escorting her out.
She smiled at him, taking his hand. "Such a gentleman."
"Outside of the bedroom," he teased, earning a light smack on the chest from Simone.
"You're impossible."
Grant chuckled, leading her up the stairs to the front door. Anticipation built inside him as he thought of what was to come. His hand felt his front pocket, triple checking that the small, square box was still there.
The front door swung open and his mother stood in the doorway. She looked exactly like he remembered from the last time he'd seen her in person when she’d visited him in prison, though there were more lines around her mouth and eyes and her hair was almost entirely gray now.
"Grant!" She reached her arms out to him. "I've been watching for you! I'm so happy to see you." They embraced and she squeezed him tightly before letting go and turning to Simone. "You must be Simone."
"I am," Simone confirmed, reaching out a hand. "It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Mercer."
His mother pushed Simone's hand to the side. "We're huggers in this family, darling. And call me Maggie."
Grant grinned at the blush on Simone's cheeks as she hugged his mother. His father quickly showed up in the front entryway as well—tall and statuesque with a permanent smile stuck to his face. Grant wasn't sure he'd ever seen his father not looking happy. The man just oozed contentment.
"Grant!" His father pulled him in for a hug as well. "Good to see you, son. Is this your lovely girl?"
Simone had finished hugging his mother, turning to her father next. She didn't even bother reaching out a hand this time and just went straight for the hug. "I'm Simone. It's wonderful to meet you."
"Call me Mark, sweetheart," he replied.
Simone lifted a brow to Grant. "Maggie and Mark Mercer? But named you Grant?"
Grant chuckled, shrugging. "I don't have any more answers than you do."
"Come in, come in." Mark gestured toward the foyer, ushering them inside. "We've got some guests here you might recognize."
"Guests?" Simone looked confused but followed them inside.
Grant hung back, closing the door behind them. He reached his hand inside his pocket, fingering the velvet box.
"Mom?" Simone suddenly squeaked out, coming to a dead stop at the entry to the living room. "Teagan? Aria? Ben? Reed? What the heck? What is going on?"
Simone's entire family, including her nieces and brand-new nephew were all standing in the living room grinning at her.
Simone whirled around to face Grant, but he had already dropped to one knee. "Grant?"
Grant opened the velvet box in his hand, revealing a large, sparkling diamond ring. "Simone, I know how much your family means to you, probably because my family means so much to me, too. So, I realized that the best way to ask you to be a part of my life forever would be to involve everyone we love. I flew your entire family here because I love them just as much as I love you. I don't just want to marry you, Simone. I want to combine our entire lives—our families, our futures. I want to walk side-by-side with you for the rest of my life." He took a deep breath, trying not to be too distracted by the tears in her eyes or the way she trembled as she looked down at him. "Simone Marie Reynolds, will you marry me?"
Simone wiped at her eyes, her head nodding. "Of course. Of course I'll marry you."
Grant grinned, getting to his feet and taking her hand in his. He slid the ring onto her finger as tears streamed down both of their faces. "I'm so fucking happy," he told her, leaning down and placing a kiss against her lips.
She tried to speak, but nothing came out, her tears still getting the better of her.
Aria was the first to give them a giant hug. "Congratulations, guys."
"Thank you," Simone finally managed to say as everyone in both of their families took turns hugging them both and congratulating them on their engagement.
"All right, time to eat!" his mother announced, showing everyone to the large dining room in front of a giant glass wall that overlooked the expansive yard and landscaping. "I cooked enough for a feast!"
Grant hung back, his arms still wrapped around Simone.
"Babe, I had no idea," she murmured against his cheek as she kissed down the line of his jaw. "I can't believe you organized all of this and I had no clue."
He chuckled, touching his lips to hers. "I've still got a few tricks up my sleeves."
"You never cease to amaze me," she teased, taking his face in her hands and kissing him harder. They pressed their lips together tightly, as if they couldn't get enough. He didn't want enough. He wanted everything. He wanted her.
Grant vowed then and there to do everything he could to make Simone feel loved and cherished every day for the rest of their lives together. He was never going to allow his life to go off the rails like it had done once before. This time, he was getting it right.
Because this time, she was just right.
Series Epilogue
This short epilogue revisits all of the Reynolds' sisters and their partners five years in the future and is the final appearance of the Reynolds family.
Aria
"I feel like I'm more nervous about today than I was for my own wedding," Aria said, turning to look at her mother where she was seated on a long chaise lounge in Aria's bedroom. Aria stood in front of the floor length mirror next to the window, overlooking the festivities in their backyard.
"Why?" Betty Reynolds replied. "You're already married. A vow renewal is basically just a sentimental party."
Aria chuckled, amused by the fact that her mother had never really gotten on board with the concept of her
marrying Ben…again. But it was the ten-year anniversary since their first wedding, and they had wanted to celebrate that milestone with their children and family.
"Mom!" Tyson, Aria's three-year-old son, came barreling into the room with his two older sisters on his heels.
He looked just like his father, and Aria loved seeing Ben's bright blue eyes on their little boy. True looked like Aria's miniature twin and was five years old now, while her older sister, Tillie, was almost nine years old and looked like the perfect cross between Ben and Aria.
Tyson threw his arms around her legs. "Mom! Mom! Guess what!"
"Baby, careful!" Aria chided, trying to keep her off-white lace dress from being ruined by sticky fingers. "What happened to the corn hole game you all were playing outside?"
"It's throwing bags in a hole, Mom," Tillie said, all the attitude of a teenage even though she was still years away. She perched one hand on her hip and tilted her head. "It's for babies."
Aria laughed. "A lot of adults play corn hole, you know. Especially when they're drinking."
"Drinking what?" True piped up. "Can I have a drink? You said we could have a soda today!"
"One soda," Aria reminded them. She tried to be as healthy as possible with her children's diets, but today was a special day and she was definitely going to let them splurge.
"All right, all right," Aria's mother interrupted, ushering the children toward the door. "Your mother has to finish getting dressed for the ceremony. Go downstairs and find your Auntie Teagan and sit with her. We're getting started soon."
"And then soda?" True asked.
Betty laughed. "And then all the soda you want."
"One soda," Aria added, because if she let her, Betty would run wild with spoiling her grandkids.
Betty ushered the children outside into the hallway, then returned to Aria's side in the mirror. Her mother was wearing a light blue two-piece skirt and blazer and looked beautifully matronly. Aria was sad that her father wasn't going to be here, but he had been at her first wedding, which was certainly a blessing. Her youngest sister, Simone, hadn't had that joy, and it had definitely been a painful moment for her on her wedding day to Grant.
"You look gorgeous," Betty said, smiling at her in their reflection. "Ben's a lucky man."
"Ten years, Ma." Aria shook her head, still barely able to wrap her mind around everywhere her life had gone in the last dozen years since she'd met Ben. "I can't believe how much has changed."
"I always knew you were destined for big things, baby girl," Betty murmured, a slight nostalgia tinting her tone. "But, man, even I couldn't have guessed what the last few years would hold."
Aria had received her third Academy Award last year, this time for playing a cancer patient who chose to end her own life in a major motion picture that had ended up winning a slew of awards, not just for Best Actress. Her non-profit that supported women's rights in Hollywood and around the globe had turned into a multi-million-dollar empire that gave back all of its profits to women in need. She'd won dozens of humanitarian awards, and earlier this year, they'd built their first school exclusively for little girls in Africa. Aria had overseen the entire project, spending quite a bit of time out there making sure their vision was executed correctly.
But as much as she'd grown and flourished over the last decade, they'd had their hardships as well. Despite the fact that they'd had three beautiful children, she and Ben had lost two pregnancies in between, and it had nearly broken her heart. Her father had passed away, as well as Ben's best friend, and agent, Arthur Atwood, who'd been like a father to him after losing his own father at a young age. They'd faced multiple tabloid scandals, most completely fabricated, and she'd hit a rocky patch in her marriage last year when all of those things seemed to happen at one time. Ben had actually gone to stay in a hotel for a few weeks, and Aria was sure her entire world was collapsing around her. And yet, with a little counseling and a lot of love and dedication, they had kept their marriage together through those rocky heartbreaks.
That was one of the reasons why today was so important to her. They'd worked hard to hit this ten-year milestone, and she wasn't going to take it for granted. She knew without a doubt now how difficult making a long-term marriage last could be. She was going to celebrate their success, because that's exactly what it was. Even with all the hardships, there was one thing that they never lost or let go of, and that was love. She loved Ben with her whole heart. He was her person, her other half, her everything, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she was his.
There was a soft knock on the door, and both women turned to see Ben sticking his head in.
A smile spread across Aria's face. "Hey."
"Hey, beautiful," he replied, smiling as well. "Betty, would you mind if I have a moment alone with my gorgeous wife?"
Betty nodded. "Okay, but the ceremony is supposed to start any minute, so don't waste any more time." She headed out the door, closing it behind her and leaving them alone.
"You're supposed to be down at the end of the aisle waiting for me," Aria teased, running her hand down the lapel of his suit. God, he looked amazing in a suit and even though he was older, small lines around his eyes and white hair on the edges of his temples, she was still as attracted to him today as she'd been the first time she met him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against his body. "I couldn't wait. I just needed to hold you."
She could feel her cheeks heating, a blush creeping over her face. The fact that he still made her giddy, still made her stomach flip-flop with butterflies all these years later…
"I can't believe it's been ten years," he murmured against her skin as he buried his face in her neck. "I love you, Aria. I love the way you still make me feel—lovesick and impulsive with need. I love the way you mother our children, the way you shower them with love and attention despite how busy our lives can be. I love the career woman you've turned into, and how you've never once let all your success go to your head. When you walk down the aisle to me today, I won't just be remarrying the young woman I met twelve years ago. I won't just be reaffirming that decision we made ten years ago to marry. I'll be remarrying the woman you are now, the woman I've decided to love every day for the last decade, the woman who has made me the man I am today. I couldn't live without you, Aria, and I would never want to."
Her heart swelled in her chest, an overwhelming feeling of affection and love bubbling up inside her as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Ben. You're my whole life. You always will be."
He kissed her, hard and full of passion, a teaser of what was to come when they were alone again.
Ben growled, and she could feel the rumble in his chest. "Let's make everyone wait a little longer…" His hand slid up her leg, sliding underneath her dress.
Aria giggled but pushed him away. "I don't think so, mister. You're going to mess up my dress."
"Might be worth it," he teased, placing kisses across her shoulder and then grabbing her waist and lifting her on to the edge of the windowsill. She didn't even care if people below could see them, though they were so high up that she doubted they could.
He slid her dress up her legs, his fingers brushing in between. She was already ready—hell, she always was when he was around. Time had done nothing to change her body's reaction to him. From the bulge pressing against the front of his suit pants, she could tell that he felt the exact same way.
She moaned, her head falling back against the glass pane. "Oh, God…"
"Is that a yes?" He kissed her again, their tongues dancing as she gripped his lapels to keep him flush against her.
"Please…" She was begging now, spreading her legs as he pushed her panties aside and unbuttoned his pants.
He positioned himself in between her legs, pressing at her entrance and then plunging inside. She held on to him as he thrust inside her at a frenzied rhythm as her climax already began building inside her.
"I'm close," he said
with a groan, his fingers gripping her hips tightly.
She panted, trying to catch her breath but quickly getting lost in her own release as it began to tip over the edge and send her spiraling down. "Oh, Ben!" She gasped as it finally hit her, and he pumped harder, reaching his own release at the same time.
They breathed hard together, their foreheads against one another as they tried to come down from the moment. Finally, he stepped back and fixed himself back into his pants as she readjusted her dress.
Ben lifted one brow, staring at her with a small half-smile.
"What?" she asked. "What's the smile for?"
His small smile widened into a wicked grin. "I love the idea of you walking down the aisle with my cum inside you."
She smacked his chest lightly. "You are such a perv."
"Only for you," he teased, giving her a wink and then kissing her. "I'll see you in a few minutes downstairs. I'll be the lucky bastard at the end of the aisle."
She kissed him back. "I love you."
"I love you more," he said before leaving.
Aria turned back to look at her reflection in the mirror, fixing her hair and makeup to try and make the last fifteen minutes not look as obvious. She was more than ready to walk down that aisle and pledge the next ten-years, and the rest of her life, to the man she loved.
Despite every role she played in her life, her favorite had always been, and would always be, Mrs. Ben Lawson.
Teagan
"Did they call you yet?" Teagan whispered to Reed where they were sitting in the second row at Aria and Ben's vow renewal. It hadn't started yet—in fact, it was running a few minutes behind.
Reed shook his head, bouncing their son, Porter, on his knee in an attempt to keep him distracted while they waited. Porter was still pretty small for his age and strangely enough, looked exactly like the young version of Teagan's father. Their daughter, Piper, was seated next to them, staying perfectly quiet since she was playing on an iPad with headphones. Technology was the best babysitter.
Sheer: A Hollywood Romance (Exposed Book 3) Page 15