The Perfect Holiday

by Mia Ford

  “I don’t think that’s where that goes, little panda bear,” I said, pulling it out and shaking it. “Make beautiful music, Lily.”

  We sat there on the floor, letting the sun shine brightly over us, bringing the house to life for the first time since we closed on it. Sure, we didn’t have it fully furnished yet, and the boxes were still packed tightly, but I realized in that moment that none of that was what made a house a home. Inside these walls were two people that I loved with all of my heart, and what made the house really feel like a home were the sounds and feelings that were bursting through the open spaces. The sounds of Lily squealing and shaking her rattle, the laughter coming from deep inside Bea, and the chuckles that I couldn’t seem to get over when I was with them. Everything about who we were as a family unit made anywhere we went feel like home, as long as we were together when we did it.

  Bea laughed and cooed at Lily, and I watched her interact with our daughter. It was like she was made to be a mother, someone who cared deeply for her child and wanted everything that she could give her to be perfect. She shined brighter than I had ever seen her shine when she was with Lily, and that warmed my heart. I had never thought in a million years that I would be settled down, buying a house, and working for one man, but this was the best thing that could have happened for me. In the end, it was also the best thing to happen to Glen.

  When I told him, he was ecstatic, revealing to me that he had proposed to his girlfriend. He was going to talk to me about it when he got back. This got him off the hook, and we just dissolved the company. My days of traveling, living out of hotel rooms, and eating bad room service were finally over. At that moment, from where I was standing, that was an amazing thing, but if you had asked me two years before, I would have laughed you all the way down the slope.

  I reached out and grabbed Bea’s hand, thinking about all the time I had spent in agony, wishing and hoping that she would find her way back into my arms. I pulled her close, lifting her up into my lap. She sat sideways, blowing kisses to Lily and turning to me, wrapping her hands around my neck. Her eyes shimmered under the light of the sun cascading over her face, the light reflecting off the streaks of red naturally intertwined in her long, brown hair. She smiled at me and leaned in, kissing me on the cheek. I smiled back and shook my head, taking in a deep breath.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing.” I smirked. “You know, I really love you.”

  “Thank you.” She laughed.

  “No, I mean it. I love you without even the shadow of a doubt lurking nearby. There has not been one moment since New Year’s Eve that I questioned my feelings for you and how deep they truly run. You are the woman of my dreams.”

  “You are the man of mine, figuratively and literally.” She laughed. “And I love you, too.”

  I smiled and leaned in, kissing her lips and holding her tightly, my head resting on her chest. I listened as her heart beat steadily inside, pulsing the amount of love she had in her heart out into everyone within close range. It was amazing to me that over a year after she captivated me with her smile and her charm, she was still doing that today. I never got tired of her voice, of her giggles, and of her warmth. I never got tired of coming home and seeing her there by my side, excited to have me back home. I already knew that in the blink of an eye, fate had given me everything I needed in my life, but I just refused to acknowledge it at the time. There wasn’t a single part of me that missed my old lifestyle, not even for a second. I knew now that the men that complained about being in a committed relationship because they missed their freedom were never really in love with the other person. It took a cosmic connection, a partnership, and emotions that I couldn’t control if I wanted to, to make me never want to go back to my old life ever again.

  I loved Bea, and I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us.

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  Bea

  I tossed my towel over my shoulder and walked into the kitchen, laughing as Lily sat up and giggled at the cartoon on the screen. I turned back to the sink and finished rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher. I had finally found a rhythm between work, keeping up with the house, and taking care of Lily all day. Of course, I never had to do it alone. Cameron was on point every time he came home from work. He knew that I worked hard, too, and instead of treating me like a housewife, like Grant had done a lifetime ago, Cameron split everything with me, making sure we were partners and equals in our relationship. Truth be told, I loved having my little family. It was exactly I’d always wanted and more. The love I had for Cameron just kept growing, even when I thought I couldn’t love him any more than I already did.

  Work was amazing, and they found that I had a real knack for writing romance. Not only was I still ghostwriting, but I had put out my own series of chick-lit with the publishing company. It was doing amazing, and this last book had hit the top ten within hours of going on sale. I never actually thought I would enjoy writing romance, but now that I wasn’t bitter and unhappy with my life, I had a lot to pull from. The first story I wrote was actually about my journey with Cameron, only I changed the names and added a few extra romantic gestures for the readers that liked the overload of love and mush. Cameron thought it was funny, and he read every book that I put out.

  I looked over at Lily as I reached up to put away the coffee mugs. She was sitting quietly, playing with her new blocks with drool just dripping all down her chin. The poor girl was teething, and it was keeping her, and us, up at nights. I loved watching her grow, being so amused and enchanted by the smallest things in life. Lily reminded me to slow down, to take in the moment to moments, and to really stop and be thankful for everything that was around me. She made me see the world with a new light and a new curiosity, just like she did every day. I was almost jealous at how new everything was for her, and she wasn’t tainted by the Grants of the world quite yet. My hopes were that she would grow up to be strong and independent enough to never fall for the Grants of the world.

  The house phone rang just as I was thinking about that, and I walked over and picked it up. The caller ID was from the resort, and I figured Cameron was calling to check in on his lunch break. Sometimes, he would call ahead, and I would fix lunch so that we could sit down together and eat. It was a nice treat, especially right now when the resort was getting ready for the normal end of October winter weather. The jump off to ski season was right around the corner, and I was happy for Cameron because that meant he could start teaching again.

  “Hello?” I answered.

  “Hey Bea, it’s Brian,” he said.

  “Oh, hey, Brian. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, yes,” he replied, calming my nerves. “I was calling to ask you if you would pack up Lily and come up to the resort? Cameron needs you up here.”

  “Um, okay,” I said, looking over at Lily. “What’s this all about?”

  “Honestly, I really don’t know,” he said, sounding suspicious. “I was just asked to give you a call and have you come up. Do you want me to send a car?”

  “Um, no, I can drive,” I replied. “Give me about fifteen minutes, and we’ll be over.”

  “Great, see you soon,” he said, hanging up before I could ask any more questions.

  I clicked off the phone and looked down at it with curiosity. Why in the world would Cameron need Lily and me to come to the resort in the middle of the day on a Tuesday? I shrugged my shoulders and walked into the living room, scooping up Lily and taking her upstairs to get ready. I brushed my hair and threw on a t-shirt and jeans with a light jacket. I changed Lily’s diaper and packed a diaper bag full, just in case we ended up being there all day. Before I left her room, I checked my phone to see if Cameron had texted me. It was so strange and so very vague, but I had agreed to come, so I figured why not?

  I slung the diaper bag over my shoulder and picked Lily up, carrying the car seat out and snapping it into its base. I fastened Lily in, realizing she may be
getting ready to move up a size in car seats, and I shook my head and sighed, wishing she would slow down already. I went around the car and climbed in, starting it and pulling down the driveway. We only lived about ten minutes from the resort, but in the opposite direction of the town, so the view was beautiful, and the drive was always pleasant.

  As I made my way there, my mind skipped all over the place, from worrying that something was wrong, to wondering what in the world Cameron was up to. It wasn’t often that we surprised each other with anything, except maybe an extra hour of sleep on the weekends. Nonetheless, I needed to turn off my brain. I didn’t want to ruin whatever it was that he had in store. When I got to the resort, I parked the car and lifted Lily out of her seat, putting her on my side and grabbing the diaper bag. As I walked forward, I saw some bright neon yellow signs stuck in the ground, which was not at all like the resort. They were very neat and orderly all the time. As I got closer though, I realized that the message written on the sign was for me.

  “Bea, turn right here,” the sign read.

  I turned right, looking around to see if I could see anyone, but I was all alone. I followed the stone steps down the side of the building and stopped at the next sign. Cameron had planned something, but I couldn’t possibly imagine what for. It wasn’t our anniversary or my birthday.

  “Keep going until you reach ‘our spot,’” the next sign read.

  I took a deep breath and smiled, thinking about the courtyard where we had made all the most important decisions in our lives. Even when we decided to buy the house, we brought the papers to the bench and sat there reading them, enjoying the warmer spring temperatures. When I rounded the corner, I stopped, frozen in my tracks. I looked around the courtyard in awe at the paper flowers that had been strung through all the branches of the trees. The iron bench that we normally sat on was covered in a red cloth, and there was a sign that read, “Stop here.” I turned and looked at Brian, standing at attention in his tux.

  “This way, madam,” he said, offering his arm and walking us over to the bench.

  He nodded his head and walked back to his position, staring off at the mountain. I scrunched my eyebrows and giggled, looking down at Lily who was laughing as the paper flowers flowed with the still warm breeze. I looked up at the sound of footsteps and smiled, watching Cameron walk in front of us, dressed up in his New Year’s Eve tuxedo.

  “Thank you for coming,” he said, smiling and walking over to me. “I remember exactly what you looked like when you were standing here in the snow, wrapped in your white bubble jacket, your tight jeans, and your fur-topped snow boots, looking around with Hailey. I remember what you looked like when you laid in my arms as the fireworks shot off over our heads and our lips touched for our very first kiss. I remember what you looked like dressed in that black velvet gown, coming to tell me the most important announcement of my life. I remember sitting here, going over the paperwork for our first house together, and now, I will never forget what you and Lily look like, sitting here now.”

  Cameron sat down next to me and looked up at the slopes across the way, still filled with green grass and life. He took a deep breath and looked down at his hands, obviously nervous about something. I reached over and touched his hand, smiling and nodding my head.

  “Everything in my life had been a whirlwind of events, starting from the first time I picked up a pair of skis,” he said. “When you came into my life, it immediately calmed, leaving a man with dreams, aspirations, and a whole lot of love to give. Just in the short time we have been together, you have given me so much. You have shown me what it means to love someone. You have given me the courage to push myself to the next level. You have shown me patience and caring, even in the moments I might not necessarily deserve them. And most importantly, you gave me our little girl. The two of you light up my life like nothing I have ever experienced before.”

  He stood up. “Do you see that mountain up there?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I said, watching as people moved across it.

  One by one, they each held up a sign with big, bold letters on them. I stood up and took a few steps forward, tilting my head. The message read, “I Have a Question.” I scrunched my eyebrows together and stood there for a moment, trying to figure out what that was supposed to mean. I turned back to where Cameron was standing, lowering my eyes down and finding him kneeling in front of me. In his hands, he was holding a black velvet box.

  “Here, let me take her,” Hailey said, popping out from nowhere and smiling big at me.

  “Bea, beautiful Bea, I could barely go a year without you in my life,” he said. “Seriously, one day more, and I was pretty sure I was going to lose it. I can’t think of anyone on this earth that I would rather spend my life with, grow old with, and flutter off into the stars with. So, please, please, will you be my wife?”

  “Yes,” I shouted out in a mixture of laughter and tears. “Of course, I will.”

  Cameron stood up from the ground and scooped me into his arms, tears flowing down his cheeks. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, feeling every ounce of my love for him beating in my chest. He sat me down and softly kissed my lips, pulling away and slipping the beautiful diamond ring onto my finger. I shook my head as it sparkled in the rays of light cascading through the branches. Hailey walked over smiling, and handed me Lily, kissing me on the cheek. I beamed from ear to ear and then gasped as Lily muttered “dada” under her breath.

  I looked up at Cameron and smiled big as he pulled us both into a hug. This was everything I had ever dreamt about. I had the man of my dreams, I lived in the most beautiful place ever, and I had an amazingly smart and beautiful daughter. Fate had finally gone and done it, proving me wrong and bringing everything I ever wanted into my life, in a messy but perfect package. I looked up into Cameron’s light brown eyes, and my heart fluttered all over again, like the first time we met.

  “I love you, Bea,” he said.

  “I love you, too, forever,” I replied.

  ***End of 1st Story***

  Continue on to read the FREE BONUSES that are included in this copy!

  A Note from the Author

  Thank you for reading “THE PERFECT HOLIDAY” and I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, may I ask you to write a review please? It would really mean the world to me. Reviews are very important to me as an author and keep me motivated to write more books that you love to read.

  Continue on to read some of my Amazon top 100 bestselling books that are included here as a special treat for you!

  Yes, the books – “Twin Brothers”, “Auctioned”, “Falling for the Seal” and “Thirst” have been included in this book for FREE.

  Also included is a special un-published bonus – “Train Me Daddy” which was my Best Seller this year!

  And don’t forget to read the very special sneak peeks at the end of this book.

  Thank you for allowing me to keep doing what I love!

  Twin Brothers

  Two gorgeous twin brothers, one unsuspecting good girl!

  Seems like everything will go south!

  But, that’s the BEST thing that ever happened to me.

  Jane applies for a secretarial position in a shipping company, managed by two hot as hell bad boys!

  Enter Brent and Brandon.

  They are two HOT. SEXY. KINKY. ALPHAS.

  And they love to share!

  Well….this seems to be quite an arrangement!

  Pity that Jane will eventually have to choose….

  CHAPTER 1

  Brandon

  I was just ripping off the underwear of the slim blonde in the darkened hotel room, ready to be inside of her in this penthouse suite that was mine for the week here in Chicago. She was easy, giving in to my bright blue eyes and heavy, dark hair after only one drink. It was convenient that I met her in the hotel bar where I was partying with my twin brother, Brent. I was certain that he was in his own room with the sexy redhead he’d been kissing at the bar. I could hear the w
ind outside of the many windows as I slid a finger inside of her body and found her neck with my lips. I was horny as hell and ready for this woman, at least until it was time to kick her out.

  I was just moving over her when my phone rang from the living room of the huge suite. I assumed it was some girl that wanted to hook up, but I was busy. I had a girl and I was ready to rock her world as I moved over her. I heard the phone ring once more after it went through the three rings before going to voice mail. Who the hell was so hell bent on getting through to me at one in the morning? I sat for a moment and listened to it go through the cycle, breathing in the fruity scent of her body as it went silent.

  I was just sliding into her when I heard the phone yet fucking again. She was tight and wet and I didn’t want to pull out of her, but I sensed this was important. I kissed her neck and whispered that I needed to take this call, pushing my body back as I left the bed. I didn’t bother to dress since we were alone and I was going to be back in that bed as soon as I could, coming back to reality as the shrill ring taunted me from the living room where my half-filled glass of whiskey was on the bar. I glanced around the room to see the screen blinking on the couch, walking over to it with a resigned sigh. I grabbed the phone and noticed Brent’s name on the screen, wondering why he wasn’t with the redhead. “Brent? What the hell?” I asked as I placed it to my ear, annoyed at my brother for one of the few times in my life. We were twins, born five minutes apart and as close as we could be. “Is everything okay?”