Because the perfect shot has been taken. Not today…but months ago.
We had one shot and we both took it, and look at us here today visiting this masterpiece in an exotic far off land that we both admire…together.
And that’s how we’re always going to be…together.
Click!
“We’re going to have a lot to choose from,” I say looking back at the camera.
“Unlike in real life because I only ever had one choice..and I got it. You,” he says.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you.”
We kiss again.
Click!
“That’s the one!” we both say simultaneously and then start bursting out laughing.
“I’m starting to see how this whole selfie thing can get kind of addicting,” he says.
“You’re addicting,” I say.
“And so are you…my fiancée, the mother of my child, and my love forever.”
He pulls me in for a hug and holds me close. We kiss again.
Click!
We both just smile this time.
“You don’t plan on using that camera later for anything…do you?” I wink mischievously.
“No way. Your beauty is mine and only mine.”
“It’s a camera,” I tease. “Not a person.”
“People hack those things. They can steal images from computers…all kinds of stuff. Believe me I’ve got the best pictures already.”
“You took pictures of us?”
“Only in my mind, and believe me they’re just as vivid and perfect as the moment my mental memory snapped them.” He pauses. “You think I could ever forget the way you looked in that white dress and those red heels?”
“Or the way you looked at me when I stepped through the door?”
“So we were both taking pictures,” he says.
“In our mind.”
“And right here,” he says putting his hand to his heart.
“Awww,” I say and I melt into his arms as the sun melts into the horizon as our love continues to burn red hot no matter where in the world we find ourselves as we navigate our way through a life of love, laughter, and perfect happiness.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Beau
Forty years later
“She’s been a pillar in our community for quite some time now…an inspiration to women and men not only in the city, and the state, but throughout the world. A trailblazer in her field. And now, please put your hand together for a Los Angeles living legend…Mrs. Ariella Bailey,” Mayor Myers says.
The crowd claps as Ariella prepares to hammer in the ceremonial final nail into the education and playground center she designed and even helped construct for underprivileged kids.
But she wasn’t alone.
Our first child, Amy also worked on the project with her mom and even little Andrew, who’s sitting on the floor just off to the side helped. He served as comic relief during those long nights when grandma was buried in work and needed a break.
But a break is the last thing he needs right now. He’s completely engrossed with his Tonka trucks, sliding the dump truck across the floor as he wears a tiny plastic “hard helmet” that we picked up for him at the store just for today.
“Are you ready, Ariella?” the mayor announces.
“Ready,” she says.
He hands her the hammer and she gives it a look before grasping it firmly in her hand.
“Maybe we should do this together? What do you think?” the mayor says bringing his hand toward the hammer, which isn’t that long. That means his hand will be on top of her hand.
Hell no!
I slide to the side and hip check the mayor right off the platform much to the laughter of the audience.
But this isn’t a joke. I’m not playing around. This is my woman, nobody else’s.
“What are you doing, Beau?” she says softly so only I can hear.
“He was going to try and hold your hand. That’s my hand. I’m the only one who gets to do that. Ever. Period!”
“Honey, I’m fifty-eight years old. Nobody’s looking at me like that.”
“Are you crazy? Everybody’s looking at you.”
“Because the mayor was talking about me.”
“Forget the mayor! It’s because you’re hot as hell woman! You’re still, and always will be, as beautiful as the day we met.” I pause. “Bailey family always.”
“Awww,” erupts from the audience and I look over and notice there’s a microphone I didn’t see which apparently is still running.
I swear half the women in the audience quickly melt into their boyfriend’s arms and the other half slap their “men” with their purses.
I’m not quite sure what all that is about because I’ve only ever loved one woman in my life and I’ve always loved her with everything I’ve got…and that got us through everything just fine. As a matter of fact I can’t even remember a single argument. Did we have discussions? Sure, but we always talked through things without raising our voices or making a big show of getting our way, not that it would ever get to that point because the decisions were always pretty clear and easy to make after just a few minutes of writing out the pros and cons on a piece of paper.
And those decisions always came down to one thing and one thing only.
Doing what’s right for the family.
And that’s what’s guided us all these years and will continue to guide us.
And I know what’s not right for the family…another man trying to hit on my wife or put his hands on hers. That’s not happening. Not on my watch and not ever.
“Bai-ley fam-ily!” the crowd chants. “Bai-ley fam-ily!” followed by two claps and then three.
The crowd gets louder and suddenly little Andrew looks up from his Tonka truck at us and starts clapping in rhythm with the crowd.
I reach down and grab that damn microphone.
“You ready to do this Los Angeles?”
“Yeah!” comes back in unison.
“For the love of the kids in the city of angels! On three!”
The crowd goes nuts.
“One…two,” I quickly whisper in my woman’s ears, “I love you and I’m so damn proud of everything you’ve done,” and then back to the countdown, “three!”
With that our hands, together, we bring down the golden hammer on the golden nail and the kid’s center is officially complete and ready for the kids to “get after it.”
I motion to Amy who reaches into her backpack and slyly removes the other thing I brought. She carries it over to me and hands it to me.
“Have you lost your mind?” my wife jokes.
“I got lost in loving you a long, long time ago. And I still get lost in those eyes of yours every single time and I still love it.” I pause. “Ready?”
I hold out the bottle of champagne and we both grab it by the neck walking over to the side of the building.
“This isn’t a ship,” the mayor says as he tries to climb back up onto the podium, but a stern look and a throaty growl makes him considers otherwise.
“I don’t give a ship!” I yell at him and the crowd goes bonkers.
I may be seventy-five years old but I still work out for an hour every morning so when the time comes to protect what’s mine I’m ready.
The only thing that matters to me is my family, and I’ll fight tooth and nail to the death for them.
“One more time Los Angeles,” Ariella yells.
“Wait!” I say waiting until Amy pulls the construction worker goggles from her backpack and puts them on Andrew in case any glass flies too far and then runs over a couple pairs for us which we quickly get on our heads. “Okay, now we’re ready,” I say.
“One…two…three!” Ariella yells and together we swing that bottle of Dom Pérignon right at the wall and it bursts sending the bubbly everywhere and the crowd into a frenzy yet again.
“To your legacy,” I say holding up my finger which is covered
in the bubbly.
Ariella laughs and then lifts up her finger which is also drenched in Dom.
“To us,” she says.
We cheers fingers and then give each other’s a lick. As we pull our hands back we interlock our fingers and I swear they form a heart shape.
How appropriate.
Because she’s the lifeblood and the heartbeat of our family. Everything starts with her, including the moment I first realized what true love was.
And my true love will always be her.
End of story. ;)
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend
Book 69: Possessive Firefighter
Book 70: Football Next Door
Book 71: Doctor December
Book 72: Possessive Canadian
Book 73: Blue Collar Billionaire
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Blue Collar Billionaire: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 73) Page 8