“World’s youngest bad boy…Andrew Church. And by the way. I love the name you chose for him.”
“Andrew?”
“You know that’s one of my middle names, right?”
“It is? I mean you have two middle names?”
“I sure do. And speaking of double duty I can’t thank you enough for doing all of this all by yourself. You are one hell of a strong woman.”
“Earmuffs!” she says placing her hands over Andrew’s ears.
“Whoops! I have to work on my language.”
“He can be a bad boy, but let’s at least make him a bad boy with a good vocabulary.”
“Deal. And I also have to thank you for putting Church on the birth certificate. You don’t know how proud that makes me feel.”
“I knew you’d find us one day. It wasn’t a matter of if, but just a matter of when.”
“And speaking of when, when do you want to go to see the tower?”
“Can we have a croissant and cappuccino at La Chat Noir?”
“If we hustle up. I don’t think it’s proper in this part of the world to have a cappuccino after about eleven in the morning.”
“Well then can you watch Andrew while I take a shower?”
“I’d love to get in some quality father son bonding time, but I have to warn you.”
“What’s that?”
“I might follow you into the shower so I can watch both of you this morning.”
“Didn’t you get enough last night?” she winks as she slides out of the bed completely naked. Damn she is beautiful, even more so knowing she had my baby inside her body. What a gift.
“You know I’ll never get enough of you.”
“Well then who am I to say no?”
“You’re mommy, right Andrew?”
I look down at him and his eyes lock on mine before he giggles.
“See! We’re bonding already.”
“He knows the world’s best dad when he sees him.”
“And I know the world’s best mother, wife, lover, and best friend when I see her. And I’ve got my eyes locked in on her right now.”
“Awww,” Matilda says as she turns and comes back to my side of the bed.
She kisses me on the forehead and then does the same for Andrew.
This is how it’s supposed to be. A life of love, family, and happiness.
And without her and my surprise baby I never would have known.
But I’m blessed that I do, because I was blessed with both of them.
Forever.
EPILOGUE
Matilda
After a lovely, light breakfast at La Chat Noir we step off the metro at the Eiffel Tower.
What an absolutely incredible view. Pictures on Instagram don’t even compare.
I can’t believe Ian has booked us in for the rest of the season. I’m going to have an entire two plus months to explore this beautiful city with him and Andrew. And Ian seems so excited to catch up on lost time with Andrew. I’ve absolutely loved everything that’s happened since my pregnancy, but it’s nice to have Ian here to help out with some of the daily responsibilities of raising a child. But a big part of me thinks he’s not going to help out just some. I’m convinced he’s going to be very hands on and I know we’re going to share in everything together.
And that’s the great part. Nothing really feels like a responsibility or work. I just love how everything seems so fun when the three of us are together. I know we’re going to be fighting over who gets to hold him a lot more often than who has to change diapers. I smile at the thought.
I can’t even imagine how amazing Andrew’s life is going to be with Ian as his father. Every chance and every opportunity will be available to him, and all our kids.
And speaking of opportunities, Pierre has called asking for an opportunity to meet up for a dinner late this week to apologize for his behavior. He admits he was out of line, and Ian played it off like it was nothing. I think it was nothing too. All Ian cares about now is us. Anything that happened before is just water under the bridge.
And the Eiffel Tower may not be a bridge by definition, but it is a bridge to a fantasy I’ve long harbored. If Ian only knew. It sounds so cliché, but I’m sure many girls have the same thought. Having one of life’s most special moments here, but I know that’s not going to happen today.
Luckily the lines to the elevator aren’t too long. We wait our turn and no more than fifteen minutes later we’re at the top walking around the viewing platform.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful city, not that I’ve seen many but I know this one is going to be hard to top. I’m still over the moon about being able to spend so much time here with my boys.
“Did you know there’s a restaurant up here?” Ian asks.
“A restaurant? Where could they fit it?”
“Let me show you.”
Ian guides me to the restaurant area and I wonder how I missed it, and how I didn’t know.
We get seated and order two flutes of champagne.
The waiter brings them and I raise my flutes.
“To us,” I say.
“One second please,” Ian says.
“You don’t like my toast?”
“I had another toast in mind for today.”
Ian carefully gets out of his seat, being careful not to disturb Andrew. He takes my glass from my hand and places it on the table. This is strange, I think.
“Don’t worry. You’re going to need it in a minute. We all will.”
“We all will?” I repeat softly under my breath.
“Excuse me, everyone,” Ian says in the restaurant as he taps a coffee spoon against his champagne flute which is sitting next to mine on the table. Where did he get a coffee spoon and what’s he planning.
“Pardon me. If I could just have one minute of your time today.”
The deep rich tones of Ian’s voice have both soothing and commanding qualities about them. There’s something about them that draws your ear away from any would be competing sounds in order to focus on what he has to say. And when he speaks it’s only natural to listen, and to want to follow him.
He’s an incredible leader and I know he’s going to be a great leader, instructor, and mentor to Andrew.
“As we all come here today to look out at the beauty that is Paris from one of the highest, and certainly most beautiful, areas accessible by man in the world I just want to take a moment to remind everyone what is most important.”
He pauses as his eyes scan the entirety of the restaurant as the waiters and waitresses stop what they’re doing.
“Because no matter how beautiful the view may be out there, the most beautiful view is the one inside. The one of our children’s faces, our loved ones, our lifelong friends, and even the strangers we’re soon to turn into friends. Until recently I would have focused on that view outside like many do, but just as the tower is illuminated at night I met a woman who illuminated my world and showed me what’s truly important…and I’ll never stop admiring the view.”
His eyes leave the people in the room and meet mine.
He carefully takes a knee with Andrew secured in one hand and a black box in his other.
“Matilda…my Matilda. Our journey here has been long and challenging but we’ve arrived. I’ve reached one of the highest peaks a man can reach in this world, but to go further up into those clouds above us I can only do it with you by my side, by our side that is, forever. Will you do me the honor of making me the luckiest man in the world to ever set foot in the city of love or anywhere on earth for that measure. Will you walk with me side by side forever? Will you make children with me whose laughter reminds us why we’re all here in the first place? Will you marry me?”
His fingers do a quick twist and the black box in his hand pops open and I see a huge diamond sparkling in the reflection from the light bouncing off the clouds.
I bring my hands to my face and begin to cry. It’s the only sound in the entire place
as everyone waits for my reply. He’s made me feel like a princess up in my tower, but now it’s time to become his queen.
“Yes,” I say.
The crowd breaks out in applause and I hear the pops of champagne corks.
He slides the ring on my finger and we both stand. He leans in to me and I stand on my tiptoes to reach him and we kiss for the first time as a couple who is to be wed.
I hear more corks popping and feel Ian’s hand against my cheek, there to wipe away my tears. He’s always there, even for those months when he wasn’t. Always in my heart and that’s always where he’ll stay.
“Sorry, I didn’t order this,” I hear behind me.
“Compliments of the monsieur,” the waiter says.
I turn and see everyone in the house being poured a flute of champagne.
Ian hands me my flute and then takes his waiting for everyone to have a drink prepared.
“À votre santé,” he says.
“À votre santé!” comes back in unison, and I swear I feel the earth shake from the power of all the voices at once.
Everyone takes a drink.
“You are amazing,” I say. “Thank you.”
“You’re amazing,” he says. “And so are you,” he continues as he looks down at Andrew.
I see camera flashes burst everywhere and watch as our picture is taken. I look back at him.
“Just so we can relive this memory whenever we want.”
“I’ll always have it with me, in my heart.”
“Then you’ll have to share it with me, because it’s in my heart too. And my heart is now officially yours.”
COP’S BABYSITTER
Carter
When the police station mandates overtime from May until December I go looking for a babysitter for the first time. (His sister was watching?)
Seems like every young woman in town applies but I get the feeling they’re more interested in what’s behind my badge than my baby girl.
My career as a police officer is about to hit a serious speed bump if I can’t find a nanny by noon.
Alyssa
While everyone else is planning their summer vacation I’m looking for a summer job.
When I stumble across an ad for a babysitter wanted just next door I can’t help but give it a look.
The baby girl is too cute for words but what surprises me most is how sexy her police officer papa is.
But when things heat up and this charming cop realizes he’s my dad’s best friend he tells me our partnership has to end.
Carter
When her dad starts snooping around looking for clues about what’s really going on over at my place, I know I’ve got a 911 situation on my hands.
I’m going to do whatever it takes to make his dashing daughter mine even if my best buddy decides it’s time to make a citizen’s arrest.
*Cop’s Babysitter is an insta-everything standalone romance with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.
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Doctor Bad Boy's Secret Baby: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 42) Page 9