Their Virgin Nanny
Page 16
My heart flutters as they spoon themselves around me. I kiss them both, rubbing my face against their stubble. I love them, our baby, and the two boys. Together we are a family. A different kind of family, but most definitely a family. I snuggle against them and release a soft sigh. “I love you both so much.”
EPILOGUE
LUKE
NEARLY THREE YEARS have gone by since Eleri told us she was pregnant and we declared our love for each other, a time of incredible change in our lives.
Shortly after our daughter, Olivia, was born, Gabe’s father passed away. He’d been accepting of Eleri’s pregnancy, thank God, and, when we’d found out we were having a daughter, he’d said it would be a nice change to have a girl in the family… a granddaughter. He only lived to see her once, when we’d taken her to visit him in the hospice. His passing soon afterwards was peaceful. Gabe mourned his loss in typical stoical Gabe fashion, but he appreciated the support Eleri and I gave him, we know he did.
When the time came for us to register Olivia’s birth, I said Gabe should be the legal father as I’d gone first with fathering Matty. We’d decided, the three of us, that we didn’t want a DNA test to find out who Olivia’s father was. As far as Gabe and I are concerned, we’re both her dads and she looks so like Eleri it’s impossible to tell.
We moved to Aldridge when Olivia was six months old, and opened it to the public when she turned one. It happened at the same time as the press got hold of our ‘unconventional’ lifestyle. Journalists camped out on the front lawn until we gave them an interview. The fact that we said we’d nothing to hide, that we are who we are, went down surprisingly well. The publicity was good for business; it made potential visitors aware of Aldridge, and we managed to keep Sharon and John’s identity secret.
Sharon is back to her old self, and visits us from time to time with John and the girls. They’ve become like our extended family. She underwent extensive therapy after her breakdown; she and John had relationship counselling, and she’s accepted that Eleri means the world to us. At least she says she does, and we’ve no reason to doubt her.
Eleri told her nanny friends in London the truth, and they’d sworn to keep secret the fact that she was in a poly relationship. Discretion goes with the territory of being a nanny to the rich; many work for high profile people and are used to signing confidentiality clauses in their contracts. And now, Eleri’s friend, Rosie, has joined us at Aldridge to help with Olivia and the boys.
Matty and Jack love it here; they attend a local school and, when they’re at home, they have the freedom of the estate in which to play. Olivia adores her big brothers, and I think they enjoy her adoration… even if they’d never admit to it. Oreo has also adapted to country life, presenting us with mice he has caught and spending most of the day outdoors.
As for myself, I’m becoming more involved with helping Gabe and Eleri run things here than with my work in London. We’re a true partnership, the three of us. It’s a challenge, a good one, and I’m loving it.
Today is the start of the second Aldridge Music Festival. We’ve turned it into a family-friendly event, and we’ve set up camping facilities in the fields on the other side of the lake. Last year, we made a great start, even managing to break even. This weekend, the holiday one at the end of August, we’ve organized a range of day time arts-based activities for children alongside a varied line up of new and emerging artists, DJs and bands after dark.
I’m standing by the stage in the early evening, making sure everything is ready for tonight’s line-up. Gabe approaches with our daughter in his arms. “Say goodnight to Daddy,” he says. She holds her arms out to me and I take her from him, breathing in her sweet scent and kissing her chubby little cheek.
“Night night, Daddy,” she dimples, her gorgeous hazel eyes shining bright.
Rosie comes up and takes her from us. “I’ll be back later,” she says. “I can’t wait for Eleri to sing.”
Yep, our girl will be performing on the stage in about an hour’s time. She’s come so far from when she used to practise her routines for us in London. We’re incredibly proud of her, and she knows it. Our ray of sunshine has brightened not only our lives, but those of her new fans. Her songs touch people’s hearts just like she has touched ours.
Gabe puts his arm around me. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“If it’s how incredibly lucky we are that Eleri came into our lives, yes, I’m thinking what you’re thinking,” I smirk.
“Good,” he says. “Let’s go and find her.”
She’s in the artists’ tent behind the stage, and her face lights up when she sees us. A loose-fitting top skims her eight months’ pregnant tummy. That’s another development; we’re having a second daughter, and, this time, my name will be on the birth certificate. I can’t take the grin off my face; life couldn’t be sweeter.
GABE
LUKE IS NEXT to me in the mosh pit as our girl takes to the stage. Eleri’s parents are behind us, and Luke’s mother and father are with them. They’ve spent the past couple of Christmases at Aldridge, their whole families, and have become firm friends. That’s one advantage of a house with so many bedrooms; we can invite everyone here for the holidays. The talk that Eleri’s father gave Luke and me, the first Christmas after we’d started our poly relationship with her, had been an eye-opener to the man’s character. He told us that if we ever harmed a hair on his daughter’s head, he’d come after us with a shotgun. Now that I’m the father of a daughter myself, I completely understand how protective he is of her; I’d do the same for Olivia should such a situation arise in the future.
I shudder and think back to what happened with that bastard, ‘Marcus’. We heard recently that he’d tried it on with another girl, but had been caught on CCTV. He’s in jail, serving time, thank God.
There’s a roll of drums and a band takes to the stage to accompany Eleri. She holds the microphone with confidence, and scans the audience until her eyes rest on us. Her smile would light up the universe. “I’d like to dedicate this song to the fathers of my children,” she says boldly. There’s a whoop and a cheer from the crowd; they know about our situation. We were in the press again when Eleri signed a recording deal, another five-day wonder. It pays to be open about things; journalists soon get bored when they discover you’ve nothing you want to hide. And readers of the tabloids often have complicated family lives themselves; it’s no big deal.
The song she sings was written by her. It speaks of the road to love, commitment and working through difficulties; it speaks of give and take, and tough times; it speaks to my heart. “I love you,” I mouth the words to her and then whisper them to Luke. He repeats the words to me, and we sing along with the crowd to the beautiful music being made by the woman we love.
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Trenda, my lovely content editor, thank you so much for taking me on again. Their Virgin Nanny has evolved into a much better book due to your suggestions. I’ve loved working with you so much, and I can’t wait for our next project.
Letitia, thank you for another beautiful cover. The colours are amazing; the design is just perfect.
My brilliant beta readers, Fiona, Helena, Michelle and Joy, thank you for your feedback and for being there for me throughout the writing of this book.
Aurelie, my PA superstar. Thank you for all you’re doing for me. Love you!
Helena, Michelle and Nico, thanks for helping with my Facebook readers group. I feel privileged to have you on my team.
Lesley and Wendy, thank you for running Divine Courtesans. Your dedication to getting my name out there is humbling.
Thank you, Courtesans, my readers group. Our daily interactions on Facebook always make me happy.
Bloggers and reviewers – I feel honoured to have the support of so many people in this amazing community. Thank you all for your enthusiasm, and for spreading the word about my books.
Fellow author friends, I’m overwhelmed by
how supportive you are. It makes me feel really touched. Jade West, Isabella Starling, Jo Raven, Alexis Angel and so many others. Thank you!
Victor, my darling husband, I couldn’t do this without you. Thanks for putting up with me spending hours at my laptop and for being such a support to me always.
And of course, to my dear readers, I’m so grateful you’ve taken the time to read Their Virgin Nanny. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I’ve loved writing it.
ABOUT SC DAIKO
SC Daiko is a romance junkie who loves writing about strong heroines and hot alpha males. Her stories are sexy and emotional reads. Originally from the UK, she now lives in Italy with her husband and two cats. Nothing makes her happier than connecting with readers and fellow authors.
You can stalk her via the following links:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
Follow her blog
Join her readers group on Facebook, where she runs giveaways and offers ARCs.
Subscribe to her YouTube channel
Sign up for her weekly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/cB5Bdz and you’ll be able to get a copy of Two: The Prequel to Three and Courtesan for free as well as loads of giveaways and hot recommendations.
ALSO BY SC DAIKO
Three: A Menage Erotic Romance
Four: A Menage Erotic Romance
Two Three Four: The complete Trilogy
Game On