“Just how the king used to kiss his queen!” Lucas says pointing to a painting that looks almost exactly like what I just did…although the clothes from five hundred years ago are a little different.
I didn’t even see the painting on the wall before I did what I did, but now that I do it doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Princesses and queens have been treated with the utmost respect and admiration throughout history.
Whether that was in 1518 or 2018. It really doesn’t matter.
All that matters is I’ve got my queen now. My one and only. And it could only be her.
My love. My life. My everything.
And soon to be my wife.
Forever.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Alexa
Ten years later
“Hey you,” I say as Alexandra climbs up on my lap.
“Mommy, what’s that?”
“That’s called a Wacom tablet.”
“What’s a wacky tablet?”
I laugh and kiss her on top of her head. I can’t believe how much she looks like me.
“A Wacom tablet, or a wacky tablet as it’s known in some circles,” I say tapping her on the nose, “is like a coloring board for adults.”
“You color?”
“Yeah, kind of. Want to try?”
She nods her head vigorously and I reposition her in my lap handing her the pen tool that you run across the Wacom tablet that allows you to do graphic design on a computer.
She holds the tablet in her lap and starts drawing a bird.
“There it is!” I say pointing to the computer screen.
“Cool!” she says. I lean forward and around and see the determination on her face. Her tongue is out and she’s focused on the screen as she adds some cute feathers and then a Mohawk to the bird.
I laugh and then she starts laughing too.
“I gave him wacky hair!” she says.
“You sure did,” I say.
“What kind of trouble are you two getting into in here?” a voice from the doorway says.
“No trouble, daddy. Mommy is teaching me how to make birds on her wacky tablet.”
“Her wacky tablet, huh?” Alexander says as he scoops up Alexandra and carries her out of the room.
“I think it’s time for bed isn’t it?”
She shakes her head.
“Birds go to sleep at dark and it’s already past dark,” he says.
“Okay. I better go to sleep then so I can fly tomorrow.”
I smile as Alexander carries her out of the room.
I love my husband so much but one of the things I maybe wasn’t expecting when I married such a creative man and one who works in the arts is his ability to inspire our children’s imagination and let them take an idea, any idea, and run with it. He never criticizes them or calls them crazy, even when they say they can fly.
And that’s exactly why they can fly. He encourages them to spread their wings wide and try anything. Sometimes they soar and sometimes they spiral from the nest, but never too far.
Momma and Papa bird are always there to swoop in and grab them and fly them back up to the next before any signs of real trouble.
I love that he’s allowing them to be creative and their minds to grow and expand in the most original of ways.
Just like he’s done with me.
He’s showed me so many artistic things and introduced me to so many creative and interesting people that it’s really improved my work, made me a more peaceful person, and just centered me as a human being.
He gives me balance and he gave me my beautiful children.
Alexandra and Alexi, who’s over at his friend’s sleepover tonight.
There’s a saying that I see on T-shirts sometimes that says, “Happy Wife. Happy Life.”
It’s the simplest of graphic designs but the most true.
And from the sparkle I still see in his eyes, even after more than ten years, I know he’s having the happiest of lives.
And I know I sure am too.
Because of him.
Because of our children. Our family. Our togetherness. Our home full of love.
I gave him the gift of my virginity all those years ago and he gave me the gift of himself and now the gift of our beautiful family here in NYC.
Forever.
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
Virgin in New York_An Older Man Younger Woman Romance Page 6