Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 34941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Not that it would have mattered if they didn't.
Nothing could stop me from being with her. I would have taken her across the country to elope if she had said yes.
"What's on the itinerary?" she whispers as we break the kiss.
"I thought maybe the spa first. But now, I'm thinking I'm going to have you instead."
"Oh, I like the sound of that," she teases. "But I think we should finish unpacking and get the baby to sleep first, hm?"
She's right, but I'm impatient. "Fine. Let's get this done, then. Nadia, time to be tired."
She just gurgles happily in response.
Even if she doesn't feel like taking a nap, I've got Noelle's mother and grandma set up in the chalet neighboring ours, and I'm sure they'd love to have some time with the baby. It seemed like an extravagant gift to bring them along, but I had ulterior motives. Those motives being lots and lots of private time with my wife.
"I'll finish getting everything unpacked. Why don't you go see if your mom is settled in? If so, tell her we're going to drop Nadia off for an hour."
Noelle smiles, and it's like the sun. "Just an hour, huh?"
I growl, pulling her against me. "Make it three," I tell her before crushing my mouth against hers. One hour, three hours, an entire day—it will never be enough. But we have our entire lives together, and I plan to take advantage of it, every single minute.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
NOELLE
Ten Years Later
Sending the kids to summer camp might send Nathan into a spiral the likes of which I've never seen before. I get it. I'm stressed too, but they're going to have the best time ever. Not to mention that what we paid for it would have been enough to pay for a small house, but of course, it's nothing but the best for Nathan's little angels.
The oldest angel, Nadia, is eleven and was packed and ready to go at 5 AM this morning. Nadine and Nina, our nine-year-old twins, were a bit harder to get going. They were not thrilled to have to leave their entire doll collections behind, but after some convincing, I think they might finally believe me that there will be plenty more to do at camp.
Nathan and I are standing on the porch, waving them goodbye as the white bus, covered in flower decals, drives away with our precious cargo aboard, along with at least twenty other kids their age. We gave them a thousand kisses, and they were very brave.
But now...now it's just Nathan and me for an entire week. It's been a long time since we've had this much privacy.
For once, I don't think sex is at the forefront of Nathan's mind, though. He looks forlorn as the bus disappears down the road.
"They're going to be fine," I assure him. "The camp is an entire 3.5 miles away. Stop worrying so much."
"They'll have everything they need, right?" he asks, still tense.
"Everything and probably more."
"It's only a week."
"It's only a week, and then you'll get them back."
He sighs. "I know, I know."
I loop my arm through his and lean my head against his shoulder. "Let's go make out," I whisper.
"It's the middle of the day."
"So?"
Now there's a hint of the Nathan I know—scandalous and sexy as hell—when he cups my chin and raises my face to look him in the eye. "I just needed to make sure I wasn't dreaming. That's all."
"Oh yeah? And how can you tell the difference between a dream and reality?"
He smirks, leaning closer to me. "I'd be happy to show you. But first..."
"But first, we should move into the bedroom," I suggest, not wanting to have to move once we get started.
"Mhm."
The bedroom isn't much different than when I first saw it 10 years ago, except with some of my personal touches added. It was perfect that Nathan's house was big enough for us to raise a family in, and the place has served us well.
I finished my classes online after we got married and I discovered I was pregnant, but I only work part-time these days as a graphic design freelancer. It's more of a hobby than anything else. There’s apparently never a lack of textbooks needed for college and universities, so Nathan stays plenty busy and makes enough for both of us and then some.
After the birth of the twins, we heard from Danny for the first time since the blow-up between him and Nathan. He, too, had finished school online and went on a cross-country road trip once he graduated to "find himself". There he met an adorable, free-spirited girlfriend that he's still seeing to this day. We only see the couple on the holidays, and after a few awkward years, I can mostly make it through without cringing a single time. But having the family reunited makes Nathan happy, and to me, that's worth a million uncomfortable moments.