Page 151 of Illicit

Teagan is about to say something when the elevator dings and the doors part. I have to pull Teagan back so we’re not run over by a short blonde wearing a getup that looks like she’s late to a tennis match.

And she’s pissed about it.

“Come back here.” A tall, dark-haired man in a suit stalks after her but pauses when he sees us. His greeting hits us in an irritated British accent. “Oh, hello. Welcome to The Manor. Enjoy your stay.”

Then, he’s gone.

I give Teagan a little push, and the porter joins us in the elevator with our luggage.

“Heaven on earth, my ass,” I mutter. “Looks like they’re in hell.”

We exit on the top floor, and the porter asks for my key card to open the door. Before he pushes the door open, he turns to us. “The honeymoon suite.”

“Oh my gosh,” Teagan gasps as she walks in. “This is the most gorgeous place I’ve ever seen.”

I follow up her gasp with a low whistle. She’s not wrong, and I don’t give a shit about stuff like this.

“I changed my mind,” Teagan says as she pokes her head into the bedroom before going to the glass doors that look out over the lake, and beyond that, the mountains. “I don’t care what there is to do or see in Winslet. I could stay right here all week.”

That’s something I agree with. And I’m ready to start as soon as possible.

I pull a couple of twenties out of my money clip and hand them to the porter. “Appreciate it.”

When he gives me a ceremonious bow before leaving, I decide room service is the way to go.

Teagan opens the doors to the balcony. Mild, dry air hits us, the exact opposite of what we’re used to in Miami. Usually, I’d take in the beauty surrounding us, but all I see is my new wife.

My wife.

Damn. I like the sound of that.

I go to her where she stands on the veranda looking out over the countryside and press my lips to the skin below her ear. “I don’t care where we are. I love you, Mrs. Monroe.”

She turns in my arms to gaze up at me. “This is just the beginning. I can’t wait to see what life brings us, hubby.”

“We’re the shit.” I smile. “It’s going to be epic.”

Fifteen years later

Teagan

I go to our dresser to find the earrings. I’ve worn them for every occasion like this one, though I didn’t think I’d get another opportunity like today.

We decided long ago we were good with two. A boy and a girl. What more could we want?

Gray came along the year after we were married. We tried to wait, but then we realized we didn’t know what we were waiting for.

When you start off as friends, have a little hiatus as enemies, and then go straight to lovers, waiting for anything is painful. We felt like we’d waited a lifetime.

We were ready to get on with life—and that meant babies.

Lettie came two years later.

We thought our family was complete.

The universe had other plans.

Rocco is the dad every man should strive to be. He changed diapers. He walked our babies through the night when they were sick. He never misses an event. But what he really loves to do is coach. It doesn’t matter the sport.

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