Page 67 of Billion-Dollar Dating Game

‘All that. All that and so much more.’ He caught and held her tightly. ‘But I don’t want to stop you discovering everything else you want. I don’t want to cramp your style—’

‘You couldnever. You’re the one who encourages me into some really creative things.’ Her teary laugh was muffled against his chest. ‘I want youwithme.’

‘Okay then.’

She felt his deep sigh.

‘Always,’ he whispered.

Yeah. That’s what she wanted.

Drawing back but still holding Zane’s hand tightly, she turned to face her father’s grave. ‘I love you, Daddy,’ she whispered. ‘And I know you loved me and I know you wanted to keep me safe. But I know you were hurt and you worried a little too much and held me a little too tight.’ She told him what she’d been too young and too scared to say so long ago. ‘But Zane’s a good man. I love him and he loves me and we’re going to be okay.’ She drew in a shaky breath. ‘We’re going to have it all.’

Zane didn’t let go of her hand the entire car ride—releasing her only to get out of the car and round to her door. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and led her into the house, up the stairs, straight to his bedroom.

‘I love you,’ he said before she could breathe. ‘I love you.’

He kissed her and told her over and over. She had no idea how they got naked, how they got into the bed. All she knew was that they were together—naked and entwined, and he was loving her with his words and his body and his spirit. And he was hers—really and truly hers.

Hours later, she stood wrapped in the top sheet, looking out at the stunning view of the garden and the beach beyond. ‘I love it here,’ she breathed.

He wound his arm around her from behind. ‘Plenty of room for our kids and the dogs to roam free, don’t you think? We can watch them playing from the balcony up here.’

She nodded, leaning back against him. ‘That would make this great view unbeatable.’

‘Yeah.’

And that was exactly what it did.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Three years later

DANIELLECHAPMAN’SANNUALFourth of July party was in full swing. The beat of music and the bubble of chatter wafted through the still summer night, easily reaching the ears of the woman lying on the sun lounger that was artfully placed beneath an old cherry tree, hidden by the thick hedge that formed the boundary between the two vast beachfront properties.

Skylar wasn’t wearing white, because she wasn’t going to the party at all—she was in a scarlet bikini and, despite the rapid approach of dusk, she was still feeling hot. She was also feeling huge. She heard the clink of ice and glanced up to see her husband walking towards her balancing two tall glasses of she didn’t know what, but she knew it would be delicious.

Actually, it was her bare-chested husband who was delicious. Clad only in beach shorts and sandals, every muscle was on display. She felt hotter still.

‘Something you need, Skylar?’ Zane chuckled and set the glasses down on the small table that had been dragged near the lounger long ago.

‘You know me too well,’ she muttered.

He ran a fingertip over her lower lip. ‘Pregnancy makes you very hungry.’

‘It does,’ she purred. ‘I need alotof attention.’

This was their favourite place to be alone together. Where they’d spent many lazy summer afternoons, dozing, reading, making love...

The first year they’d travelled lots. They’d both walked away from Helberg, but Skylar had been beyond touched to learn Zane had offered Bernie and the other older employees a guarantee on their Helberg investment in case things went bad. Bernie had since retired, his pension fund intact.

Zane had cut back on the hours he’d worked and reprioritised. They’d married in this very garden only a few months in—the two of them standing in the trees with only Danielle as witness. Danielle who’d been astounded and then enchanted to learn of their history and delighted to be part of their very private celebration.

At the end of that first year, Skylar had discovered she was pregnant. They’d not been trying, but they’d not beennottrying...and it had happened quicker than either of them had imagined it would. They’d been ecstatic. Eight months later her impatient son had arrived. He had his father’s eyes and demanding nature and she adored him.

Right now he was inside their home cuddled up with the puppy, being read to by his doting grandmother, who was tasked with keeping him awake just long enough to catch a glimpse of the fireworks from Danielle’s party.

Zane had asked Skylar to come with him to visit his mother not long after that day by her father’s grave. It had been awkward between mother and son at first. Skylar had chattered to fill the gaps, but slowly things had got easier and both Zane and his mother had talked through some of the tough times in their past. She’d finally retired and even let Zane help her. Now she visited often. It gave Zane no end of pleasure to see his mother relaxed and able to enjoy spending time with their small, inquisitive boy. They were all looking forward to the arrival of his little sister—due in four months’ time.

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