Page 66 of Bound By Her Shocking Secret

She nodded. ‘You’re right. I wouldn’t have understood. But now I do. And there’s one thing I know.’

‘What?’

Mia shuddered lightly. ‘Lexi is never coming here.’

Daniel’s mouth thinned. ‘No way.’

Mia took his hands again. ‘And neither are we, coming back here—ever. Because we’re going to sell it.’

A wary look came over his face. ‘We?’

She nodded. Saw something very fragile make his eyes bright.

‘But it’s been in the family for centuries...’

Mia shrugged. ‘So what?’

The ghost of a smile touched Daniel’s mouth. ‘Typical American. No appreciation of culture.’

Mia shook her head, joy bubbling up from deep inside her. ‘Nope. We’ll buy another chateau. A pink one.’

Daniel looked horrified. ‘Pink?’

Mia cocked her head on one side. ‘Yes. Pink. I’ve always thought they’re so pretty.’

Daniel’s expression became serious. Wary again. ‘Mia, are you saying you’ll stay?’

She moved closer and stretched up, pressing a kiss against Daniel’s mouth. A sweet kiss. A benediction.

‘If you’ll have me. And Lexi.’

She felt the shudder of emotion that ran through Daniel. He gathered her close.

‘If I have any chance in this world, it’s with you and Lexi. And even though the thought of loving you and causing any harm to come to you and Lexi terrifies me, the thought of letting you go terrifies me more. Is that selfish?’

Mia kissed him again. ‘No, my love, it’s supremely human. But loving us can’t possibly harm us. I can’t guarantee that nothing bad will happen, but I can guarantee that no matter what we’ll be together, and together we can face anything.’

Daniel cupped her face and said fervently, ‘Don’t ever stop kissing me, Mia.’

‘Never, my love.’

EPILOGUE

Costa Rica

MIAWALKEDDOWNthrough the trees to the beach and sat down on the seat that Daniel had had made, set in the shade. She sat there and adjusted the baby, so that she could feed him under the strategically placed muslin cloth. Not that there was anyone to see her breastfeed. It was off-season, and the beach was practically empty.

They’d exchanged their vows again here, about three years ago, in a beautiful dawn ceremony, with Lexi bearing the ring that Mia now wore on her right hand. A simple band of gold on one side, and inlaid with diamonds on the other. An eternity ring.

She was slowly but surely accruing more jewellery—which was only befitting the wife of one of the world’s most renowned jewellers.

She smiled as she took in the scene before her. Daniel was standing in the sea, with five-year-old Lexi in his arms. She was squealing with delight every time he dunked her under the water and lifted her up again.

‘Again, Papa,again!’

He obliged. Indefatigable when it came to his beloved daughter, catering to her every whim without ever spoiling her. They were as thick as thieves, and it gave Mia such bittersweet joy to see their bond, because now she had an even truer sense of what she’d missed out on.

And now their little family was growing, with Dominic—Dom for short. They’d waited a while to have another baby, giving Lexi time to get used to Daniel, and time for them all to get used to being in a family. Arealfamily.

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