Epilogue
Kenna
Ten Years Later
"Ma." Cormac stops across my dressing room, a scowl on his fierce little face. "Dad won't like you wearing that."
"Your dad doesn't dictate my wardrobe, Cormac," I murmur, rubbing my hand across my stubborn son's head. He's just like his father only somehow, he's ten times worse. He's a total menace. Bossy. Giant. And always up to no good. He's also always on his dad's side when it comes to me.
No one flirts with me or crosses a line unless they want to answer to my nine-year-old son and then my cranky husband. I love them both so much it's unreal. He's our only baby. My career has been so chaotic since he was born. Bringing another kid into the mix just didn't make sense. Gideon and I are happy with our one.
And God knows, he certainly keeps us busy.
Life is good. Actually, life is a dream come true. For the last ten years, I've lived a fairytale. Not every moment has been perfect. There are always hard decisions and difficult days. John hasn't been the only crazy man we've had to deal with over the years. He and Clive are the only ones in prison, but others have tried to cross lines. I get sent creepy and inappropriate things more often than anyone should. That's life in the limelight. But my management team handles it. I rarely ever even see those things.
Gideon does. He makes sure he knows every threat or potential threat aimed my way. He still runs the company with his brothers. But when I'm on tour, I'm his only client. It's been challenging, but it's been worth it too.
I don't tour often. I prefer to stick closer to home with Gideon and Cormac.
My son huffs out a breath, clearly dissatisfied with my answer. "You need to change before I tell Dad."
"Cormac!" I narrow my eyes on him. "You need to mind your business before I ground you."
"Ma!"
"Don't Ma me."
"Fine," he grumbles, stomping out of the dressing room the same way he came in. I shake my head, watching him go. Good grief. Whoever he marries is going to need a spine of steel. He's only nine and he's already bossy as all get out! He's going to be a holy terror when he's older.
He's probably right about the outfit, though. Gideon is going to lose his mind about it, but that's precisely the point. I like keeping my man on his toes, and this tiny little dress will definitely do that.
I fluff my hair and apply another coat of lipstick before slipping out of the dressing room to hide until it's time to go onstage. If he can't find me, he can't make me change. And I know darn well that Cormac is going to snitch on me.
He is his father's son, through and through.
I hide in the wings, watching Winter's set on stage. Ronan's wife is one of my closest friends now. I absolutely love her.
Ten minutes later, I see Cormac sneaking past with a box in his hands.
What in the world?
I watch through narrowed eyes as he creeps up to the edge of the stage, trying to remain hidden behind the curtain. A claw extends out over the side of the box as he kneels toward the floor.
Holy crap.
I jump out of my hiding spot, scurrying toward him.
"Don't you even think about it," I growl as he starts to tip the box sideways to release whatever animal he's hiding inside.
He sees me coming and jumps to his feet, trying to thrust the box behind his back.
"Cormac Carmichael, get your butt away from this stage right now."
"Ma, I wasn't doing nothing," he lies.
I snatch the box from behind his back, groaning when I see half a dozen lobsters milling around inside.
"Lobsters, Cormac? You were going to release lobsters on stage?"
"Only because I couldn't find Dad," he mumbles. "They won't hurt anything. Just slow you down."
"Where did you even get them from?"
"I bought them from the kitchen."
"You bought them? How in the world did you get the money to buy six live lobsters?"
"Memphis."
Of course Winter's former band member gave him the money. The man is insane.
I scoop the box up under my arm and hook my other through Cormac's, marching him back to my dressing room. "Sit your butt right there," I growl, pointing at a chair.
He sighs heavily and shuffles over to it, dropping into it like I just asked him to walk the plank.
I stick my nose out into the hallway and motion for one of the security guards. "Can you take this back to the kitchen and tell them my son won't be needing their lobsters after all, please? They can keep his money."
"Uh, of course." The security guard takes the box without asking any questions.
"Thank you." I beam at him and then push the door closed, marching across the room to grab my phone. I dial Gideon.
"Hey, Sparrow."
"You need to come and deal with your son, Gideon."
"What'd he do this time?"
"I caught him trying to release live lobsters on the stage."
"What the fuck?" Gideon laughs. "Why?"
"Because he's a crazy person just like you!" I huff, flinging one hand up. "He doesn't like what I'm wearing."
Gideon's laughter dried up lickety-split. "What are you wearing, Sparrow?"
"Clothes, Gideon. Come and get your son."
He growls at me, but I hang up on him.
Five minutes later, he sails through the door, eyes narrowed at me.
"Fuck no," he says, instantly going into caveman mode. "You're not wearing that fucking dress on stage, Kenna."
"Yes, I am, Marine."
He stalks toward me, his eyes glittering with possessive jealousy. "Take it off before I take it off of you."
"Cormac is sitting right there."
Gideon whips his head in Cormac's direction. Somehow, our son looks smug and dejected at the same time. He knows he's in trouble. But he also feels vindicated.
"You," Gideon growls. "Go wait in the hall. We're going to have a conversation as soon as I'm done talking to your mom."
"Yes, sir," Cormac says, hanging his head.
I bite my lip, trying not to crack. Somehow, I always crack. Gideon knows it. That's why he's in charge of keeping our son under control. I'm a pushover. I start out strong and crumble every time Cormac's little lip wobbles.
He means well. He's just spent nine years watching his dad and overprotective uncles. The Carmichael blood runs strong in his veins. When he's older, it'll serve him well. But at nine, it's getting him into all sorts of trouble.
He shuffles out, leaving me and Gideon alone.
"You aren't wearing that dress."
"Yes, I am, Gideon."
He hauls me up against his chest, his erection pressed against my stomach. "Fine," he growls, plunging his hand into my hair. "Then you better be ready to handle this situation as soon as you get off the fucking stage, Sparrow."
"I have things to do when I get off stage."
"Don't care. You're coming right back here, and you're going to bend over that vanity like a good girl and let me get a taste of you. Once you're finished screaming my name, you can do whatever else you need to do. But not until." His eyes glitter with intent. "I mean it, Kenna. Don't make me come and find you."
"You're so bossy!"
"Yeah, I am." He nips my bottom lip. "And that's exactly why you put that fucking dress on."
He's not wrong. I love driving him crazy. It's been ten years, and I still can't get enough of this man. I never will.
"You better go deal with your son."
"Why is he always my son when he's causing problems?"
"Because he's mine when he's an angel."
Gideon chuckles, pulling me into a deep kiss. "Where the fuck did he get lobsters?"
"The kitchen. Memphis gave him the money for them."
"Fucking Memphis," Gideon groans, making me laugh.
It's not the first time Memphis has caused problems around here. It probably won't be the last. The man is complicated.
"You need to tell him that he can't be telling me what to wear, Gideon. I mean it. He's only nine. He doesn't need to be worried about what I'm wearing or what I'm doing. He causes enough chaos without trying to burn down the world because he's trying to do your dirty work for you."
"I'll talk to him, Sparrow," Gideon promises, kissing me again. "You go on out there and do what you need to do. I'll handle Cormac."
"Okay." I hesitate. "Take it easy on him. He means well."
Gideon chuckles, pressing his forehead to mine. "I fucking love you, you know that? You're too goddamn sweet for words."
"I love you too," I whisper, meaning it more now than ever. This man is my heart and soul. There isn't a single moment I regret with him. I never will. He's the best choice I ever made.
He's my world. And I know I'm his, too.