Extended Epilogue
Maggie
Five years later . . .
The Hadley and Maggie World Tour started in France and toured through Europe before we headed south to South America.
Every place I’ve ever been on assignment. My turn to show him my world.
This is our last stop, a tiny family-owned pub in the heart of London, and since it’s almost Christmas, my parents have joined us.
I’m sitting at the same table I was when I accepted the Ukraine assignment.
The assignment that changed my life before I fled home for refuge.
The refuge that led me to the circuit I would have happily avoided my entire life . . .
To the man who I can no longer live without.
And . . . our son. Who bursts through the door, his father following close behind.
My parents are behind him, back from their hunt with their grandson for reindeer around the city.
Tate hollers about the holiday decorations, pointing and spinning around when he finds something bigger and shinier to be amazed over with his disjointed talk.
Hadley squats down, participating in his rapture with the happiest grin stretching his handsome face.
Lord, I really never tire of this man.
I finish the article I’m tapping out and save before closing the laptop and sliding it into my tote. I slip from the stool. “Did you find some reindeer, baby?” I coo, bending down, arms out as Tate flies into them.
“I found ’em, Mama.”
“You did?!” My face lights up as his escalates to an excitement level only a four-year-old can manage.
“Uh huh.” He cuddles into my shoulder, wrapping his sweet little arms around my neck.
I fold him into a warm embrace, pushing to my feet. Warmth wraps around me from behind, Hadley holding the both of us. He dips his head, lips brushing my ear. “What do you want for Christmas this year, Sunshine?”
I smile, breathing Tate in before I answer, “How about a little girl?”
He chuckles and mumbles something about my request landing me on the naughty list before, “You got it, baby.”
Mom and Brad walk down the hall of the Hyde hotel, Tate between them, his tiny hands in theirs as they count down and swing him up into the air on three.
His giggles fill the hallway.
“Come on, Sunshine, let’s make a baby.” Hadley closes in behind me.
His signature move lately, and I’m not going to lie, it’s one of my favorite things.
“There’s a hot tub with city views waiting for us,” he growls into my ear.
I spin in his hold and press my palms to his chest. He dips his head, lips hunting for mine.
“Hold your horses, Hads.”
“When it comes to you, Maggie Jones, my self-control is in the dirt.”
I laugh, palming his jaw. “I’m aware.”
His forehead meets mine. “All this talk of baby making, and it’s all I’ve been able to think of all damn day. Hot tub. Now.”
“Bossy, cowboy.”
Sweeping me off my feet, he turns on his heel and kicks the door shut, making a beeline for the hot tub. With heat in his eyes and a drawl that would melt the panties off a nun, he breathes, “You have no idea.”