Epilogue
Theo
Fourteen months later
“Babe? You here?”
I set the book I was reading aside to greet Jaxon. “I am. You’re looking pretty hot and sexy there, Judge Polaris.”
Grinning, he tossed aside his briefcase and kicked off his shoes.
“I wanted to hurry up the trial the moment you texted me you’d arrived.”
“That wouldn’t be consistent with your oath of office, now would it, Your Honor?” I teased, rising to meet him.
“But it would be with the oath I took with you. Husband. I love the way that sounds.” He kissed me, hard and deep. “Happy anniversary. I love you.”
I put my arms around his neck. “I love you too. I can’t believe it’s already been a year. It went by so fast.”
“Fast or slow, every minute with you has been the happiest of my life,” he said as he nuzzled my neck.
“Mine too.”
“How was the drive over?” he asked.
“Not too bad. The usual.” He continued to kiss me. “Did you hear the news?”
“No, what?”
“George Winston’s wife left him. She discovered he was cheating on her with their nanny. Caught him in the act, in fact.”
“Mr. Morality,” I huffed. “What a hypocrite.”
“Yep. Rumor in the courthouse is that it’s going to be messy. She had the money in the marriage and a rock-solid prenup, so he’s out on his ass. Sanctimonious piece of shit.”
“Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.” I pushed the hair off his brow. “Forget him. I don’t want to waste another minute of our time together thinking about anything but us. It’s hard enough being away from you.”
“I know, baby. I’m so glad you’re here now.”
After Jaxon won the race, he’d rented an apartment by the courthouse, and I’d come visit him if his trials lasted longer than a week or he had a full docket.
I’d hired Maggie to oversee the kitchen and promoted Tony to manage the bar.
We were open every night and started at noon on the weekends, when Freddy would come in.
All the publicity from the sports auction and the constant sighting of players kept Sweeny’s packed all the time.
We even held a GAINS event there, which brought in more people.
Of course I checked in, and we went through the books on a weekly basis, but my whole life no longer revolved around Sweeny’s.
I vowed never to be like my father, whose focus was the business, with nothing and nobody else coming close.
Jaxon sold his condo, and we spent our free time together in Appleton Falls enjoying our simple, quiet life.
Waking up with him in the morning, having breakfast together, and going to bed and making love every night surpassed all my fantasies.
Sometimes at night I watched him, still amazed that Jaxon sleeping next to me was my reality.
“I have champagne in the fridge and a reservation at that place you like—Bistro on Main.” He rubbed his warm foot with mine. “Then nothing for the rest of the night except getting naked and showing you how much I love you.”
“Sounds perfect.” I kissed him. “Especially the last part.”
His blue eyes gleamed. “Or we could ditch the dinner and just stay home and have wild, passionate sex.” He trailed a finger down my throat, followed by his mouth.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about all the things I’d like to do to you tonight.
Now that you’re here, I feel like I can take a deep breath. ”
My heart skipped a beat. “Your Honor! What a decadent thing to suggest. Do your colleagues on the bench know your dirty little secret?”
“It’s not a secret how much I love my husband.” He rolled up his sleeve. “Look. See? I still get goose bumps saying it.”
“And I still sometimes can’t believe this is my life. You and me. Together.”
“Forever, baby.”
I held him closer. “Cancel the reservation,” I whispered.
**
Later that evening, I lay sleepy and satisfied, my body humming from his touch, when I noticed Jaxon had left the bed.
“Hey,” I called out. “Where are you?”
The bedroom door burst open. “Happy anniversary, baby.”
I opened my eyes and burst out laughing. Jaxon stood wearing nothing but his robe and a smile, holding a champagne bottle in one hand and two glasses in the other.
“Is that your gavel, Your Honor, or are you just happy to see me?”
“I’m always happy to see you.”
He popped open the bottle and poured us two glasses. Without spilling a drop, he climbed into bed and handed me the glass. We clinked and drank before I set my drink aside on the nightstand.
“I always wondered what judges wore under their robes,” I mused, and Jaxon snickered.
“Don’t think I haven’t been tempted to wear shorts under this in the summer, but my hairy legs would be a dead giveaway, and I’d get a warning from the chief judge for being inappropriate.
” He finished his drink and put the flute aside.
“So I’ll wait until I get home to be inappropriate with my sexy husband.
” He trailed a finger over my shoulder. “I’ve dreamed of these freckles. They taste like summer sunshine.”
We snuggled together, and I kissed his neck. “Do you think I should move up here permanently?”
“What? You want to leave Appleton Falls and the bar? Sell the house? I love it there in the winter, lying by the fireplace with you while the snow piles up outside.” He paused and gazed into the darkness before adding with a sigh, “I knew it’d be hard to leave it behind, but I have to confess I miss it. ”
“I understand. But Maggie and I were talking, and I came up with an idea.”
“What?”
“Nothing definite. I mean, it’s in the planning stage and would take a ton of work and permits, but I want your input—”
“Theo,” Jaxon interrupted, knowing my rush of words was nerves. “Just tell me.”
“Well, you know how big the house is and how we don’t even use half the rooms…
” At Jaxon’s nod, I continued. “It would take so much money and time to renovate, and do we really need all that space? I was thinking that maybe we could make it into a woman’s shelter?
You know, for the ones who ran away from abuse and need a safe haven?
We can get a smaller house in town, but I want to spend more time here with you, and this way I can. ”
He held out his arms, and I settled into his chest while he played with my hair. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. And you are such a good person. I’m so lucky to have you. You’re okay with leaving your childhood home? I know how much you loved the house.”
“It’s not the house. It’s how I feel when you’re there with me. We could keep it, but you’ll be ready for retirement before the renovations are done. This way we can get our own place now.”
“I love the idea. And I love you.” He rolled on top of me.
“Did you know every day I think about what my life would be like if you hadn’t agreed to that boyfriend proposal?
We could’ve ended up like Mr. Ackerman, living by himself with only decades-old pictures to keep him company. I didn’t want to be like that.”
My smile broadened. “Haven’t you heard? Mr. Ackerman and Arthur Tripton moved in together. They connected at that first Valentine’s Day event at Sweeny’s and have been together ever since. Now neither one of them ever has to be alone. Isn’t that the sweetest thing?”
“Second only to you, Theo. Do it. Make the house a shelter for women, and we’ll start fresh in our own little home with a white picket fence. Here, there, or both. As long as we’re together.”
“Forever.” My lips met his, and I clung to him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby.”
I no longer had to worry about living an ordinary life. I never would again.
Because every day with Jaxon was extraordinary.