Epilogue 1
Mindy
“That sounds like the craziest pre-nup ever,” Caroline says as we put the finishing touches on some centerpieces for the wedding reception.
“I know,” I say, pouring each of us another glass of bubbly.
“When Remi asked me to have my lawyer look it over, I fully expected it to focus on protecting his billions in case of divorce, but there was nothing in there about that. The only thing about his assets related to Hale Cosmetics, and if we broke up, I would still receive profits from the business for ten years following, but I’d have no ownership.
And all his personal assets would be split fifty-fifty with me. ”
My best friend takes a sip and reaches down to adjust the strap on her baby son’s car seat as he snoozes peacefully beside it. “That seems more than generous since it’s his family’s business. And your lawyer agreed you should sign it?”
“Doreen told me I was insane if I didn’t,” I say with a laugh. “Every other thing in the document related to my assets. Anything I brought into the marriage would remain completely mine, as well as any future businesses I started.”
“Your bakery,” Caroline says with a thoughtful nod.
“Exactly. Remi said I was burned so badly by Twatface, and he wanted to be sure I felt financially safe at all times.”
“Swoon city,” my friend sings. “What’s going on with Whisk and Whimsy anyway? Is Clarissa ready to sell yet?”
I shake my head. “She keeps putting me off. I have enough to pay off a huge chunk of it, and I plan to get a loan for the rest, but now she’s saying she’s not sure if she’s ready to retire yet.”
“It’s got to be hard to sell something you’ve spent half of your life building. I’m sure it’s sentimental to her.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I say, and then I remember something I forgot to tell my best friend. “You’re never going to believe who we got a wedding invitation from last month.”
“Taylor Swift,” she says.
“No, but we will be going to her wedding. Apparently she and Hale Cosmetics support some of the same causes, so Remi and I got invited since he’s the CEO. They see each other often at charity events.”
Caroline gapes at me like I’m pulling her leg. “I’m going to assume you’re joking so I don’t have a heart attack right now. I’ll process my best friend going to the wedding of the century at a later time. Who did you get a wedding invitation from last month?”
“Serena,” I whisper as if she would appear out of thin air like when you say “Candyman” three times in a row.
“Get the fuck out,” Caroline says, slapping my arm.
“Nope, and her wedding date is tomorrow.”
“On the same day as yours?”
I nod and take another sip. “Yep. She’s marrying some billionaire Greek shipping tycoon. I showed Remi the invite, and he just laughed, tossed it in the trash, and said, ‘That poor sap.’”
“Wait, so she got her claws into some rich dude and planned her wedding for the same day the man she wanted to marry is getting married?” I nod at her assessment, and Caroline shakes her head. “I have to agree with Remi. Poor sap. That bitch is diabolical.”
We hear the door to the penthouse open, and the man who will be my husband tomorrow calls out.
“In the kitchen,” I call back, and Caroline stands.
“I’m going to get going. I have to pump and dump since I indulged in champagne,” she says with a laugh. “But it was just so delicious.”
“You don’t have to dump your breast milk,” I tell her. “It’s non-alcoholic champagne.”
Her eyes hold mine for a long second, and then she grins. “Ohhhh, gotcha.”
I hold a finger over my lips in a shh gesture, and she mimes zipping her lips as Remi enters.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” He bends to lift the car seat and finds baby Miles blinking awake.
“And gentleman. Did these girls talk your ears off, little man? Maybe you should come to the golf course with the Hale men next time.” His voice is so gentle and sweet when he talks to the baby, and my heart—and my libido—thump mightily.
It doesn’t help that he has his hat on backward.
“I was just leaving,” Caroline says.
Remi bends to kiss her cheek. “Hi, Caroline. I’ll carry Miles down for you. I have an agreement with him. He’s going to report back on everything you two talked about today.”
My friend laughs. “Good luck with that. So far all your little spy has said is da-da and buh.”
Remi smirks. “Miles and I have our own language, don’t we, buddy?”
He looks affectionately at the little boy, and Miles replies with a hearty, “Buh!”
Caroline looks at me and mouths, “Swoon city.” I have to agree.
My future husband strides over to give me a kiss too, but mine is on the lips, much longer, and involves tongue. I’m breathless when he pulls back. “Be right back, baby.” I can only nod because goddamn, my man is fine.
I’m still standing there smiling with my lips tingling when he returns.
“Thank you for helping Caroline,” I say when he takes my hips and smashes our bodies together.
Remi rubs his nose against mine. He smells of sweat and grass, and it turns me on. We play golf together sometimes, but today, the day before our wedding, was for him, the Hale men, and Phil, Caroline’s father, who will be walking me down the aisle tomorrow.
“She had a difficult recovery after her C-section. I wouldn’t want her to strain anything.
” Remi had been wonderful after my best friend gave birth.
When I would go down on the weekends to give Caroline and Brayden a break, he always came with me, taking over baby duty while I cooked a few meals for them to last the week. He’s a pro at diaper changing now.
I wrap my arms around his neck, feeling my desire for this man grow by the second. “You want to go upstairs and ravage your fiancée?” I ask hopefully.
His hands drop to my ass. “More than anything, but I need to give you your wedding present first.” He looks vaguely uncomfortable. “That way if we fight about it, we can fuck out our frustrations and be good to go tomorrow.”
My hackles rise, and I warily ask, “Why would we fight about it? Is it over-the-top or something?”
“Way over the top,” he admits without an ounce of shame. “But you said I could give you anything.”
“Okay, Hale, let’s have it,” I sigh, preparing myself for some ridiculously expensive piece of jewelry.
Instead, he releases me and opens a drawer on the curio cabinet that now holds my salt and pepper shaker collection, pulling out a sheaf of papers. I take a seat, and he sits across from me at the small round table, placing the papers in front of me.
I hold his eyes for a moment before looking down. My eyebrows begin migrating up my forehead until I’m sure they’ve disappeared.
“You bought Whisk and Whimsy for me?”
Remi begins talking rapidly in that CEO voice he uses when he’s trying to make a deal.
“Yes, and it’s completely in your name. I’m simply gifting it to you as your husband.
You have full ownership. I know you’ve been saving for this, and that’s good because your savings will come in handy.
This deed covers only the building and all the contents.
You will be responsible for maintaining all equipment, hiring and paying staff, marketing, taxes, and purchasing ingredients, not to mention all the utilities.
I’ll be here if you ever need anything, financially or otherwise, but you are the boss. ”
“Okay,” I say, flipping the page and continuing to read.
“I already sent it to Doreen Smoak because you’re a very smart woman, and I know you would want your attorney to look over it.
She mostly does family law, so another lawyer in her firm that deals with property law looked at it and deemed it legitimate and completely yours with no strings attached.
There’s a letter on the back from them.”
I turn to the final page and read over the letter, which is only a few sentences confirming what Remi said.
“I see. That was very thoughtful of you.”
“I know you wanted to open your bakery all on your own, and you will,” he rushes to add.
“You’ll simply have a head start because you’ll already own the property.
But like I said, you will run this business because it will be yours.
All you have to do is sign on the next to last page in front of a notary. ”
He stops and looks like he’s bracing for impact, his posture stiff and his lips tensed into a straight line.
His form is a blur through my tears when I look up at him and say, “Thank you.”
Remi waits for more, and we stare at each other for a long time. “And?” he asks warily.
“And I love you.”
“You’re… you’re not mad?”
I tap the papers as a tear breaks the dam and slides down my cheek. “Did you give me this very generous gift because you love me?”
He looks a bit shocked at my response. “I did. As your husband, I want to hold you up, not hold you back.”
That only activates more tears. “Then again, I say thank you. It’s the best gift you could have given me, and I love you with all my heart.”
A smile begins to form on his lips, growing wider as he mock-wipes sweat from his brow. “Whew. I was preparing for a battle.” His thumb tenderly blots my tears. “And I love you too, Mindy Hale.”
“Not yet,” I tease.
My fiancé leans forward and lifts me out of my chair before settling me onto his lap. I wind my arms around his neck, and he blesses me with a long, sweet kiss.
“Oh, sweetheart, it’s as good as done. You’ve got me locked down nice and tight.”
I place my hand over the one he’s using to cup my face, leaning into his warm touch. “Good, because I want to give you your wedding gift now.” I grin a little smugly. “And I hate to one-up my husband, but my present is even more valuable than a whole-ass bakery.”
Now it’s time for his eyebrow to shoot up. “Well, you’ve piqued my curiosity. Can I have it now?”
“No, but you can have it in about seven and a half months.” He appears confused, so I take his hand and lower it to my belly for emphasis. When his eyes widen, I know he’s got it.
He removes his hand and lifts my shirt, staring at my still flat belly as if he can actually see the baby growing inside me. Then he looks up at me, and his face glows with wonder.
“A baby? We’re having a baby?”
“We are,” I confirm. “I took an at-home test this morning, and when it came back positive, I called Nicolette since she’s a medical doctor.
I know she’s a dermatologist, but she was able to do a quick blood test to confirm it.
” I worry my bottom lip. “I hope you don’t mind that I called her.
She promised not to tell Helix or anyone else.
I just wanted to be sure before I told you, and I didn’t want to go to an actual doctor’s office.
I knew you’d want to go to the first OB appointment with me. ”
He holds my face in both hands. “Damn right I do. I’m not missing a single thing, and I’m not mad at all about Nic. I’m too fucking ecstatic to be mad.” He looks down between us again and whispers, “A baby.”
God, he’s so damn cute. And sweaty. And sexy. Good lord, is he ever sexy.
“There’s only one problem,” I say, and Remi jerks his gaze to me in alarm. “Your baby is doing wild things to my hormones, and I’m horny as hell right now.”
His grin is pure mischief as he stands, holding me bridal style. “Good thing your horniness is my specialty.” He carries me out of the kitchen and toward the living room staircase. “We’ll spend the rest of the day and night in bed, and I’ll take care of you.”
“We have the rehearsal and dinner tonight,” I remind him with a giggle.
“Then I’ll just have to work my ass off to make sure my wife is satisfied by the time we have to leave.”
He takes the stairs slowly, and I know it’s because he considers me and the baby precious cargo. “You’re going to be an amazing daddy.”
“Keep calling me Daddy, and we’re not making it to that rehearsal tonight,” he grumps. “I can’t believe we’re having the first of our ten kids in a few months.”
“Two kids,” I correct with faux exasperation.
“Two… ten…” he replies as we reach the top of the stairs. “Who’s counting?”