Epilogue One
Sydney
Ten Years Later
I look across the lawn to see Mari playing with her younger siblings.
My son, Trey, is eight years old and adores his older sister.
Mari is eleven now. She has started asking questions about her biological father, but she has never doubted that Tucker loves her.
He adopted her the same day he married me.
Less than a month after he proposed to me.
My youngest toddles through the grass, trying to follow her older siblings. Keeya is only three but already tests my nerves. I caught her the other day trying to climb a ladder to get to her daddy. He was cleaning out the drains to get ready for winter.
I still work at the zoo and have become the curator for the African exhibit.
It’s a dream job for me because I get to help with the conservation and management of animals.
Tucker still works for Williamson Specialty Construction and with the Unknowns.
He’s just over forty, and I still feel like I have to beat off women whenever there are parties at the clubhouse.
I had no clue what forever would feel like or what I wanted for my future, but there was no turning back once I let him in. He was the force I needed to learn how to live again after almost dying.
I hear the loud pipes of Tucker’s motorcycle and turn to see him coming down the long driveway toward us. I clench my legs together as desire flows through me. I can’t wait until the kids are in bed so I can get my man to myself.
He stops his bike and watches me for a moment. His thick, powerful legs swing him off the seat, and my breathing increases as he moves to where I’m sitting, watching him. He doesn’t stop until he’s standing in front of me. He leans down and picks me up.
“I’m too heavy,” I protest, but he lifts me until my legs are wrapped around his waist and we are looking each other in the eye.
“Don’t lie like that, spitfire.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Hey, Dad, you got the kids,” Tucker says as he carries me toward the house.
He moves up the steps of our large wraparound porch and through the door, heading for our room at the back corner on the main floor. He slams the door closed and hits the lock.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day. If Keeya hadn’t woken so early, I would have gotten my breakfast this morning.”
He drops me onto the bed as I chuckle about his breakfast. He swears he needs me every morning on his tongue or he can’t focus. I moan as he flips up my dress and buries his face between my legs.
“I wish I could get you pregnant one more time, spitfire,” he growls against my core.
Tucker wants us to have another baby, but I’m worried I’m too old at thirty-nine. I keep telling him we can adopt.
“No, honey. There are plenty of kids who need homes. I’ve been looking at a place in Botswana.”
“Okay.” He finally gives in and proceeds to take me to heaven, just like he’s done every chance he’s had for the last ten years.