Keeping a grip on me, I take Cole from him as he runs a hand over my belly.
“We’re gonna be fine,” he says softly. “All of us. Always. I promise,” he reminds me.
“Now, I’m thinking three cheese pizza as an entrée,” he announces, shifting the focus to an early dinner.
I know from experience that an early dinner means an early night for Cole.
And an early night for us too, not that much sleeping goes on when we get to bed early.
“And for the main course?” I ask, gnawing at my lip as I think of all my favorites. No weird cravings for this pregnant mommy, just carbs, carbs, and more carbs.
“Whatever you choose baby, whatever you choose,” he says hungrily, reminding me it’s dessert he’s more interested in.
“As long as it has you on top, I don’t mind,” I tease him playfully.
“Oh I’ll be all over you,” he promises. “On top, behind. On the side,” he tells me, kissing me in between each word before we realize little Cole’s fallen asleep.
Come to think of it, the whole place is quiet, too quiet and a quick glance shows all the dogs asleep too.
“We’d better move,” Parker says with mock urgency.
I’m right behind him, and I don’t want to miss our big chance. If everyone sleeps now they’ll want to stay up all night.
I shift Cole and he wakes, letting out a stammered cry and in no time the dogs are up too, howling louder than ever.
It’s music to my ears though, and a tune I’ve only grown to love more and more each day.
Loving our son, our dogs, and the little baby on the way, but most of all loving the man I couldn’t live without. Not for a single day.
My hero, my whole world.
My everything.
Michael Parker.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
FIVE YEARS LATER
Parker
Pulling up to the front door I can already hear Cole and Natalie from inside.
Squealing with laughter followed by the sounds of dogs barking excitedly.
Moose is next to me in the truck, whining to let me know he wants out so he doesn’t miss out on any of the fun.
I lean over and open his door and in a flash, he’s bounding around to the back of the house to let himself in.
Naomi opens the front door, lighting up my world with her smile. It’s been a long day taking care of the security business down in the city, but I’m home now.
Once we married and the kids came along, mom finally agreed to move into a retirement home so she could get the help she needs with the full-time nursing staff.
She got her grandbabies and we decided it was best with the growing family to move upstate into her old place.
We take the kids to see her whenever she asks but is happiest seeing them online, no dogs are allowed in the nursing home so we time those visits carefully so one of us is always with Moose, Bella, and the puppies.
I call them puppies still, but Zak and Pace are fully grown now, even though they still act like puppies. Having the kids around helps everyone burn off their excitement.
I can hear Moose barking hello to everyone and in seconds they’re all racing towards the front door.
“Daddy’s home!” Natalie squeals, lisping a little and showing the space where her wobbly front teeth were this morning.
“Who’s this pretty girl?” I ask her, feigning surprise and asking her what she’s done with my daughter.
“It’s me, daddy, it’s me,” she shouts, jumping up and down while she explains how brave she was when she wiggled her teeth out all by herself.
“Natalie? It is you,” I tell her, sounding relieved, and picking both her and her brother up I carry them both inside.
“The tooth fairy’s gonna give me lots of money,” she continues, interrupted by her brother, Cole who starts whining about how unfair it is he has all his teeth and is gonna miss out.
Mommy hooks an arm around my waist, ignoring the pair of them, and kisses me. “How was your day, hun?” she asks, letting her hand slide down to my behind and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Letting me know she has something for me as soon as the kids have gone to bed.
She whispers a little of what she has planned into my ear so only I can hear, but it’s drowned out by the shrill sound of kids and then the even louder sounds of four dogs barking.
Setting the kids down, I suggest they go play in the yard until I get dinner ready, promising them both I’m sure the tooth fairy can understand the situation and leave them both something special.
“You spoil them,” Naomi reminds me as I put my arm around her and pull her close, both of us standing by the back door and watching our babies play with the dogs.
“I know,” I agree. “But it’s really me who’s been spoiled rotten. I’m the luckiest man alive don’t you know?” I remind her. Kissing her gently on the lips, asking her to tell me what she was whispering a moment ago.
The telephone rings, right when she gets to the interesting part.
“Let the machine get it…” But she shrugs and warns me I’ll just have to wait and see what she has in store before she picks up.
It’s her brother, Chet. Keeping an eye on the kids outside, I make my way into the kitchen and start preparing dinner for us all.
Naomi and Chet were never close, but like all miracles, once we married and had the kids our family grew, and it includes Chet and my mom as well as us.
It’s good to hear her happy to hear from him. It took a while, but they’re closer than ever nowadays.
I call out for her to say hi for me and she relays Chet’s howdy back to me.
He worked security for me for a while but in the end, it wasn’t for him. No hard feelings from me, I appreciated his honesty.
I’ve got a pretty tight team down there now and a manager who runs things. I only head down to the city when I really have to.
He runs the dog salon now, who knew that was his calling?
It was perfect timing because with Natalie on the way I didn’t want Naomi working so hard. She wanted to run the salon though, right up until her last few months with our second baby.
Since then, being at home in the country with the kids and four dogs, I think she’s found her true calling.
Supermom, darling wife. Best friend. Lover.
She’s everything I need and I tell her I love her a dozen times a day, each kiss and touch of her hands is as electric and magical as the day we first met. Maybe even more so.
Setting dinner into the oven and finishing up the salad, I hear her signing off from her brother and she calls the kids inside to wash up.
The dogs wait patiently, knowing they’ll all be fed at the same time we eat and the kids carry on their antics as they race to the bathroom to wash up.
“We did good didn’t we,” I ask her watching them both disappear down the hallway, listening to them. Looking into Naomi’s eyes as I feel my heart flutter for the twentieth time today.
“We did real good Michael Parker,” she says, only calling me that when she really means it.
“I love you, Naomi,” I whisper to her, pulling her close and kissing her tenderly.
“Love you more and more each day.”
NEWSLETTER
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A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian
Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend
Book 69: Possessive Firefighter
Book 70: Football Next Door
Book 71: Doctor December
Book 72: Possessive Canadian
Book 73: Blue Collar Billionaire
Book 74: Possessive K-9 Cop
Book 75: Possessive Brazilian
Book 76: Hockey Obsession
Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA Fighter
Book 78: Halloween Next Door
Book 79: Possessive Russian
Book 80: Baseball Mine
Book 81: Cop’s Caribbean Captive
Book 82: Instalove Island
Book 83: Dad’s Best Friend
Book 84: Thanksgiving with Dad’s Boss
Book 85: Possessive Italian Neighbor
Book 86: Possessive Portuguese
Book 87: Possessive Christmas Cop
Book 88: Russian’s Obsession
Book 89: Possessive Doctor’s Christmas
Book 90: Possessive Parisian Pilot
Book 91: U.K. Boxing Day
Book 92: Jealous Russian Stalker
Book 93: Italian Mountain Man
Book 94: Aggressive Russian
Book 95: Possessive Valentine
Book 96: Possessive Hunter
Book 97: Dad’s Russian Mafia Friend
Book 98: Russian Teacher
Book 99: Australian Obsession
Book 100: Russian Next Door
Book 101: Dad’s Irish Friend
Book 102: Nanny for the Russian Mafia
Book 103: Best Friend’s Dad
Book 104: Basketball Babymaker
Book 105: Possessive Veterinarian
Book 106: Brother’s Fireman Friend
Book 107: Brother’s Canadian Cowboy Friend
Book 108: Summer Vacation with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 109: Dad’s Italian Mafia Friend
Book 110: Dad’s Irish Mafia Friend
Book 111: Dad’s Football Friend
Book 112: Possessing His Dancing Queen
Book 113: Brother’s Cop Friend
Book 114: Halloween With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 115: Claimed By Her Boss
Book 116: Possessive Rider
Book 117: Dad’s Ex-Biker Buddy
Book 118: Possessive Undercover Cop
Book 119: Falling For Her Boss
Book 120: Claiming His Fashionista
Book 121: More Than Dad’s Best Friend
Book 122: Thanksgiving With Dad’s Best Friend
Book 123: Bossy Italian
Book 124: Christmas With Dad’s Mafia Friend
Book 125: Maid For The Italian Mafia
Book 126: Nutcracker
Book 127: Cowboy Cerrone
Book 128: Chef’s Kiss
Book 129: Claimed By The Russian
Book 130: Bought By The Italian Mafia
Book 131: Hot Nerd
Book 132: Dad’s Italian Mafia Boss
Book 133: Mine
Book 134: Taken By The Thief
Book 135: Curves Ahead
Book 136: Her Mafia Valentine
Book 137: Doctor Valentine
Book 138: Maid For The Irish Mafia
Book 139: Winning Her Curves
Book 140: Dad’s Cartel Best Friend
Book 141: Dad’s Greek Mafia Friend
Book 142: Lawyer’s Obsession
Book 143: Attending Her Curves
Book 144: Maid for the Russian Mafia
Book 145: Priest
Book 146: Claimed By Dad’s Best Friend
Book 147: His Curvy Office Obsession
Book 148: Easter with Dad's Best Friend
Book 149: Veterinarian's Obsession
Book 150: Curves For Her Older Boss
Book 151: Mob Lawyer's Curves
Book 152: Maid For The Doctor Next Door
Book 153: Possessive Forest Ranger
Book 154: Nurse For The Russian Mafia
Book 155: Dad’s Fireman Friend
Book 156: Russian Mountain Man
Book 157: Possessive Italian Doctor
Book 158: Dad's EMT Best Friend
Book 159: Claimed By The Publisher
Book 160: Mr. CEO
Book 161: His Curvy Castaway Obsession
Book 162: Claiming His Reunion Obsession
Book 163: Claimed By Dad’s College Friend
Book 164: Dad’s Detective Best Friend
Book 165: Attending The Russian Mafia
Book 166: Dad's Biker Best Friend
Book 167: My Dad's Russian Mafia Friend
Book 168: Possessive Landlord
Book 169: Gardener For The Mafia
Book 170: Possessive Fighter
Book 171: Claiming Her Sweet Curves
Book 172: Possessive Camp Counselor
Book 173: Claimed By Dad's Italian Best Friend
Book 174: Possessive Neighbor
Book 175: 4th of July With Dad's Best Friend
Book 176: Claimed By Her Enemy
Book 177: Bodyguard’s Obsession
Book 178: Falling For The Player
Book 179: Possessive Alpha Cop
Book 180: Her CEO
Book 181: Falling For Her Dad’s Boss
Book 182: MMA Fighter’s Obsession
Book 183: Possessive Lawyer
Book 184: Claimed by the British Rockstar
Book 185: Summer Obsession
Book 186: Paris with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 187: Claimed by the Possessive Fireman
Book 188: Possessive Trucker
Book 189: Falling for Dad's Enemy
Book 190: His Undercover Maid
Book 191: Her Innocent CEO
Book 192: Bratva Bos
s’s Babysitter
Book 193: Sold to the Bratva Boss
Book 194: My Dad's Best Friend
Book 195: His Cabin Obsession
Book 196: Driver's Obsession
Book 197: His Unexpected Love
Book 198: London with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 199: Hot Neighbor
Book 200: Maid for the Hollywood Heartthrob
Book 201: The CEO and the Wedding Planner
Book 202: Claimed by the Italian
Book 203: Dad’s CEO Boss
Book 204: The Mob and His Messenger
Book 205: Rome with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 206: Haunted by Her Curves
Book 207: Her Vampire
Book 208: Bidding for Her Curves
Book 208: Claiming His Student
Book 210: CEO's Dog Trainer Obsession
Book 211: Pool Girl
Book 212: Possessive Writer
Book 213: Maid for the Mafia Informant
Book 214: Thankful for Him
Book 215: Madrid with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 216: My Best Friend’s Dad
Book 217: Taming Her Beast
Book 218: All I Want For Christmas is You
Book 219: Falling for His Captive
Book 220: My Christmas Carol
Book 221: Preacher’s Daughter
Book 222: Her Hitman
Book 223: Claimed by Her Best Friend’s Dad
Book 224: My Roommate’s Dad
Book 225: His To Claim
Book 226: Matchmaker Backfire
Book 227: Saved by the Hitman
Book 228: Valentine’s with My Best Friend’s Dad
Book 229: Lost and Found
Book 230: Electing For Her Curves
Book 231: Barcelona with Dad’s Best Friend
Book 232: Claiming His Forever
Book 233: Hearts On Campus
Book 234: Intern for My Best Friend’s Dad
Book 235: Paris with the Billionaire
Book 236: Open Heart (Dr. Love)
Book 237: Meet Me In Monaco
Book 238: Maid for the Hitman
Book 239: My Best Friend’s Navy SEAL Dad
Book 240: Groomed For Love
BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS
Book 1: Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Best Friend
Book 2: Babysitter For Dad’d Russian Mafia Bear Friend
Book 3: Dad’s Bratva Bear Friend
LAIRDS & LADIES
Book 1: Possessive Highlander
Book 2: Taken By The Highlander
Book 3: Highlander Alpha