“Well, we sure as hell have to put in a cell tower.”
Frowning, she asked, “What about this place as a retreat?”
“Okay, no cell tower. Maybe I’ll gift the town with a kick-ass library. Or a school. They’ll want Internet and decent cell coverage.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she let out a breath. “Will you promise to tell me you love me every day?”
“Twice a day and three times on Sunday.” He kissed her again.
She kissed h
im back. The need built inside her. She wiggled her hips against him and smiled when he groaned. Dominic cupped her breasts and teased her nipples until she could hardly breathe. She arched her back. She needed to be filled by him. She urged him inside. He pushed in deeper, and she cried out.
“More…oh, more.”
Wrapping her legs around him, she opened wider. She felt every inch of him as he slipped in again. The pleasure built again until light flashed behind her eyes and her body went up in flames. Dominic collapsed onto her, holding her tight.
She drew small circles on his chest, and he asked, “Do you want to get married here? Or how about in Fiji?”
Epilogue
The pop went off, a loud echoing sound. Dominic looked up from the mess of his canvas. He threw down his paint brush and let out a snort of disgust. “Dammit, don’t tell me hunting season has started already!”
Paris came out onto the lodge porch. She bounced their three-year-old on her hip. “Yep. That means we’ll be opening for ski season soon.”
He looked up at her. They’d gotten in the habit of closing the lodge for two months in the summer. One month the place became a retreat. The rest of the year, it was a businessman’s favorite get-away, and a ski heaven when the snow hit. Dominic still had to fly into town for a few business meetings, but Paris and his family always came first these days. Reaching out a hand to Paris, he caught her fingertips. “Paris, want to fly to Paris for our second honeymoon?”
She grinned. “I was thinking more of leaving Michael to babysit and we’d sneak up to the loft tonight. It’s faster.”
“I knew I married a smart woman. You going to teach little Jack to ski this year?”
“Uh, huh. And I was thinking we should start a downhill competition for disabled kids—give them something to aim for. We can use the turtle run you love so much.”
Dominic gave a groan. “I am not getting lumped in with the disabled kids. They’ll stomp me. You can put me in with the disabled adults.”
She laughed. Julie started to reach for her daddy and Paris tried to turn, but Dominic held out his arms. “Might as well give her over. She’s in love with my paints. I think we may have an artist in the family after all.”
Settling Julie in Dominic’s arms, Paris leaned on his shoulders. Dominic let out a breath. Some days he could hardly believe his luck. He wasn’t making the money he’d once made, he’d put most of his fortune into charity, and still he considered himself far richer than anyone he knew.
Paris leaned down. “Are you going to send your dad photos of the kids this year?”
Dominic’s stomach tightened. “I’m not sure he deserves to see them, or know them.”
“It’s not for him, silly. It’s for you. You said you wanted to show him you’d done better than him. That’s the only way he’ll ever see it. He’ll look into Julie’s eyes and he’ll see little Jack’s smile—and he’ll know.”
Turning, Dominic caught Paris’ hand. He pulled her down for a kiss. Julie’s laugher pulled them apart. Dominic glanced at his daughter—with her red hair like her mother’s—and saw blue. A lot of blue. All over Julie’s grinning face.
Paris gave a laugh. “Well, if she’s an artist, she’s going to be one of those immersive types who put on exhibits.”
“She’s an exhibit, all right.” Dominic held Julie up and away. She started to fret, so he pulled her in for a kiss. She giggled and Paris laughed. “Now you’re a blue man!”
Standing, Dominic grinned. “Come and give your husband a kiss.”
With a squeal, Paris ran inside. Putting Julie down, Dominic swatted her butt. “Go find mama and give her a kiss.” Julie toddled off after her mom.
Standing, Dominic looked in the window to see little Jack joining in the chase around the lobby, all of them running after Paris. His chest tightened—and this time he knew the cause. He had more love in his life than he’d ever thought possible. Maybe it was time to send his dad a few photos. Maybe it was time to admit to himself that he finally had everything he’d ever wanted—and more.
Dominic headed inside to chase his wife and kids around the lobby.