Chapter 45

Anton

"What did you think of the Americans, little one?"

"Hmmm?"

I kissed the sweet-smelling head resting in the crook where my shoulder met my chest. Somehow, she fit perfectly. We fit perfectly, in every single way.

Body, mind, and soul.

The miracle that had led me to her was astonishing. I had started to believe in a higher power in a new way. How else could you explain what had happened here? Like Adam, I had met my Eve. She was the perfect complement to me. In fact, she was above me, on a pedestal, a living, breathing inspiration that would inspire me to be the best man I could possibly be, for the rest of my days.

I had heard that the right woman could make or break a man. I had never believed it until now. Finding her had awoken me. Loving her had made me whole. Losing her would destroy me. A sudden pang struck my heart, imagining what her father had gone through after losing his wife. I could not bear it if that happened to me, I realized.

Perhaps we should hire a surrogate. Childbirth was far too dangerous. Perhaps I could keep Mishka wrapped in bubble wrap as well.. she would not like that though. And I would not consign her to a life half lived because of my fears.

A soft snuffling sound made me smile.

My girl was falling asleep on my shoulder. My dreams of taking her to the bed and making love with her in flight were rapidly fading.

Then again, it was a rather long flight.

"Where to for our honeymoon?"

"Hmmm?"

"I planned on taking you to the tropics next. Tahiti, perhaps. We could schedule that for our honeymoon instead."

"Oh," she said, snuggling deeper into my shoulder.

She had handled meeting the crew with unsurprising poise and warmth. She was truly a remarkably kind and gracious woman. She belonged on the arm of a duke or a president. I knew she cared nothing for prestige, other than becoming the best musician she could be. She would be just as happy to marry a man who ran a candy shop as a wealthy man like myself.

She would make any man proud to have her as his.

I would do my damndest to be worthy of her.

I pulled a blanket over the two of us. I would have preferred to sleep laying down but that would have to wait. With her curled into my side, I pulled out my phone to look at the markets.

Now that she was mine, I found that for the first time in months I could concentrate again.