Epilogue

Carly

Eight years later

Everything is perfect. Or should be. I go over my list for the thousandth time and all the checkboxes are marked off. The posters have been hung for a month now, and I’ve been working on this exhibit for a year, but today is the day. Opening day.

Will people come to see paintings by female artists of the last century, focusing on everything from women’s everyday lives to the struggle for power in the modern world? Or will my first ever exhibit be a dud?

I’ve never been this nervous in my life.

No, maybe it’s a tie between now and the time eight years ago that Braden and I revealed our relationship to my older brother. I had bet that Matt would take things well, and Braden was positive he’d get his butt beaten. He was prepared to take a few licks, but I didn’t want any kind of fight.

Matt surprised us both. He didn’t exactly take it well, unless you consider laughing his ass off for a solid ten minutes a normal response. He said he’d seen it coming and was just waiting for the big reveal. I finally had to admit my secret crush that never really wore off, but Braden swore up and down his feelings had taken him by storm. Matt’s fists might have been clenched, but my mother intervened with Dad, who was thrilled, and couldn’t wait for the next family vacation. That one would be just us— real family— no employees.

So neither of us really won the bet, but we did become real family just a year later when we got married in a tiny but heartfelt ceremony, then spent our honeymoon, which was also my last summer break before I graduated, touring Europe. Lazing on the beaches, scouring museums for inspiration, and being together. My favorite thing in the world.

“Mommy!”

My head snaps around and I smile. The sound of my five year old daughter’s voice snapped me out of the memories I’d conjured to escape my nerves, and the excited look on Mabel’s face washes what’s left of them away. My strongest supporters are here, always by my side to cheer me on. Even if no one shows up for the opening, they’re here.

Braden lets go of her hand and her slapping feet on the marble museum floor shake our toddler out of her slumber against Braden’s shoulder. Lilly blinks and holds out her hands to me before yawning hugely and collapsing back onto Braden’s chest.

“She was running around like a monkey at Uncle Matt’s,” Braden says. “He has a knack for wearing them out.”

I’m about to suggest putting her in my office with my assistant to finish her impromptu nap, but she perks up once she realizes where she’s at. If anyone takes after me with my love of art, it’s Lily, and she whines to get down and explore.

“We have to wait for Mommy’s exhibit to open,” Braden tells her mildly.

He leans over to give me a kiss and a concerned look. I’ve been running myself ragged getting the finishing touches put on this event and he knows it means the world to me.

“Everything looks great,” he says, his eyes sweeping down my body. “You look amazing.”

I had hurriedly changed from my work clothes into a new cocktail dress and now I smooth the shimmery fabric down over my curves. Motherhood has filled me out a little, but Braden still gets that mischievous glow in his eyes whenever he sees me. His blue eyes darken as he takes me in again, pulling me close for a hug.

Lily grabs my hair and attempts to nom on the gemstone clip I’ve put in my updo, and the three of us end up laughing as I try to get it out of her mouth without ruining the style. Mabel runs over and bosses her around like a true older sister, and shockingly, Lily lets go.

My hairstyle is ruined though, but Braden runs his fingers through the strands, arranging the curls around my shoulders while simultaneously making me weak in the knees. He has a few sparks of silver in his blond hair now, and his ever present scruff still doesn’t mar that strong jaw.

He puts Lily down and Mabel grabs her hand to steer her over to my assistant, who’s about to unlock the doors for the event. I squeeze my eyes shut and lean against Braden’s sturdy form, his arm wrapping around me.

“Look up,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

As soon as the doors swing open, a line of people file in, clutching their exhibit pamphlets. I spot my parents and Matt, some of the first to enter, but then it’s just a mob of people. They keep pouring in, their eyes eagerly searching the rows of paintings I’ve so carefully curated over the last year.

It’s not just going to be the fifty or so people I’ve invited to the cocktail party after, and truthfully, I was worried some of them wouldn’t show, either. It’s young and old, men and women, all excited to see what my posters have been teasing for the last month.

“I told you,” Braden says smugly. “There was no way you could fail. You cared way too much and everyone in town saw it. They want to be a part of your big night.”

A tear rolls down my cheek, relieved and full of joy. I lean against him for another quick second, then straighten up and hurry forward to welcome everyone. As I answer questions and accept their kind accolades, I’m already planning my next exhibit.

Because of Braden easing back on his workload with the team, he spends a lot more time at home with the kids. We’ve expanded on the charity he’d started working with years before, increasing their exhibits to encompass the entire country. It’s a great way to bring art to smaller towns, while also raising money for a good cause. Braden thrived on the marketing aspect, always having a keen eye for what people want and how to get it to them.

I nod along with one of the patrons while looking over her shoulder at Braden, a hand on Mabel’s shoulder and a firm grip on Lily’s hand as he leads them around the exhibit. He was surprisingly interested in the whole journey, making sure the girls paid attention whenever I decided on a new piece. He’s a fantastic dad, wanting his daughters to know they could do anything they wanted in this world. Just like the women in the portraits I chose, and just like their mom.

Right before the cocktail party, our nanny arrives to take the kids home, and Braden has to practically hold me up by the time the night is over. It’s a whirlwind of questions, congratulations, and a few bits of constructive criticism by my bosses that I take on board for the next show.

“I’m retiring,” I joke in the car on the way home.

“Yeah, right,” Braden says, his hand firmly on the wheel as he glances over at me. “That’ll be the day.”

My eyes travel up his muscular forearm to his rolled up sleeve, barely containing his biceps. He still works out like he’s training for his team, getting up before the girls wake up and pumping iron and running. Sometimes I tag along to the massive home gym he’s set up next to the tennis court, but it’s mostly to ogle my hot husband. He pretends I’m distracting him, which I usually am, but when he drops the weights to pull me into his arms, neither one of us is ever complaining.

“No, really,” I say.

As the night progressed, I found I couldn’t take my eyes off my husband and daughters. We really are a perfect family, if I do say so myself. Perfect to me, anyway, and everything I ever wanted. As much as I love the museum and thrive when I’m surrounded by art, getting home is always the best part of the day.

Braden gives me a sidelong look, raising his brows. “You’re just exhausted, that’s all. You’ll be raring to go back tomorrow.”

We pull into our long driveway, the lights on in the lower level of our modern home at the top of the hill. The upstairs wall of windows is dark, signifying the girls have listened to the nanny for once and gone to sleep on time. It’s past midnight and I should be as tired as Braden suggests with all the overtime I’ve been putting in, but I get a surge of energy as he parks the car and hurries around to open my door for me.

I take his hand, smiling at his old fashioned charm and consideration. I’ve taken off my spidery heeled shoes and groan at the prospect of cramming my feet back into them. With a grin, Braden leans down and picks me up, carrying me into the house.

The nanny is snoozing in front of the big screen tv in the entertainment room, a muted movie playing. Braden escorts her outside to the guest house in the back where she’ll spend the night since it’s so late, then returns, asking me if I want a glass of wine to end the night.

I shake my head, moving close. “I don’t want the night to end.”

He puts his hands on my waist, smiling down at me. “You look dead on your feet.”

“I don’t want to be on my feet,” I tell him, running my hands up his chest and loosening his tie some more.

With a low rumble, he picks me up again and carries me upstairs. I wrap my arms around his neck and bring his head down for a kiss as he climbs. But we only make it to the landing before the kiss becomes so fevered we have to stop. He pushes me against the wall, his hands roaming down my body to find their way under my skirt. I groan when his fingers brush against my damp panties.

“Already so wet for me,” he murmurs against my mouth.

Pressing against his hand, I grip his hair. “Always.”

He laughs, realizing we’re not even halfway to the bedroom. His hand doesn’t stop moving, though and I’m getting hotter by the second. “I had a gift waiting for you upstairs,” he says.

I shake my head, looking hard into his eyes. He must see the yearning there. “I only want one thing from you tonight,” I tell him.

He returns my intensity, his lips getting closer to mine again. “Anything,” he promises.

He’s never once broken a promise to me, and I smile. “Another baby,” I say. It’s not out of the blue, it’s been brewing for a long time. Tonight cemented that wish.

His smile turns absolutely wild, and his eyes darken as he picks me up again, racing to our bedroom. Once inside, he locks the door and yanks at my brand new dress. The straps give and he pulls it down my body.

“Fuck, you’re so gorgeous,” he growls. In a second, my strapless bra is off, and he kisses his way down my body. My legs start to tremble and he holds me steady, nudging my thighs apart as he gets his teeth around the band of my panties and drags them down my legs.

His tongue is inside me, driving me to the brink as he holds tight to my hips. All I can do is hang on, try not to tear out his hair, and let the sensations wash over me. When Braden gets like this, he’s in complete control, and I love every minute of it.

It’s a good thing the girls sleep like rocks, because he has my whimpering rising louder as he keeps lapping at my pussy, driving me over the edge. The moment I scream, he lifts me, moving me back onto the bed. I land on my stomach and he drags me back to him, pulling me against his hard body as he runs his hands over my breasts.

“I love seeing these perfect tits of yours grow when you’ve got my baby in your belly,” he says. “I can’t wait to make you pregnant again.”

“You’re happy about the new plan?” I gasp as he brings my nipple to hard peaks.

His throbbing cock is pressing against my ass, and I’m not even sure when he got undressed, he’s got me so worked up. I reach around to grip his shaft, making him suck in a breath.

“I love the new plan,” he says. “I love you, Carly.”

Then he thrusts deep inside me from behind me with a muted roar. His hands cup over me from the front, finding my clit and making me melt against him. I wrap my arms around his head and twist so that he can kiss me. It’s all too much and I flop forward, moaning with pleasure as he drives every inch of his big cock until his balls slap against my ass.

“I love being inside your tight little body,” he says, wrapping my hair around his fist to pull my head back for a kiss.

His tongue invades my mouth, and my arms shake, but he holds onto me, not letting me go.

“Braden,” I moan, so close again. “You’re magic. You have to be to make me feel this good.”

He chuckles, then pounds harder, deeper, wild with the notion of making me pregnant for a third time. His hand drifts down from my breasts to my belly, tender for a split second.

“Now, Angel,” he commands, before he drives even harder, circling my clit until I scream again.

Thunder seems to rip from his throat as he comes inside me, and I’m positive it worked. I can’t hold back my smile, even though I’m as limp as a noodle when we collapse onto the bedspread together.

He smiles back, turning me around to face him. A bead of sweat drops from his brow onto my nose and he kisses it off. “I guess this will interfere with whatever exhibit you had planned next.”

“It’s not interfering with anything,” I say, snuggling up to him. He puts his arm around me and holds me close, both of us sighing contentedly at the same time. “This is everything to me. Our life together, the kids. This new one you just made.”

I pat my belly and he covers my hand with his, unable to stop his smug grin. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure that worked.”

“I know it did,” I say, then look at him seriously. “If it didn’t, it’s not like we can’t try again.”

He laughs, making my heart feel much too full, but in the best way. “Maybe we should hedge our bets.” He lowers his head to kiss me again and I eagerly tip my chin back for more.

There’s always so much more in this beautiful life that Braden’s given me. He’s had my back from the very beginning, and there’s no doubt in my mind that whatever happens next, it will be perfect.

Because we found each other. After being under each other’s noses most of our lives, we finally opened our eyes and saw what was meant to be.

~The End