Epilogue

EPILOGUE

DERRICK

One Year Later

A lot can happen in a year.

That's the thought that's been running through my mind recently. I'm not the same man I was twelve months ago. For the first time, I feel like I'm really living. I'm happier than I have any right to be, and it's all thanks to my angel.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" Alina laughs.

We're sitting on the porch, looking at the sunrise as we have our morning coffee. After she accepted my marriage proposal, we spent a little more time in Cape May. I wanted her to be sure she made the right decision, and I wanted to enjoy her before we told the world.

Alina, though, had other plans. She wanted to marry right away—the time apart made her utterly attached to my side, and I fucking love every second of it. I wanted to give my angel anything and everything she wanted, so we wed in Hawaii just two weeks after my proposal, with only a few friends and family present.

Our baby girl, Delaney, is barely a month old now and the best thing to happen to both of us.

"I'm just thinking about how far we've come," I answer. "How lucky I am."

She blushes, and I pull her onto my lap. She's addictingly soft, and her hips have widened a bit. It drives me fucking insane with desire.

"Oh yeah? What's got you feeling so sentimental this morning?"

"You. Everything."

Her laugh is like bells tinkling in the quiet morning. "Are you sure it's not just sleep deprivation talking?"

I grin and plant a kiss on her shoulder, nuzzling her. "I'm positive."

And it's the truth. Alina barely had time to start her new job at RenTech before she went on maternity leave, but I know she's anxious to get back to it. My sweet angel is a hard worker, and I'll support her in anything she wants to do, give her anything she desires.

"Well, Mr. Anders, we better get going. The day has only just begun, and there are still a lot of hours ahead of us."

Hours, days, and years, I think. An entire lifetime of each other ahead.

I watch as she rises from the patio loveseat, looking positively irresistible in the morning sunlight with her golden hair glowing. Only two more weeks until I can have her again just the way I want, and I can barely fucking wait.

Hiding my smile behind my coffee mug, I think about how that maternity leave might be starting all over again soon enough. I'll have to send Bruce an apology card in the mail.