Epilogue

EPILOGUE

OLIVER

" O kay, so here's what's on the menu for Cordelia's tenth birthday." Olivia taps her pen on the clipboard, her forehead creased in concentration. "Sausage rolls, loaded potato skins, marshmallows dipped in chocolate, shell-shaped biscuits, pizza sliders, fruit skewers, mac and cheese, birthday cake fudge, and maybe some chicken strips."

More than a decade of marriage and I still can't believe this woman is mine. Olivia grew out her hair, and it now reached her waist. I love tunneling my fingers into that soft, curly mane. After giving birth, her hips widened, and Jesus, the way it let me grab them as I rammed into her from behind could make me come in three seconds.

It bothered her how much she changed, and I would always tell her the same thing—she's fucking beautiful and sexy either way.

She's been a ball of nervous energy lately because it's the first time we're throwing a birthday party for our only child, Cordelia. Olivia picked out her name, which meant ‘daughter of the sea'. And right now, this daughter of the sea is busy braiding shells and whatnot into her grandmother's hair.

Cordelia looks a lot like her mom, but her eyes are chocolate brown instead of hazel. She also inherited Olivia's spirit. I've been mentally bracing myself to have not one but two alpha females in our household in a few years.

I mean, even at ten, Cordelia takes no shit from anyone, including me and her aunt Sammy.

"I think those are perfect, love. Don't worry about it. Our guests are mainly kids. They'll eat raw cookie dough if you serve them."

"Ugh. I know." Olivia puts down her pen and massages her temples. I go behind her and dig my fingers into the tense muscles of her shoulders. She moans and leans into me. My cock twitches at the sound, but I don't tease her like I normally do. She's stressed enough as it is.

"It'll be perfect. Just relax. Besides, I bought her a gift she'll surely love."

"From Paris?"

"Yes."

"Oh good. She told me yesterday she doesn't want dolls anymore because she's a big girl now."

I choke on my own spit. I arrived from Paris yesterday, and I still haven't unpacked the pair of porcelain dolls in my luggage. It's supposed to be my surprise. I guess not anymore.

Olivia senses something because she turns the bar stool around and looks me up and down. "You didn't buy her a doll, did you?"

"What? Of course not."

Olivia continues to peer at me from under her thick, long lashes, and I feel exposed. She bounds down from her seat and kisses my cheek. "Okay, then. I need to give this list to the kitchen."

"Okay, love."

I watch Olivia's retreating back, smiling at the subtle sway of her hips. God, she's gotten thicker over the years, and it makes me drool every single time my eyes land on those hips and thighs. And when she tightens them around my neck while I eat her? Damn. I didn't know I liked being suffocated, but here we are.

"Daddy, you're next!" Cordelia yells from the Adirondack chair. She's so focused on her task that she fails to notice Alice wincing with every aggressive pull of her hair.

I am not looking forward to losing a few strands, but it won't be long before Cordelia stops thinking it's cool to braid Daddy's hair. I mean, I didn't realize she was growing up. Then again, it doesn't matter if she's twenty or thirty. She's my baby girl. Always.

She and Olivia filled my life with so much love and laughter. Even Paul comes to the island at least once a month, oftentimes just to hang out with his niece. It took Dad a while to accept things, especially the business ‘sacrifices' the company had to make, but he eventually came to terms with it. After all, the plan was a success. The exclusivity was what sold us to the clients.

He doesn't come as often because he's still as addicted to work as he was in his twenties, but he never misses any of Cordelia's birthday dinners. He'd arrive in a few days, and he already instructed me to keep Cordelia away from the hangar.

Based on our last phone call, he's either bringing horses or puppies. I'm hoping it's puppies.

"You have a strange look on your face." I don't notice Olivia until she lifts herself on her toes to kiss the corner of my mouth.

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"You, our family, life." I look at her and feel my chest constrict, the way it does when I'm reminded of how much I love her. "You're my home."

Olivia's face softens, and she flattens a palm on my cheek. "And you are mine."

The End.