And Then There Was Her (And then There Was 1)

So we’d gone house-hunting, found the perfect two-story home situated on five acres with a small pond in the back. There was no renting. We’d gone balls-to-the-wall and bought it right after we’d done the tour. Some would say this was crazy, too fast, that getting engaged and then buying a house with someone you’ve only known for a handful of months was ludicrous.

But I’d tell them I waited my entire life for her, that the months that passed seemed like a lifetime.

We were making up for lost time, because I couldn’t see myself being without Adele. Ever.

I looked over at her, watched as she set up a small bistro table and chairs on the wooden porch that was situated in front of the house. The deck was painted white, the deck furniture teal because it was her favorite color.

The sun shone on her, the sundress she wore this baby blue color. God, she looked good in everything she wore. She looked good in nothing at all. My cock started to harden at the thought of her naked, of how good she felt.

And like it happened every time I stared at her, I fell in love with her all over again. She was my world, the reason I was put on this planet. I had absolutely no doubts about that.

So here we were, starting our life together, and nothing had ever felt so fucking perfect.

Epilogue One

Adele

One year later

I was perpetually smiling every day, I noticed, my happiness so pronounced it was like nothing could bring me down.

And it was all because of Oliver and how happy he made me.

Fate had a funny way of making things work out when someone least expected it. I felt so strongly for him that first night, when I spoke to him, when he touched me… when I gave myself to him. I had been scared of those emotions, so I ran, left without saying anything. I’d regretted it as soon as the thought entered my mind, and every second of every day after that until destiny had brought us together once more.

I’d fallen in love with Oliver when I looked at him from the stage, saw the way he watched me, this transfixed expression on his face. I felt this pull toward him, and we hadn’t even spoke two words to each other. I’d never felt that with any other person in my life, and that’s how I knew it had been real.

That’s why it had scared the shit out of me.

I honestly never thought I’d have him in my life in the way I desperately wanted. But here I was, going to spend the rest of my life with him. He’d become such an integral part of my world that I didn’t know what I’d do without him. My heart belonged to Oliver always.

For the last year I’d stopped waitressing and just sang… and sang and sang. I was an exclusive act at Lyrics, Bishop giving me the position because the crowd I drew in had been staggering to all of us. I had no idea people cared that much—or enjoyed for that matter—listening to me sing.

My dreams were coming true, had come true.

And here we were, all these months later, all this time past since I knew I couldn’t let Oliver out of my life. I was pregnant with our first baby, and the home we’d bought last year had really come together. There was even a little garden out back that he’d made for me. I planted flowers in the beds, had asked him to make me a vegetable garden. And he had, hadn’t even hesitated as he built the raised beds, as he brought me an array of seeds.

He’d even made me my own sound rom, a little place where I could go and create and record music even if it was only for me, for us. It was convenient as hell having a husband who was good with his hands.

God, I loved this man.

And Lord, was he good with his hands. I flushed at that thought.

Over the last year I’d seen how possessive and territorial Oliver was when it came to me. Most women might have found it too controlling, too overbearing. Not me. It showed me how much he loved me. He gave me my independence, let me have my space. But he protected me, let me know how much he loved me, how much I meant to him.

I heard the shower shut off and lifted my head up from the book I was reading. It was getting late. Oliver had just gotten off work, but I knew he’d want to spend time with me. He always did, and I was so grateful for that.

The bathroom was attached to the bedroom, and when the door opened, steam billowing around before the light was turned off and Oliver stepped out. He had a towel wrapped around his waist and another one covering his head as he dried his hair. I instantly heated even more. I set the book I’d been reading on the bedside table, smiled slowly, and felt every part of my body come alive.