Billionaire Mountain Man

Epilogue

Vivienne

“It's hard to

believe it's been more than two years since you moved in across the street from me,” I said to Everett, watching through the window as the newest family in the neighborhood directed a delivery team delivering a red couch into their home.

“I can’t believe you’re stalking the new neighbors,” he joked.

“Well, technically it’s still my house. Maybe I want to know what they’re taking into it,” I jabbed back at him teasingly.

“They’ve been living there for almost a year. You’ve been in the house several times since then. Nice try, Nosy Nancy,” he said with a laugh.

I smacked him in the arm. “I’m just glad they seem to be fitting in well here.”

“They are, aren't they?” he remarked. “Doesn’t hurt that they have a six-year-old for Jane to play with too.”

“Yeah, well, I’m also glad they get along so well. It's great for her to have a friend the same age in the neighborhood.”

“It really is,” he agreed. “Kids these days don't do enough of that. When I was growing up, there was a whole crew of neighborhood kids. We used to play football or baseball in the street every afternoon, or go climb trees, or all that other good outdoor stuff. It was great for me, too; gave me the chance to get away from the house. Wasn’t the happiest place on Earth.”

I turned and slipped my arms around his waist. “Well, despite everything you went through as a child, you didn’t turn out so bad,” I teased.

“You must not think I’m too bad. You did agree to marry me.”

“You have a good point. Then again, maybe I didn’t really have too many options,” I jabbed back.

He hugged me tightly. “It’s true. You settled. I don’t know what you were thinking.”

I smiled sweetly up at him. “I’ll tell you what I was thinking. I was thinking that you are very likely the best man I've ever met, to be honest.”

“See, now you’re just trying to butter me up, aren't you?” he laughed and gave me a kiss on my neck that sent a delightful shiver down my spine.

“You know, as much as I want to take you back to our room and have my way with you, isn't it about time for us to pick Jane up from Stacy's house?” I asked.

He glanced at his watch. “You're right; we did say we'd be there at five. Guess you’ll just have to make it up to me tonight. Come on then, let's go.”

I grabbed my purse, and we headed out of the house and locked up.

We drove for just five minutes to the house where Jane's friend from her first-grade class lived and parked outside then walked up to the door and knocked.

A bubbly blonde woman opened the door and smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. James,” she said. “I'm Bianca, Stacy’s mom. I’m so glad to finally meet you! Stacy has been having such a good time with Jane.”

“Lovely to meet you, too! I’m Vivienne, and this is Everett,” I said introducing ourselves. We had met her husband a few weeks earlier, but Bianca always seemed to be away on business. “Jane always talks about how much she likes Stacy, so I guess those two have been getting along like peas in a pod.”

“Ah yes, they certainly have been getting along well,” she said.

“Is Jane ready to go?” Everett jumped in.

“She is, she is. Let me go get her. Would you two like to come in for a while?” Bianca asked.

“I'm afraid we can't, we have a few things that we need to get back to at home,” I replied.

“I understand. But, we would love to have you all over sometime and get to know you guys a little better. I can already see the girls are going to be great friends,” she announced.

“Absolutely,” I agreed. “We'll make a time when we can all get together.”

“Great. Well, I'll go get Jane now,” she said. “I'll be back in a minute.”