It’s not the life I used to have. In Hollywood, it was parties every weekend, drinking way too much, and going home alone every night. That’s never the life I craved, and I don’t miss it now.
I feel so lucky to have a simple life, the life so many normal people crave too. I’ve got a roof over my head, a perfect set of children, a loving family, and the woman of my dreams. What could be more perfect?
“I never thought I’d find someone who wanted to spend ten years with me…let alone a lifetime,” Olivia admits to me, her cheeks red as she blushes. Some things never change.
After years of neglect, of course, she’s sensitive. But as I cup her cheek, she sinks her cheek into my palm with a smile, and I know that none of it truly matters.
She’s happy with me. I’ve given her the life she thought she wasn’t worthy of. Yet, it’s still crazy to me that anyone would make her feel so unlovable.
It makes me angry. The ghosts of her past still linger. Those who abandoned her in her childhood and everyone else who made her feel small. The stalker who terrorized her for a year still plays in her memories sometimes, but I took care of him just like I would take care of anything or anyone who would dare to harm her. If her stalker thought a simple beating was all he would get after scaring my woman he was very wrong. With all my money I made sure to track him down, and after finding anything I could about his past, I sent him away for good.
Now she has so many good memories to fall back on. She has children who adore her. My parents love her too and treat her like a true daughter. The locals love her too, and we know everyone in our small town dotes on her. She doesn’t need to worry about what she’s worth any longer.
“Don’t sell yourself short, baby,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine. “You’re perfect. I’m so damn lucky to have you. There is no one I would rather spend the rest of my days with. In fact, no one could ever replace you. Since I met you, I’ve known that you are my one and only. Nothing will ever change that.”
“You mean it?” she whispers. “Even though I’m different now than when we met? Even though my body has changed…even though I’m not as beautiful as other women?”
“You are. You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on,” I growl possessively. “None of them have anything on you. And I don’t care that your body has changed, mine has too. I love every inch of you, all the changes in you still excite me. I want to grow old with you, baby. Of course, there will be changes. But you get more and more beautiful with each passing day. I’m so lucky.”
“I’m so lucky,” she murmurs, leaning in to kiss me. Beneath the starlit sky, we have everything we’ve ever needed. Right here, right now, nothing could make this moment better. I kiss her harder, wrapping my arms around her protectively. If she’s half as happy as I am now, then I’ve done my job. Because this kind of happiness can’t be bought or faked, it’s everything, and it’s rare, and I feel so lucky to have achieved it. All because of her. All because Olivia walked into my life and changed everything.
“I love you,” I growl against her lips.
“I love you too,” she murmurs. “And I always will.”