Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27826 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
“I love you,” he murmurs against my lips. “You are, and always have been mine, Catherine Lauder.”
Our lips meet in passion, and suddenly, a heavy burden lifts from my shoulders. I feel like everything in the world is right, once again. This handsome man has come home, and together, we’ll figure out what comes next for our little family.
Epilogue
Hunter
Two years later.
“Daddy, daddy, daddy,” Lily sings from the floor before launching herself onto the bed. I can’t help but laugh at the little dare-devil. She’s so much like me, from her coloring to her adventurous personality, that it’s easy to see that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“What, my little lily pad?” I ask, wrapping my arms around her wriggly body.
“Mommy wants to know what you want for dinner.”
“Mmmm. I don’t know. Maybe some ice cream and hot fudge with bacon and cream cheese frog legs?”
Her little face crinkles with disgust as I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder. My heart swells as she squeals with delight. It seems that I was made for this life. After all, nothing was clear when I went back to Mesa. Catherine and I declared our love for one another, but we weren’t sure what would happen next.
Fortunately, I was able to convince the curvy girl to move to New York. She and Lily packed up their things and moved straight into my lavish penthouse on Madison Avenue. Here, we have a nursery, a play room, as well as a huge chef’s kitchen and best of all, a big aquarium that my daughter adores.
It’s strange to remember my life before Catherine and Lily came along. I was a single guy enjoying what I had, but much of it was meaningless. It was just football, more football, and social functions with sycophants. Nobody cared about the real Hunter Brody.
But with Catherine and Lily, everything’s different. My girlfriend and my daughter are the light of my life, and saying that my world revolves around them would be an understatement.
“Daddy, my head, it’s dizzy,” Lily giggles.
“Oh, sorry,” I say, putting her down before we make our way into the kitchen. My heart skipped and sputtered when I saw Catherine, standing in a ray of light. Her curls bounced as she turned her head to look at me.
But then just as quickly she tossed an envelope in the trash and dusted her hands off as if it were covered in dirt.
“What was that all about?” I ask, dropping Lily to her feet.
“Nothing,” Catherine says with a secret smile, moving around the kitchen. She reached her hands out to me and I use the opportunity to pull her close before crushing her mouth against mine. I can taste her sweetness on my tongue as she smiles.
“Okay,” I say, reaching around her to squeeze her bottom. “What was in that letter? Who sends letters these days, anyways?”
Catherine sighs.
“You’re right. It’s a letter from my parents. They’re the only ones who would do snail mail.”
I pause for a moment. I’ve never looked kindly upon Cindy and Jim for disowning their daughter, but after a few months, they came back to Catherine and begged their way into their daughter’s heart. My girlfriend is far too kind, and she let them in.
But I still have reservations.
“What did they want?” I ask.
Catherine sighs, and shrugs a bit.
“It’s crazy, but they want Angela to stay with us in New York. Just temporarily,” she says.
I shoot her a look.
“That is absolutely crazy.”
“I know,” Catherine adds. “I remember everything Angela did to me, including kicking me out when I was pregnant. But it’s not just that. Angela’s been doing porn, and she says the next step in her career is to do some appearances in New York to “raise her profile.” I told them that she should find a hotel, but they said she doesn’t make enough, and can’t afford it yet. Thus, they want her to stay with us.”
“Absolutely not,” I say roughly. “A porn star in our house? I don’t care if she’s Mother Theresa. Angela can’t stay here.”
Catherine shakes her head.
“I know, right? But Cindy and Jim will do anything for Angela, and I guess that hasn’t changed even though she’s doing X-rated films now.”
I shake my head.
“Is she still with that Duane guy?”
Catherine nods.
“Unfortunately, yes. He’s the one who got her all these gigs in New York City. I think he might even come with her.”
I sigh with exasperation and disgust.
“There is no way these people are staying in our apartment, sweetheart. Again, I don’t care if they’re the President and his wife. No adult film stars are staying in our house.”
Catherine merely giggles.
“I hear you, Hunter. Trust me, I completely agree. My family is just so out of it, it’s become insane. I’m glad they live in Arizona, and we live here.”