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“I know what you’ll wear,” he finished, kissing me again. “It will be delivered to you in a few hours, so perhaps we need to head to the shower soon.”
Given my humble background, tongues would go wagging for sure, but I could now shrug and think …So what?I had the best man in the world, a man who truly loved me, and nothing could affect me anymore.
I cupped his face in my hands. “Thank you,” I whispered before leaning into his solid wall of a chest and hugging him. “Thank you for giving us another chance. Thank you for loving me. It’s been an awesome journey so far, and I’m nervous about what will come next because how do you top this feeling?”
He laughed as he pulled me off the bed and to the bathroom and turned the shower on.
“I think I know how to top this feeling,” he said, sliding a strap of my tank top off my shoulder.
He caressed my shoulders before undressing me. I lifted my arms, and in a minute, he took his clothes off as well, and we stepped into the shower.
“I love you,” I whispered, and his eyes softened.
He leaned in. “I love you more,” he said.
EPILOGUE: CHLOE
Five Years Later
Iwas standing by the window in our bedroom. The large bedroom was a sanctuary of silk sheets and down pillows. A four-poster bed, its headboard upholstered in velvet, dominated the room. Off to the side was a walk-in closet with a sea of designer gowns and tailored suits.
Ever since I’d passed my PMP certification, I had been working steadily at my career. I’d worked at two companies in the past five years, enjoying my role as a project manager. But I could still not afford this dress or this penthouse if it hadn’t been for Sean. He enjoyed spoiling me. Case in point, I was wearing a new dress that Sean had bought for me that was worth a couple of months of my paycheck.
Sean was walking past the room to his private study when he stopped to look at me. I turned, met his gaze, and smiled. He raised his eyebrows in an appreciative gesture as he looked me up and down.
“You still take my breath away, Chloe,” he said.
I smiled. “Right back at you, Sean.”
He was wearing a sharp, tailored tuxedo that fit him well. Add that to his broad shoulders and the effortless grace in the way he carried himself—well, he ended up looking like he owned the world.
His dark chestnut hair added a touch of rugged charm, and his smile could still melt me.
“I still can’t get used to the price tags on these things. This dress is a hundred times more expensive than the ones I’m used to,” I protested, but he laughed and put a hand on my back.
“The person wearing the dress is way more precious to me,” he responded with a light kiss.
From the living room, I heard a cry as our baby, May, gurgled while playing with Anne. I walked into the expansive living room, where eleven-month-old May played on the carpet. She had Sean’s smile, loving and warm, and my blue eyes. She was our darling. At eleven months old, she would crawl like a champ and occasionally stand, no doubt to get more of the view.
Across from her, floor-to-ceiling windows framed a stunning view of the city with its twinkling lights and soaring skyscrapers. Plush sofas occupied the center of the room with silk throw pillows. A grand piano stood against one wall, all polished and gleaming.
“Are you sure she’ll be okay?” I asked when Sean stood next to me. “I mean, the show is two hours, and Anne will need to tuck her in tonight by herself.”
Sean put his hand on my shoulder before kissing my hair. “Chloe, tonight is your special night. You’re dancing for an audience of a hundred. I think May will understand ten years from now why it was important that you couldn’t tuck her in one night. If she remembers this incident at all in the first place.”
His smile was wry, and I laughed. Of course she wouldn’t remember. It would be okay if I missed kissing her good night today.
I leaned against Sean, placing my cheek against his chest. Ballet was irrevocably tied to Henry, and I always wished he was nearer to me. A few weeks ago, he had asked me to come see him graduate from his PhD program.
I’d been so thrilled that I had to sit down and blink back tears of happiness. I’d had a hard time with Henry’s absence in the beginning, but over the years, our visits increased, thanks to Sean’s private jet. Boston didn’t feel that far away anymore.
“Thank you for helping me get back to ballet. Even after we had May and when things got more hectic, you always reminded me to take care of myself too.”
His hand swept through my hair, and I felt the warmth of his lips press against my forehead.
“You did the same for me years ago,” he murmured. “I have a better relationship with my son because of you. It’s made me a better father to both Lucas and May. So, yes, my intelligent, hardworking, and dedicated wife, I’ll make sure you never forget to take care of yourself because you do far too much for the people around you. Which is also why we need to leave now.”
I walked out of the room with him, stopping to give May a kiss and a hug. May looked up at me with wide eyes, and Anne, our loyal nanny, waved from the doorway.