Page 47 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

Chapter Four

FINLEY

THREE YEARS LATER

“Everland! Are you excited about your next movie?”

“Everland! What do you have to say about Dean and Rosalie welcoming their second child? Will you be their godmother as well?”

“Everland! Is it true that you were secretly dating your husband all these years?”

“Finley! Tell us more about your wife!”

“Everland! Tell us the name of your recent child! The world wants to know about your baby girl!”

As I pulled my wife into the back of the SUV, I shook my head. “How on earth did they figure out we had a baby girl?” I muttered.

From the seat in front of us, Laura snickered. “Darling. They always find these things out.”

“At least they don’t know we’re having twins,” Ben said from the front seat, and I could see the tips of Laura’s ears blush.

“Don’t say that too loudly because then suddenly I’m pregnant with twins,” Everland said with a laugh.

I leaned over and kissed my wife’s cheek. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

She raised a brow. “Scarlett is only four months old. Give me some time, husband of mine.”

I shrugged. “I’m not in a hurry.”

Considering it had taken nearly fifteen years for me to finally get the woman of my dreams, I was good at being patient.

At least sometimes.

It hadn’t always been easy. I didn’t do the exact job I thought I would, and I didn’t mind it.

I still worked for Trace and Ridge with the Wilders.

I was just in charge of the staff outside of the compound.

I also didn’t get to be Everland’s personal bodyguard at all times.

Because sometimes I wanted my attention on her, and not those who wanted to hurt her or wanted a piece of her.

Finding a balance was something we did every day, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The world had opinions on who I was, and who they thought Everland was. Those opinions didn’t matter.

They thought they could be in a parasocial relationship with us, though they could have vitriol and opinions about who we needed to be.

But those spaces didn’t matter. We existed as who we were, and all that mattered was our inner circle. With the Wilders and the close friends Everland had put around herself all these years.

I might still have a few opinions on what others thought, but in the end, all that mattered was my family.

Including the small town that we visited together. It was our secret time and place where we could hide from the world before the world found us.

But for now, we were heading back to the Wilders’.

We had one more wedding to attend, and Scarlett would be waiting for us on the plane with her nanny and personal bodyguard.

We hadn’t wanted her to be seen in public, so we had spent three hours away from our baby girl. The longest three hours of my life.

I knew I should have come forward long before I had. I should’ve taken a stand with the woman I loved. Then again, I loved the Everland she was now. And I would take every moment that we had.

Because it hadn’t been over then. Not by a long shot.

“What’s get you all sentimental?” Everland asked as she cupped my cheek.

“Just thinking about you.”

“That’s way too cute. Please stop,” Laura said, and I chuckled.

“We’re almost ready for vacation,” Everland said, her eyes dancing.

“Honestly, love of my life, I didn’t realize you knew what that word meant,” I said dryly.

“She doesn’t. You know she’ll be going over scripts and paperwork for the company.” Laura shrugged, her attention on her tablet as always.

“You say that as if you’re not at my side the entire time,” Everland said with a laugh.

“Ben, were going to have to make sure that the women of our lives actually get an evening off.”

“You may be a tough son of a bitch, but I’m pretty sure they could take you,” the big man said from the front seat.

“I never said they couldn’t.” And then I leaned over to Everland and whispered in her ear, “You can take me later.

Her cheeks blushed, and I kissed her softly before leaning back and letting myself breathe.

Soon we would be with Scarlett, and then the rest of the Wilders.

And we could finally breathe for a moment.

Our lives weren’t for the restful, and I didn’t mind. Watching Everland grow and thrive was everything that I needed.

I had walked away before, and I would never do it again.

Because she was my first love, my first friend, my first, and my only.

And I was never letting her go again.