“I do,” Elle said. “I would do anything for you, Brock. I love you. More than anything. I want to build a life together.”
“Then stay,” he said, pressing his mouth against hers. “Stay forever.”
Epilogue
The jazz band played in the background of the Maddox Communications party. They were celebrating the merger of Maddox and Golden Gate Promotions with Brock as the CEO. Elle slid a hand behind her grandfather’s back and gave him a hug. He felt so frail to her. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Her grandfather smiled. “It was meant to be. Your husband is the future of both Maddox Communications and Golden Gate Promotions. My sons didn’t have the drive, but Brock, he does.”
Elle glanced at Brock across the room as he chatted with his brother and felt a rush of love. Their relationship had grown by leaps and bounds during the last few weeks.
“I should sit down,” her grandfather said.
“Of course,” she said, feeling remiss. “Can I get you something else to drink?”
“This water is fine,” he said and nodded as he sat. “Go see to your guests.”
Elle dropped a kiss on his forehead. For all the pain and suffering Athos had caused, he had led her to Brock and she was thankful for that. She had walked just a few steps when she was stopped by Evan and Celia Reese.
“How is life with the CEO of the newly merged Maddox Communications and Golden Gate Promotions?” Evan asked. “Are you keeping him in line?”
“Ha,” Elle said, but smiled because Brock had made a special point to spend more time with her lately. “You two look like you’re doing great. I’m so happy you could come to the party.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Celia said, pushing her red hair behind her ear as she gazed affectionately at her husband. “This is actually a stopover. We’re going to the French Riviera. Evan is determined to give me a honeymoon I’ll never forget.”
“It’s hard being married to an overachiever, isn’t it?” Elle joked.
Celia laughed. “You bet. Good luck with the baby.”
“Thanks,” Elle said and moved toward Brock. She noticed he and his brother were looking intently at their cell phones.
“What are they doing?” Elle asked as Flynn’s wife appeared at her side.
“It’s the battle of the ultrasounds,” Renee said. “We may know the sex of our baby, but yours is set to disco. I think it’s a draw.”
Elle laughed. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Excited,” Renee said, stroking her full pregnancy bump. “The doctor says my due date will be here before I know it, but it feels like forever.”
“Any names yet?” Elle asked.
“We’re still playing with the first name, but I want Flynn for her middle name,” Renee said.
“I love that,” Elle said.
Renee nodded. “It’s good, isn’t it? What about you and Brock?”
“We find out the sex for sure at the end of this week. If it’s a boy, we’ll include Brock’s father’s name somehow,” she said.
Renee tilted her head. “Your mother looks great.”
Elle’s heart squeezed tight as she looked at her mother standing several feet away, tapping her foot as she enjoyed the party and the music. “Thank you. She’s come a long way.”
“There are our brides,” Flynn interjected, clinking his beer against Brock’s beer bottle. “We did good, didn’t we?”
Brock met Elle’s gaze and she felt a melting sensation. “I couldn’t agree more,” he said. “I won the ultrasound contest.”
“That’s a lie,” Flynn said. “I know the sex and my baby is going to beat you to the punch.”
Before Brock could dispute his brother, Jason Reagert and his very pregnant wife, Lauren, approached them. “If we’re going to talk about winning the time game, Lauren and I will beat both of you,” Jason, newly promoted to vice president, said.
Lauren, in her ninth month of pregnancy, glowed with love and happiness. “That’s right,” she said. “Our baby boy could make his appearance any minute.”
“Stop making me nervous,” Brock said. “Do we have a doctor in the crowd?”
“Trust me. I’m on the edge of my seat,” Jason said. “I have a packed bag for her sitting in the car.”
Gavin Spencer, the former ad executive for Maddox who had started his own business, stepped forward and extended his hand. “Congratulations,” Gavin said. “I can only hope I’ll give you some competition in the future.”