Just as Ellie chose not to go back to school, Prince Nicholas and Olivia chose not to go back to New York. Olivia’s feelings about the palace softened, and she views it more as a safety net than a cage. And with the sweetness of his young family surrounding him, Nicholas doesn’t think of his royal duties as the burden he once did. He enjoys them now, enjoys teaching his children about their lineage and gently preparing them for the royal roles they’ll one day play, if they choose. Their decision to stay in Wessco was a joyous one for Ellie and for Tommy and me. Nicholas isn’t my employer anymore—but he is my friend. Family. And that’s even better.
And Ellie and I aren’t the only ones popping out babies like it’s going out of style. In addition to five-year-olds Prince Langdon and Princess Lilliana, they added baby Theo to the mix six months ago. Along with Princess Jane, Henry and Sarah have three-year-old Prince Edward—he and my Finn are the best of friends, thick as little thieves—as well as their sweet newborn, Margaret.
Life changes us, with its twists and turns, in ways we don’t always see coming. It changes what we want, what we dream, lays blessings in our hands better than anything we could’ve imagined. These days, I no longer think about wanting to be a part of something bigger than myself. Because I already am. The home Ellie and I have, the family we’ve created—it’s the most noble, lasting and precious thing I could ever imagine. I don’t need anything more.
By the time we make it back home from the party at the palace, it’s after dark and still raining. Ellie and I give the boys a bath, then we all snuggle together on the sofa in the den, me shirtless in sleeping pants, the three of them in sweet cotton pajamas. We lie under the soft blanket, with a fire glowing in the fireplace and the wind and rain howling outside.
While Declan pounds and climbs on me like I’m his personal jungle gym, Ellie reads Finn a bedtime story—about evil dragons and a hero who rescues the damsel . . . and a damsel who rescues him back.
“And they lived happily ever after.” Ellie and Finn chime the last words together, closing the storybook.
Our oldest son gazes at his lovely mummy, like she’s the all-knowing and all-beautiful Queen of the Universe. “Is it because they’re a prince and a princess? Like Auntie Liv and Uncle Nick? Is that why they beat the dragon and get to live happily?”
Ellie rubs her nose against our son’s button one and strokes his dark hair.
“No, baby. Happily ever after isn’t just for royalty.” My darling girl looks at me with all the love and adoration a woman can have for a man.
“Happy endings are for all of us.”
The End
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Turn the page for a special sneak peek of Lexi Blake’s
Love Another Day,
coming August 22, 2017
Love Another Day
Masters and Mercenaries Book 14
By Lexi Blake
Click HERE for more information.
A man born to protect
After a major loss, Brody Carter found a home with the London office of McKay-Taggart. A former soldier, he believes his job is to take the bullets and follow orders. He’s happy to take on the job of protecting Dr. Stephanie Gibson while the team uses her clinic in Sierra Leone to bring down an international criminal. What he never expected was that the young doctor would prove to be the woman of his dreams. She’s beautiful, smart, and reckless. Over and over he watches her risk her life to save others. One night of pure passion leads him to realize that he can’t risk his heart again. When the mission ends, Brody walks away, unwilling to lose another person he loves.
A woman driven to heal
Stephanie’s tragic past taught her to live for today. Everything she’s done in the last fifteen years has been to make up for her mistakes. Offering medical care in war-torn regions gives her the purpose she needs to carry on. When she meets her gorgeous Aussie protector, she knows she’s in too deep, but nothing can stop her from falling head over heels in love. But after one amazing night together, Brody walks away and never looks back. Stephanie is left behind…but not alone.
A secret that will change both their lives
A year later, Stephanie runs afoul of an evil mercenary who vows to kill her for failing to save his son. She runs to the only people she trusts, Liam and Avery O’Donnell. She hasn’t come alone and her secret will bring her former lover across the world to protect her. From Liberia to Dallas, Brody will do whatever it takes to protect Stephanie from the man who wants to kill her, but it might be her own personal demons that could destroy them both.