Three years had passed since Ryker and I officially started our lives together at this beach bungalow. While there had been moments of uncertainty, particularly in the first year, our life together exceeded my wildest dreams.
Almost two and half years ago, I married Ryker in a small, private ceremony on this beach with only Rever and my best friend, Vera, in attendance. When I asked Vera to be my maid of honor, she cried. Without confronting her, she confessed she’d sent emails to Evan informing him of my whereabouts after we broke up. Apparently, she wanted to show him I had moved on. Once she learned about Senator Deveron’s connection to the Vargas Cartel and his role in my abduction, she said the guilt nearly killed her. She told me she thought she had lost her best friend. I promised her she hadn’t.
I didn’t see her as much as I would’ve liked over the last few years because Ryker and I floated between Mexico, the US, and his flat in London. Our son, Easton, was almost three years old, so we figured we had a few more years of traveling before we had to commit to living in one place.
My parents didn’t accept Ryker in the beginning, particularly after they discovered his connection to the Vargas Cartel, but their opposition had softened after Easton was born. My relationship with them was complicated, and I didn’t think it would change anytime in the near future. They hadn’t pushed me out of their life, and for that I was thankful. Easton needed as much family as he could get.
I hadn’t seen or heard from Ignacio since that day on the tarmac, but I didn’t mind. Ryker never indicated whether he kept in contact with him, and I didn’t think I’d ever ask. Ryker’s mom spent a month with us after Easton was born, but she claimed she’d met the love of her life. She’d moved to some undisclosed location, and we only saw her once a year. When I asked Ryker if he cared, he just shrugged, claiming he was happy his mom had found someone after spending most of her life alone. Something told me Ignacio had rekindled things with Ryker’s mom, but when I asked him about, Ryker just smiled and changed the subject.
Rever was a surprisingly gentle uncle, but we only saw him a handful of times a year. Ryker and Rever ran the Vargas Cartel together for the first six months after they forced Ignacio out. Fortunately, Rever quickly proved he was more than capable of running everything alone, and Ryker bowed out. I suspected Ryker still managed the books, but he never confirmed it. I think it was his way of keeping Easton and me as far away from the violence as possible.
I finally finished my master’s degree last year and after turning down several job offers, I started writing a book exposing how criminal organizations have infiltrated governments throughout history. I didn’t know if I’d ever do anything with it, but it kept me busy.
A light, tinkling giggle floated through the air as Ryker’s arms closed around my waist, and two tiny hands wrapped around my leg.
“Found you, Mommy,” Easton said.
I gazed down at Easton’s gray eyes so much like Ryker’s and my breath caught in my throat. He and Ryker were proof the most amazing things could come from hardship. “I guess this wasn’t a very good hiding place.”
Ryker spun me around to face him. His fingers trailed down my cheek, and his lips tugged down at the corners. “Coming back here this weekend was your idea. Why are you crying?” he asked, studying me with quiet concern.
I smiled through my tears. “Because our life is perfect.”
His lips curled up into a smile, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “After everything we went through to get here, don’t you think we earned it?”
“Yes.” I scooped Easton up and plopped him on my hip. “I think it’s time for your nap, little man.”
Ryker wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and we strolled over the hot sand back into the beach bungalow.
Easton rubbed his eyes. “I’m not tired. I want to play.”
“You have to sleep.”
“Why?” Easton asked, his lower lip puffing out in a practiced pout.
Ryker snatched Easton out of my arms and placed him in the middle of his bed. “You need to rest because when you wake up we’re all going to build the biggest sand castle ever.” Ryker pulled the covers over Easton body.
“So you need to sleep too?”
“Yes.” Ryker kissed Easton’s forehead. “Mommy and Daddy are going to take a big nap, too.”
I raised one eyebrow. “Really?”
He smirked as he threaded his hand through mine and pulled me out the door. “Yeah, I have to show you something.”
“Something important?”
“I’d like to think it’s important, but I’ll wait for your confirmation.”
“Hmm,” I said. “The magic wand in your pants?”
“Exactly.” He tipped his head back and laughed. “Only you would remember that.”
“Only you would twist my words like that,” I countered.
He lifted me up and swung me over his shoulder. “Hey! Don’t manhandle me.”
“You like it when I manhandle you,” he said, spanking me lightly on the backs of my thighs.
“You wish,” I said, laughing as he dropped me on the bed.
Grinning, he stretched his body out over mine. I ran my hands over his sculpted tan chest. “No, you’re wrong,” he whispered as his lips brushed against mine. “All of my wishes came true the minute you said ‘I do.’ I have a perfect wife, a perfect son, and the perfect life. I don’t need anything else.”
I cupped his chin and placed one of his hands on my lower stomach. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes,” he murmured as he feathered kisses down my neck.
Ribbons of heat raced down my body, and I arched my hips. “That’s too bad,” I rasped out, my voice already thick with desire.
“Why’s that?” he asked as he untied the top of my bikini.
“Because I’m pregnant.” We’d been trying for over a year. Just last month, Ryker and I decided to let fate take its course. If it didn’t happen, it wasn’t meant to be.
He lifted his gaze, and his eyes locked on mine, his smile widening. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “Seriously.”
“Hattie.” He laid his hand tenderly against my cheek. “Do you know how happy you make me?”
“Show me.”
And he did exactly that.
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