Page 20 of Dirty Deceit

"You go ahead. I'm going to be watching them from the beach. I'll tell them you'll join us later. No need to let them know when that later is."

"Thanks!” I reach out and hug her. “You're the best."

She winks at me and turns to go find her husband.

Murphy is coming to get me, and I try to catch him before the others spot him.

"Come on, we're making a run for it."

"Do you think they'll give us a hard time because of it?"

"Definitely. But it doesn't matter. It's our honeymoon, and I want to spend time with you."

He stops and kisses me softly on the lips.

"I think that's the best offer I've heard all day. Let's go, darling."

Epilogue

5 Years Later

Gemma

We just left the realtor's office, keys in hand. We're heading toward our new townhouse. It took a lot of work from both of us to save up the money, but we're investing in our future. We're both smiling, but I have another reason to be happy. I will be making Murphy a proposal that I know he can't refuse.

Driving up to the house, I'm always surprised by how perfect it is for us. We park in the two-car garage, and I'm out of the car before my husband can get the door for me.

"Gemma! Wait for me."

I just wave at him from the front door as I wiggle the keys in the lock until the bolt slides open. Definitely need to fix that. When Murphy comes in, he catches me twirling in the living room, crazy laughter coming from my lips.

"Isn't it wonderful?" I run at him and jump him, almost toppling him where he stands.

"You've been holding back all this time, Gemma."

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't want you to know how much I loved this house until the deal was done. What if it fell through? I just wasn't ready until we finally got it."

He places kisses all over my face, and I rejoice. "Let's celebrate. There's some champagne over there."

"There is?" He's surprised because the realtor and I kept a few things secret.

"Yes, right over there." I signal toward the kitchen island.

He serves us and offers me a flute. "To a wonderful life in our new home."

"I'll drink to that, dear husband." I put my free arm around his neck. "But I'd like to set a new goal for us this afternoon."

"Oh, yeah. What's that?"

"I want us to fill this house with children. Starting today, I've stopped taking birth control."

"Are you sure, darling?"

"I'm very, very sure."

"Is that why you wanted a five-bedroom house? So we'd have children running all over the place, driving us crazy?"

"Yup." I grin.

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