Page 44 of Silver Foxed

“That’s understandable,” I say. “Just know that I won’t do anything to hurt Alex. At least not intentionally,” I swear. “And I really didn’t do this to hurt you, Ollie. I care about your daughter. I care about you.”

He searches my eyes for a lie before he expels a long sigh. “I know.” He clears his throat. “I’m going to head home; I need to process this.”

I nod at my longtime friend, knowing there isn’t much else I can say right now. When Oliver’s eyes meet Alex’s, she steps out of my embrace and pulls her father into her arms.

She hugs him tightly. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Then he pulls back and grabs Stephanie’s hand. “Call me tomorrow,” he says to Alex. “And I’ll see you on Monday, Astor.”

He turns on his heel, and Stephanie looks at us over her shoulder with a broad smile. She makes the “call me” motion to Alex before they step back inside, which has us both chuckling quietly.

When they’re safely out of sight, I tug Alex into my arms and rest my chin on her head, taking in her scent, her warmth.

“Tell me you love me again,” she murmurs against my chest.

“I love you, Alex.”

She hums, kissing the space over my heart. “I love you, too, Elijah.”

Epilogue

Alex

One Year Later

“Oh my god, baby. I’m so proud of you!” I jump up and down as I hold Elijah’s book in my hands.

He grins at me from his seat at the dining table, pulling me into his lap so he can kiss me soundly on the lips. “It’s all thanks to you.”

I shake my head. “No. You did this!” I say, turning the book over to see his picture on the back. “You made this happen.”

He rests his head on my shoulder as I flip through the pages.

“My husband, the thriller author,” I muse.

“Self-published author.” He chuckles.

“Exactly, my husband, the author.”

Elijah pulls the book from me and sets it on the table, holding my hands in his before kissing them. He takes extra time to place a kiss on the princess-cut diamond ring and matching wedding band on my finger.

“I love you, wife,” he says, his blue eyes shining.

I press my lips to his, showing him my love as I open my mouth to his tongue, letting him kiss me deeply. When I pull back, I run my finger down his neatly trimmed beard then tug on it gently. “I have an anniversary present for you.”

“Oh?” he asks, his brow shooting up.

Today happens to be the one-year anniversary of us officially getting together and the three-month anniversary of us getting married. What can I say? We like celebrating whenever we have a chance. Especially when we can escape to our favorite place—the lake house—to do so.

“I had my IUD removed,” I say, cupping his cheek.

Elijah’s cock jumps under my bottom, and I chuckle at his immediate reaction. But then his brow pinches.

“When?” he asks. “I would have gone with you to the appointment.”

I roll my eyes at him, smoothing his brow with my thumb as I like to do. “It’s fine, Mr. Serious. I wanted to surprise you.”

He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Consider me surprised.”

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