Page 35 of Risk It All

She turns, her eyes wide when she sees me.I wanted to surprise her, so I told her I was getting home tomorrow.When she stands there speechless, I realize that I succeeded.

“Surprise!”I say, kicking the door shut behind me as Emerson finally charges across our place toward me.

She launches herself at me and I laugh, catching her easily.Her arms wrap around my neck, her legs around my waist as our lips meet and cling to each other.

We live in an open plan loft on the top floor and I make my way over to our bed, laying her down as we start to pull at our clothes.

“How was tour?”she asks between kisses.

“Good, I signed that other Netflix contract,” I say, trailing kisses down her neck.

“Congratulations, baby.I’m so proud of you,” she says breathlessly.

“How’s the gallery?”I ask, wanting to catch up with her but needing to feel her beneath me, her skin on mine, her body wrapped tight around me.

“Later, I’ll tell you later,” she gasps and I nod against her neck.

“Much later.”

She laughs against my lips and I grin.

If you had told me that I would meet the love of my life on a cross country road trip to New York, I would have told you that you were insane, but that’s exactly what happened.

Emerson is the best thing that ever happened to me.She is my best friend, my wife, the mother of my future children, and as I look down at her, flushed and spread out beneath me, I know that she’s also my always.

CHAPTER17

Emerson

Ten Years Later…

“Promiseme that you won’t tease your brother too much,” I tell Anthony as he drives the SUV up the long driveway.

“Babe,” Anthony says, drawing my name out like our kids do when they’re pouting about something.

Dahlia and Kinsley both giggle in the back seat, used to their dad and uncles teasing each other.

We’re headed up to a cabin in Pennsylvania.We try to do a family vacation with everyone at least once a year.Normally, it’s over the winter break but Anthony took this year off to work on a new set so we planned two.

Ames and Alexander and their spouses are meeting us at the cabin, along with the boys’ parents.I’m looking forward to seeing everyone but especially about talking art with Arthur and Aileen.

Arthur retired from teaching at Harvard a few years ago, wanting to slow down and spend more time with his wife and grandkids, but he’s always up to talk art with me.

It will be nice to see Eden and Rory again too.I don’t get to see them as much as I would like, even though Eden and I live in the same city.

“Are we there yet?”Dahlia asks, leaning over the front seat.

“Almost,” I tell her as the roof of the log cabin comes into view.

The girls are excited to see their cousins and grandparents too.I think they’re more excited to be able to run wild for a few days.

I wish that Layla and Theo would have been able to come with us.They’re off in France, celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary.I think Theo had a photoshoot there in a couple of weeks so they’re planning on staying over there for a month or two.

Layla’s hit the New York Times Bestseller and USA Today Bestseller list half a dozen times in the last ten years.She just found out that her latest release has been pitched for movie rights and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

The cabin comes into view and I laugh as the girls start to bounce in their seats.Ames is outside with Alexander and they’re both grabbing luggage out of the back of their cars.Dahlia and Kinsley are out of the car as soon as the car has come to a stop and I climb out, stretching before I follow after them.

“Be nice,” I call out to Anthony as I follow the girls inside.

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