Page 56 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“Today,” he replied, lacing her fingers through his. “We could be married at city hall this afternoon.”

She thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. “No, I want a real wedding.” She told him. “I want Mandy to be my maid of honor. I want to give Martha enough time to make a wedding cake and I want Joe to walk me down the aisle.”

“Deal. Next month, then.”

She smiled, then snuggled against his chest. “Next month then.” She agreed.

Epilogue

“Don’t eat the flowers!” Clarissa admonished to her daughter. For the fourth time!

Rosemary merely grinned mischievously at her mother. Then plucked another flower from the redbud tree, popping it in her mouth. The little she-devil knew that Clarissa couldn’t do anything about her misdemeanor since she was nursing her baby brother.

A low growl from behind was Rosemary’s only warning before she was lifted into strong arms. A scream and a giggle followed and Clarissa smiled as her handsome husband scooped their daughter up, tossing her into the air. She laughed even harder, then wrapped her arms around her daddy’s neck. “You’re silly, Daddy.”

“I’m silly?” he growled, lifting her higher, but this time, he nuzzled her belly, tickling her with his lips. When he lowered her down this time, he had a mock-serious expression on his features. “I’m not the one eating a tree!”

She giggled, kissing his cheek so he wouldn’t tickle her again. “Not the tree, Daddy! Just the flowers!” She reached out and plucked another, offering it to him. “They are good. They taste like candy.”

Levi rolled his eyes and turned, mock-glaring at Joe as he came through the copse of trees and bushes that were in full bloom as spring made itself known.

“See what you’ve done? You’ve created a flower monster!” Levi accused.

Joe chuckled as he set two large baskets on the table, filled with lettuce. “We’ve got a good crop this year,” he announced, reaching out to tickle Rosemary’s bare toes. “And the teams are amazed that the crops are starting to sprout.”

Clarissa and Levi had bought a large plot of land outside the city. They had their house, Joe and Martha’s house, space for their own personal garden, an orchard filled with fruit trees and five small houses in the distance. Clarissa’s new foundation sponsored five families for one year, giving them free housing, a new car, medical care and tutoring for their children, plus budget training and gardening tips. The families have a community garden in the middle of their set of houses where everyone helps grow their own food during the spring, summer, and fall months. Clarissa’s foundation had launched twenty-five families so far in the past five years and life was pretty darn good.

Clarissa felt a change in her son and looked down. He’d fallen asleep after his meal and looked absolutely adorable with his eyes closed and his tiny fist still held up in the air. She adjusted her clothing, then carefully set her son down in the small bassinet that she’d brought out for his post-meal napping pleasure. She stood up with a sigh and stepped directly into Levi’s arms.

“Thank you,” she whispered and lifted up on her toes to kiss him.

“For what?” he asked, pulling her in closer.

Clarissa turned slightly, not leaving the circle of his arms as she surveyed her family. Rosemary was sitting on a blanket, eating warm cookies with Joe as Martha bustled out of the house, heading towards the other houses to bring their five families warm cookies in time for the kids to arrive back from school. Joe was teaching Rosemary how to count, Nathan was sleeping, and she was in Levi’s arms. Life couldn’t get any better!

She looked up at her husband, love for him making her heart nearly burst. “For everything,” she whispered back.

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