Suddenly, loud sounds came from outside the house, startling us all.
“Firecrackers,” Knox said. “Must be midnight.”
“This time, it’s in our time zone,” Tonio said. “Guess it’s time for some New Year’s kissing.”
I smiled, looking into the eyes of each man I loved. “Definitely time.”
Austin cocked an eyebrow at me. “Want me to get the blindfold so you don’t have to choose who to kiss first?”
“Nope. The order doesn’t matter, because I love you all, and I’m pretty sure you guys know it.”
I turned to Denver, kissing him fully on the lips. Austin’s arm was still around my back, and I loved feeling that connection. Then I turned my head to the other amazing twin, kissing Austin hard.
When I was ready for the other men I loved, they moved in. Tonio stepped forward, and to my surprise, he scooped me into his arms. I linked my hands behind his head as he kissed me so thoroughly that I was breathless by the time he finished. Then he handed me over to Knox, who lifted me easily. His kiss lasted the longest of hem all. My eyes weren’t the only moist ones as I reached my arms out to touch as many of my loved ons as I could.
A throat cleared, and Austin was behind me. Knox’s blue eyes beamed at me before he held me out to Austin.
“You already had your turn,” I said in a mock scolding voice. I wiggled my hips as he held me tightly to his chest.
“I know,” he told me. “But sometimes I have to step in to save you.”
I drew in a quick breath. “Like at the club that night?”
“Yes, like that… but also from other things.”
I frowned. “Like what?”
It was Denver who answered. “Like the floor, of course. It’s made of lava.”
I grinned as Austin handed me over to his twin. Denver nuzzled his nose against mine as he held me tightly. “Now we don’t ever have to let you go.”
The smiles on my guys’ faces made me so happy. I loved them so much. “I think if you check the rules, there’s one place we’ll all be safe from lava.”
“Where’s that?” Knox asked.
“Downstairs on Austin’s bed.” I beamed at them. “Do you guys want to join me there so we’ll all be safe?”
As it turned out, they did.
28
Epilogue II
Emma
“Emma!”
Maddie’s voice was so loud that I had to hold the phone away from my ear. “How was your trip? Did you meet Doug’s family? I’ve been wondering how it was going.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t text. It was just such a busy weekend.”
“Are you home now?” I was in my study where I was supposed to be working on my writing, but Tonio kept coming in and asking me to look up stuff related to the business we were starting.
“I’m in Salt Lake. We had to change planes, and I just had to call you.”
“Why? Are Doug’s parents awful?”
She gave a weird little laugh. “No, but remember how I told you I thought he was hiding something?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, he was.”
I sat up straighter in my chair and pressed the phone against my ear. “What? Does he come from a family of axe murderers or something?”
“No, but it’s even stranger… they’re rich.”
I was happy for her and her sister, the bride-to-be. “Cool. Better Christmas presents for you and Gina.”
“No, Emma, you don’t understand. Like mega rich. Like pay for a new building at a prestigious university rich. They’ve got billions.”
“Oh my God! And Gina never knew anything about that?”
“No, not at all. Doug’s parents insisted that he not tell anyone he was dating so that he didn’t attract women only interested in his money. He even used a shortened version of his full name so that people wouldn’t be able to look him up online.”
My jaw was hanging open in shock. “This sounds like the kind of thing people would read about in a romance novel, not in real life.”
“Maybe you can write it one day, Emma. But I haven’t told you about the strangest part.”
“There’s more?”
“Yes. They want to host the entire wedding. It’ll be this summer… on a private island!”
“What?”
“It’s some place that the rich and famous rent for weddings. I think it’s called the Isle of Matrimony or something. We’ll be there for an entire week, and there will be all sorts of activities for the wedding party. As the maid of honor, I’m going to be spending the entire week hanging out with Doug’s friends including his three groomsmen.”
I practically squealed. “Have you met them? Are they good-looking?”