Epilogue
Rita
Six months later...
MY STOMACH WAS tight as I held my breath. I was doing everything I could to keep my emotions in check.
“Are you sure about this? It’s not too late to change your mind.” His strong arms snaked around my waist, tugging me against his rock-solid body.
“Yes, I’m sure. You and Nik will be starting your lives together soon. Husband and wife— you don’t need Granny around.”
“But I do need you around.” I pouted, looking around Granny’s new room in Palm Vista. It was three down from Nana Bea’s. “You’re never in the way.”
She waved me off as she milled about putting her clothes away—stubborn old woman. Moving to Palm Vista was her idea after Nik proposed to me in bed on Christmas morning. I’d woken up to him feasting on me and a small Christmas tree on the nightstand with twinkling lights and a ring box under it.
The proposal was understated.Marry me, Rita, he’d said with his head between my legs. It came out fierce, like a command and totally Nik. He had me screamingyesall morning.
However, the ring was not understated at all. The three-carat oval diamond sparkled more than the lights on the tree. When I’d asked why he bought me such a giant diamond, he’d saidBecause you’re worth it. And so men will see you’re taken.
I sure loved my possessive bad boy.
We’re having a small wedding next month. Both of our mothers will be attending. We haven’t seen either in person, only talked to them. Frankly, I was nervous as hell, but Nik had suggested calling them. He thought it might help us move past the events in our childhood.
He never ceased to amaze me.
Granny patted my arm. “You two should get going so you can finish moving into Nik’s.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
Nik’s lips were on my neck. “Baby, she’s happy. Let me take you home to comfort you properly.”
Granny laughed and swatted him on the arm because, in typical Nik fashion, he wasn’t quiet. My man always spoke his mind no matter who was around.
“Lucia, you ready for dinner? It’s almost five. I don’t like to be late.” Nana Bea entered Granny’s room.
“Don’t rush me!”
I giggled. They were always like this, thick as thieves and annoying the crap out of each other. They reminded me of Toni and me.
“Hi, Rita. Hi, my handsome Nik.” Bea kissed us both. “When do the new buyers close on the house?”
“In three days,” Nik replied. “We should get back to it and finish cleaning it out. The carpet cleaners come tomorrow.”
I was a little sad to be selling Granny’s house, but we didn’t need two homes. Nik’s was bigger, with an extra bedroom and bath, and his kitchen was twice the size of Granny’s. With the money we made, Granny could afford to move into Palm Vista to be close to Bea again.
“Fine. We’ll go,” I grumbled. “Call me if you need anything.” I hugged Granny.
“I’ll be fine, Rita. Live your life with Nik. You only have one.”
“I know. I love you, Granny. We’ll be back Friday afternoon.” She wanted a full report on the new buyers. They were a married couple with a baby. I was curious to see what they looked like too.
“Come on, baby.” Nik tugged my hand. He was so damn excited to have me in his bed every night starting tonight. Since we got engaged, we’d been working on his house, painting and putting my own touch on it so it would feel like my home too. He was so good to me. There wasn’t a better man than my Nik.
I kissed Granny one more time and Bea too, then let Nik drag me away.
Within thirty minutes, we were home and panting heavily after a quickie on the kitchen table. He sure liked bending me over it. We had our routine with sex. I assumed other couples had one too. We always got down and dirty either before or after Nik made love to me. It was never one or the other.
To put it simply, we had a lot of sex.