"If our families were here, would you want to get married now?"
I looked up at him, my heart doing flip-flops in my chest. I nodded, feeling giddy. "Of course."
He put his arm around me and turned us both. As we came around, my brother and Max's family stepped into the main area of the restaurant.
I looked up at Max, tears blurring my eyes because I couldn't contain my happiness. I flung my arms around him and held on. "I love you so much, Max."
His arms came around me and he held me tight against him. "You're my world, Amelia. You and the baby."
A woman I didn't know came to us telling us where to stand. Max introduced her as Serena Roarke, who happened to be married to Devin Roarke, owner of the company that owned the restaurant.
“Technically, they’re not family, but my uncle Daniel is married to Devin’s sister, so it’s like family,” he explained.
I shook my head. "You're going to have to draw me a family tree."
He held both of my hands in his. "I'll do that. And sometime in August, I look forward to adding our child to that family tree."
Along with Devin and Serena, Max’s aunts and uncles and cousins came too. I worried that James could feel outnumbered since he was the only family I had. But Max's family pulled him in, adopting him as part of their family as well.
With the backdrop of Las Vegas and the Nevada desert behind us, the officiant Max hired married me and Max. When we exchanged vows and rings, said our I dos, and the officiant pronounced as husband and wife, I knew my life going forward would be filled with happiness and joy. The ordeal with my father wasn't done. His trial wouldn't be for a while, and I was sure that even from prison, he would continue to try to hurt me and James, but with Max and the entire Clarke family behind us, I knew that nothing could ruin my happiness.
EPILOGUE ONE
Amelia – Ten Months Later - Christmas
The last ten months of my life have been the greatest. I married the man of my dreams. In August, I bore our sweet little boy, Andrew James Clarke, after Max’s father Drew and my brother.
Six months ago, we moved into a larger home that accommodated two home offices since Max was working on building the club in Las Vegas. We lived and worked and raised our boy together. It was perfect.
Today was Christmas Eve, and the happiness continued on. It was a far cry from a year ago when Max had accused me of tricking him into marriage for his money.
I looked down on our son sleeping in his crib. Sometimes, I couldn’t believe that my life could be filled with so much love. Andy was proof that my life was real.
A hand slid around me and lips pressed against my neck. "It's hard to take your eyes off him, isn't it?" Max whispered in my ear.
I turned in his arms to hug him. "Thank you for giving me all this."
He smiled. "Don't you know, Amelia? You're the one who’s given me all of this."
He kissed me softly, and things slowly heated up. His dick thickened against my belly. I checked my watch, noting we didn't have much time before we had to leave for the company Christmas party. Not Max's company, but James’s. The company struggled with my father going to prison. While my brother was doing everything he could to keep the company going, his board wasn't making it easy for him. It wasn't out of any loyalty to my father so much as concern that my father's actions and incarceration were damaging the company too much. They were pushing my brother to fix that but didn't seem to have a lot of faith that he would. Our showing up at the Christmas party, or more accurately, Max’s showing up at the Christmas party, was one way to boost James’s credibility in the eyes of the company and the others it did business with.
"That will have to wait until later. I need to shower and get ready for the party."
Max gave me a wicked grin. "We could shower together. It would save time and water."
I knew from experience that wasn't true, but at the same time, seeing Max smile at me so seductively, feeling him hard against my belly, it was impossible to say no.
It was a mad rush to the shower. We laughed and kissed until passion took over. Hot water sluiced over our bodies. Steam filled the bathroom. But all I could take in was the hot, hard man assaulting my senses with his hands and lips.
“Max.” Like always, he pushed me until edgy and agitated. I needed him to soothe the ache.
He lifted me, pressing me against the cool tiles. “Look at me, Amelia. I love to watch your eyes when I enter you.”
I did my best to look at him, but it was hard, especially as he penetrated my body, sending incredible sensations through me.
He grunted as he bucked, filling me. “So fucking good, baby.”
“Yes,” I agreed, lightly biting his shoulder.