Chapter 42: Epilogue Dominic


    Three yearster


    The girls said we could drop them off at the school’s curb and Presley thirded the motion, saying the


    building wasn’t that big. But I vetoed that idea. No way am I going to abandon them to fumble their own


    way to their ssroom. Maybe in a few weeks . . . or years . . . but definitely not today.


    It’s their very first day of kindergarten, after all. The first time they’ve been away from home all day long


    without me, Presley, or Francine.


    As we escort them through the halls, I’m fidgeting like crazy, twisting my wedding ring around and


    around my finger. “You sure you’ve got your lunches in your backpacks? You know what to do if you


    need toe home?”


    “Call Franny,” Emilia answers dutifully. Lacey is already distracted, taking in the colorful posters and


    noisy crowd all around us with a wide-eyed grin.


    “And do you remember her number?”


    “Um . . .”


    “Dom,” Presley says. “Rx. The teacher has Francine’s number. And our numbers, and their


    pediatrician’s, and the National Guard’s . . .”


    I frown. “I know that. It’s just an extra precaution.”


    “And this is just a school—a private school, even,” she says. “It’s only until three. Francine will pick


    them up and take them home, and we’ll see them again tonight.”


    “You say ‘only three,’ but that’s six hours away. What if they miss us during the day? What if they need


    help using the potty? What if the other kids are mean? What if they don’t eat their lunch? You know


    they’ve been so pickytely. What if—”


    Presley squeezes my shoulder, loving but firm. “Honey. Chill out. Stop acting like we’re throwing them


    to the wolves.”


    “Wolves? Can I see?” Emilia asks.


    “It’s only a figure of speech, honey. The only wolves around here are at the zoo.”


    “I’m perfectly chill,” I say, frowning. “But we have to be sure they’re ready.”


    “Somehow I don’t think they’re the ones who aren’t ready,” Presley teases. “Seriously, they can handle


    it. They’re more than old enough, and they did great in preschool.”


    “But preschool was only a half day. This might—”


    “I’m a big girl,” Lacey says.


    “Yes, you are, sweet pea. I quite agree.” Presley squats down. “Show me on your hands?”


    After thinking for a few moments, Lacey holds up five fingers.


    “And how many is that?”


    Lacey says, “Five,” at the same instant Emilia answers for her. “Five!”


    Presley shoots a smile back over her shoulder at me before asking them, “And how much do Mommy


    and Daddy and Franny love you?”


    “Infinity!” they both shout, flinging their arms open wide.


    “Absolutely right.” She hugs them, then stands up again. “See? They’re rocket scientists.” Sheys her


    hand gently on my arm. “We always knew we’d have to let go sometime.”


    Throwing her arms around my hips, Emilia says, “Don’t cry, Daddy.”


    “Yeah, we’re gonna be okay!” Lacey says, trying to reassure me.


    I have tough at how thoroughly we’ve switched roles here. “Thanks, you two. But for your


    information, I’m not crying. A bug just flew into my eye.” I wipe my sleeve across my face.


    Shit. I am totally about to cry. What’s happening to me?


    “Are you ready, girls?” their teacher calls.


    After onest round of kisses, they run inside and the door shuts behind them. If I squint through the


    frosted ss, I can just barely see the blobs of color that belong to our precious daughters. Then they


    move farther into the ssroom and are lost.


    Presley pats my lower back. “Poor thing. You’re going to be useless at the office today, aren’t you?”


    “Oh, hush,” I grunt.


    “But, seriously, I love this side to you. It’s adorable.” Taking my hand, she kisses me warmly.


    I level her with a heated look. “Did you just call me adorable?”


    She chuckles,cing her fingers through mine. “Yes. But don’t worry, I’ll cheer you upter.”


    Smirking, I raise her hand to my lips to kiss the back of it, right over her exquisite diamond ring. It feels


    like I gave it to her a whole lifetime ago, and it feels like no time at all. “Promise?”


    She beams at me. “Always and forever.”


    ? ? ?


    My wife was right about one thing—I’mpletely useless at the office. Thankfully, my calendar is


    mostly clear. I suspect that she and Beth had something to do with that fact, like they knew


    kindergarten drop-off would hit me hard. Hell, I didn’t even know it would, but I’m thankful there are


    more than a few smart women in my life.


    Presley has a busy day today, and so I barely see her after we arrive. She’s no longer the director of


    operations, she now runs the entire international operation, and she has, wlessly, for two years now.


    From my desk, I check her calendar and see that she has a lunch with her friend Bianca in a little while.


    Bianca got marriedst spring and is pregnant with her first baby—a little girl. Presley has been saving


    our girls’ hand-me-down clothes ever since the gender-reveal party.


    My gaze slips past the meetings until I find what I’m looking for. We have a six o’clock dinner with


    Presley’s dad, Grandpa George, along with her brother, Michael, and his fiancé, Elijah.


    My days before Presley came crashing into it were filled with work and parental obligations. But since I


    finally got my head out of my ass and epted that she was part of my future—and that I did deserve


    to be loved—now my days are filled with family andughter and so much love, I hardly recognize it.


    “Knock-knock,” a familiar voice calls from the door.


    “Hey. Come on in,” I say, ncing up to spot Oliver lingering at the threshold.


    He’s a little more gun-shy about barging straight into my office without knocking, ever since that time


    last year he caught me bending Presley over my desk. In our defense, it was after hours, and we


    assumed everyone was gone for the day. Thankfully, he didn’t catch a glimpse of anything more than


    my bare ass. Though I guess that was enough to traumatize him.


    “Is it safe?” he jokes.


    I roll my eyes. “’Course it is. What’s up?”


    Oliver drops into the chair in front of my desk and shrugs. “Presley set up an eleven o’clock meeting on


    my calendar saying that I was supposed toe check on you because today was the first day of


    school drop-off or something?”


    I stifle a sigh. She has my entire staff in on this? I wouldin, but sadly, they like her more than


    they like me. And Oliver’s totally a lost cause—he’s wrapped around her finger. Both he and Jess adore


    her.


    “I’m fine. Now go get back to work.”


    Oliver stands to his feet, shaking his head. “Jeez. Touchy today.”


    I grin at his retreating frame. “Thanks, Ollie.”


    I’ve barely gotten through my next email when there’s someone else at my door. I hear the click of


    heels and look up. It’s my lovely wife.


    A smile lifts my lips as I watch her walk toward me. Bypassing the desk, shees around behind it


    and slips into myp.


    I grin in surprise when she seats herself on top of me. “Hi there.”


    “Hi.” She presses a quick kiss to my lips.


    She’s not normally so touchy-feely at the office, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s checking on me


    too. I’ll be honest, I don’t hate it.


    “I’m okay, you know?” I raise one eyebrow at her.


    Sheughs. “I know you are. I just wanted to see if you needed anything before I head out to meet


    Bianca.”


    Tightening my arms around her, I hold her close, and Presley sighs. “Just you.”


    She smiles, bringing her lips to mine again. “You have me.”


    “Go have fun at lunch. I’ll just be here sulking, watching the clock.” I sigh for dramatic effect, and she


    swats my chest.


    “You’re a big baby. I told you I’ll make it up to youter.” She stands and adjusts my tie before she


    starts toward the door.


    “Best intern I ever hired,” I call to her retreating backside, and I hear Presley chuckle.


    It’s the absolute truth. Although, to be fair, Presley was never just an intern. She was the woman who


    rocked my entire world from the first time Iid eyes on her. And now she’s mine.


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