Nanny for the SEALs by Cassie Cole

Epilogue

Heather

One Year Later

I woke up in our king-sized bed, surrounded by my three boyfriends. I had slept through the night, uninterrupted.

Wait a minute. I slept through the night?

I sat upright in bed. Over in the crib, Mark was sleeping soundly. He hadn’t woken up at all during the night. I couldn’t remember the last time that happened.

Rogan, who was laying on his back next to me, slowly raised a finger to his lips. “Don’t ruin the peace,” he whispered to me.

I smiled and cuddled up against him. “Maybe the worst of it is over, huh?’

He kissed me in my hair. “Maybe so.”

It had been a rough couple of months. When we first brought Mark home, he slept like an angel every single night. Even when he woke up early, he wiggled around in his crib and giggled at the mobile hanging above him. He rarely cried.

All of that changed when he was nine months old. Now he rarely slept through the night. We had tried every trick in the book, but so far, nothing had worked. The lack of sleep was beginning to wear all of us down. I had offered to take Mark into the guest bedroom so that he wouldn’t disturb the men’s sleep, but the three of them insisted they stay with me. If one of us was going to be kept up at night, then all of us would, too.

I thought that was a dumb sacrifice for them to make, but it was nice to know we were all in this together, for better or for worse.

But last night Mark had slept soundly! No midnight screaming! I actually felt refreshed this morning, and had woken up before my alarm. Maybe we had turned a corner.

I cuddled with Rogan and enjoyed another blissful thirty minutes of sleep. When my alarm softly vibrated on the bedside table, I finally stretched and got out of bed. Mark was starting to wiggle in his crib.

Brady got up and kissed me on the back of the neck. “I’ll get the kids ready for school.”

Thanks, sweetie.” I turned to the crib. “How’s my little Marky doing?” I cooed while lifting the baby out.

He let out a babble of baby-speak, and my heart swelled. Even when he did interrupt our sleep, I loved the pudgy little man with all of my heart. He was the most important thing in my life, and it wasn’t even close.

I can’t remember how things were before him, I thought while nursing him. We were weaning him off breast milk and getting him used to baby food, and fortunately he was taking it well. Today I would give him half milk, and half mashed peas. We could probably move him entirely to baby food within another week or two.

His diaper was wet, so I changed him and carried him into the kitchen. Brady was eating cereal with the triplets, all of whom were still slack-eyed with sleep. Only Cora got up and gave me a hug.

“G’morning, Heather,” she said.

“Morning, dear,” I replied. Rogan wanted the kids to start calling me mom, but I didn’t think they were ready for that. It was a big step, and they were still adjusting to having a baby brother around the house.

Fortunately, they were handling that change very well. Dustin and Micah adored Mark, and were constantly trying to help me take care of him. As I opened the jar of mushed peas for Mark, Dustin hastily wolfed down the rest of his cereal until his mouth was as full as a chipmunk. Somehow, he managed to chew and swallow it down.

“Can I feed Marky?” he asked. “Please?”

“Only if you’re careful not to make a mess,” I warned. The last time he had fed him, more food ended up on the floor than in the baby’s mouth.

Dustin flew around the side of the table and grabbed a spoon. “Ready to play airplane, Marky?”

The baby squealed happily.

Dustin took a spoonful of green mush from the jar. “Here comes the airplane! Brrrrr.”

Brady winked at me. “I’ll keep an eye on them if you want to get ready.”

I glanced at my watch. “You don’t mind? I’ll be quick—I just need to hop in the shower!”

Asher was already in the shower when I reached the master bedroom. Rather than use the spare bathroom down the hall, I stripped out of my pajamas and jumped in with him.

“Oh.” He grunted when he saw me. “Why, hello there. I didn’t think you would want to have fun this morning.”

“No fun—business only,” I said while tying my hair up so it wouldn’t get wet. “Excuse me. Let me get some water.”

I slid in front of him, letting my wet ass grind against him. Within seconds I could feel him hardening against my skin.

“Maybe a little fun?” he asked.

I pushed back against him harder. “Nope. Not even a little bit.”

Asher wrapped a hand around my waist and down between my legs. I sighed as he rubbed me in a circle, a finger curling up into my lips.

I reached behind me, took hold of his shaft, and guided him into my waiting lips. Both of us groaned softly, our voices echoing in the shower as we began to move and grind against each other, faster and faster.

Asher planted a hand between my shoulder blades and bent me over. I arched my back to take as much of him as possible, squeezing my inner muscles around him, milking him while he fucked me. Soon both of us were sucking in our breath, until finally Asher buried himself as deep as he could and exploded inside of me. I closed my eyes and savored the sensation of his thickness filling me, trembling and pulsing with every spurt.

I honestly meant for the shower to be all business. But hey, sometimes plans change.

Speaking of plans changing, I switched from oral birth control to an IUD. As much as I loved Mark, I wasn’t ready for another surprise. Especially not when I was just starting my career.

After showering and changing into some casual clothes, I helped Rogan get the kids ready for school. Their backpacks were neat and tidy and ready to go, but we still had to dress the triplets—because otherwise the boys would wear their favorite shirts every day—comb their hair, and make sure they brushed their teeth.

“You’re going to be late for the bus!” I said while herding them out the front door. I was carrying Mark in my arms. “I can see it down the street! Hurry!”

“Love you, Heather!” Micah said, giving me a hug. Dustin and Cora quickly did the same, and then the three of them went running through our white picket fence and down the street to the bus stop. I grabbed Mark’s little hand and waved it for him at his older siblings.

We had moved into a big house in the valley. Aside from morning bus shenanigans, it was more peaceful. And it was a real neighborhood, as opposed to a residence above the security offices.

I waved to Georgette and Clay next door, who were getting in their car to go to work. They smiled and waved back. In general, we had great neighbors, although they raised their eyebrows when they realized there were three men and one woman living together. Nobody had been blunt enough to ask yet, but I knew the question would probably come up at the next book club.

Oh, did I mention I joined the neighborhood book club? I was becoming domesticated.

When—not if—the question was asked, I would tell the truth. I had a polyamorous relationship with three men. I had a feeling most of our neighbors would be accepting of our lifestyle. I doubted that would be the case if we lived in the deep south, but here in California? No problem at all.

At least, I hoped so. I would cross that bridge when we came to it.

Just as the triplets disappeared from sight, a Jeep came around the corner and pulled up in front of our house. Maurice and Jason hopped out and came walking up our driveway.

“How was he last night?” Jason asked. “More trouble?”

“No—he was so good last night! He didn’t get up once!”

Jason smiled. “I wore him out with playtime yesterday.” He took the baby from my arms. “We’ll do it again today, won’t we, little man?”

Mark giggled and held up a hand. Jason returned the high-five. That was something he taught him a month ago, and Mark loved to give high-fives to everyone he saw.

Jason and Maurice had been helping us with the kids—not just the triplets, but Mark, too. Jason was a natural with children. I wouldn’t have expected it from the huge, hulking former SEAL, but he was as loving and caring as anyone I had ever seen. Maurice had taken to calling him Mary Poppins, which always made Jason roll his eyes.

“You ready to go?” Maurice asked me.

I nodded and told Jason, “He’s already eaten. I changed his diaper when I woke up, but lately he’s been needing another change mid-morning.”

“No problem. Say goodbye to mommy.”

I leaned in and kissed Mark goodbye. There was a special glimmer in the baby’s eyes that only appeared when he was looking at me. He may have been surrounded by loving men, but there was only one mom.

I’m such a lucky woman, I thought as I climbed into the Jeep with Maurice.

The William Morris Agency represented both of us now. Shortly after I gave birth, they offered me a recurring part on a Hulu pilot. I would have had to audition for it, but they said it was just a formality. The part was mine, if I wanted it.

Rogan had been true to his word. I nannied the triplets, and in return they boosted my career.

But while I was pregnant, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Mr. Howard had told me: that I needed to work my way up steadily rather than having someone pull strings for me. Those words resonated with me. I wanted to earn my way up, and know that if I got a part on a TV show, it was because I deserved it.

So I turned down the Hulu pilot and asked my agent to get me some smaller roles for the first year. Maurice told me I was insane, but I was happy with my choice. I wanted to build up my resume, and get some real experience.

There were no shortcuts in life, or in relationships. You had to put in the work. But it was so much more rewarding when you did.

I realized that, now.

Maurice and I were working together on a commercial for a new brand of athletic clothes. It was my first project since before I was pregnant, and I felt like a little girl on the first day of school. We arrived on set and were sent to the wardrobe trailer to be fitted with the athletic clothes and sneakers. Then we went out to a college track to begin filming.

There were several takes involving running. Maurice and I sprinted down the track, then walked back, then sprinted some more. The director gave us some guidance in between takes, but they were all reasonable critiques.

“We’ll definitely be done today,” he told us. “Keep up the good work!”

“I’m out of shape,” Maurice complained to me. He was bent over with his hands on his knees, dripping sweat down onto the track surface. “It’s no fair that you’re so much fitter than I am.”

I barked a laugh. “I had to work my ass off to lose all my pregnancy weight. So I don’t want to hear about how you think things are unfair.”

“I’m going to tell my agent to find me a cookie commercial,” he panted. “One where I sit down and eat cookies all day. I wouldn’t mind doing multiple takes.”

We worked all day, and eventually the director called a wrap on filming. Everyone shook hands and thanked everyone else, and then Maurice and I went back to the wardrobe trailer to change.

“You’re going to want to wash these,” Maurice told the wardrobe girl. “They’re drenched in my sweat. You know what? You should probably let me keep them.”

“I’m used to it,” the girl said.

After we had changed—and after Maurice had showered—we gathered our things and left the trailer. We were immediately greeted with a chorus of applause and cheers.

I gave a start. Everyone was standing outside the trailer: Rogan, Brady, and Asher. In front of them were Cora, Micah, and Dustin. Jason was applauding wildly, and Brady’s sister Patty did her best to cheer while holding baby Mark in her arms.

“What are you doing here!” I said.

“We wanted to celebrate the official start of your career,” Rogan said. He hugged me tightly and added, “Today is a big day.”

“I’ve done a commercial before,” I reminded him. That anti-smoking one, back when you guys were worrying about Amirah Pratt’s stalkers.”

“This is your new start,” Brady replied. “And back then, you were just the nanny. Now you’re, like, one of the family.”

“You’re family!” Dustin said, echoing his father’s words.

My heart swelled with happiness as I hugged each of them.

Behind me, Maurice muttered, “I’ve had four commercials already, where’s my celebration?”

“Oh, be quiet,” Jason told him. “It’s not all about you.”

“We’re going out to dinner to celebrate,” Asher told me. “All of us. Where do you want to go?”

I looked around at the group. “It might be tough to find a place that can accommodate seven adults and four kids.”

“I know of a steak restaurant down in Anaheim,” Rogan said. “It’s family-friendly, and has a kids menu. They have an amazing appetizer called the Bloomin Onion, which is a sliced onion that has been deep-fried…”

“Hey!” I said. “You’re talking about Outback Steakhouse!”

A small smile crept onto Rogan’s lips. “Oh? You’ve been there?”

I playfully punched his arm. “You had better be joking. I’m not going back to Outback to celebrate.”

Brady wrapped an arm around me. “What’s wrong with Outback? I like their cheese fries.”

“Ugh!” I rolled my eyes at them.

“I hear they have a good New York strip,” Asher said.

“Oh come on, not you too,” I said. “Remember that thing I called you a long time ago, in the warehouse?”

Rogan looked sideways at me. “I can’t recall. What was it, again?”

With the kids around, I couldn’t tell them exactly what I meant. So I said, “I’ll give you a hint: it rhymes with stunt-bucket.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” Brady said with a shit-eating grin.

The three of them laughed and teased me as we walked to the car.

I’ll be honest: this isn’t how I expected my life to go. Being shared by three former Navy SEALs? Raising their triplets? Having a wonderful child of my own? If I could go back in time to the Lakers game and tell past-Heather this would happen as a result of sneaking into that suite, I wouldn’t have believed it.

But now that we were here? I sure as hell wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.