Take It All by Alexa Riley
Epilogue
Anna
Many years later…
“Are you leaving already?” I ask Celeste before she can slip out of the tent. I love when they visit the estate because the grandchildren's laughter fills our home. If it was up to me, they’d never leave, but as of right now, Apollo’s office is still in the city. I miss them all terribly when they’re gone, but I’m trying to be patient.
There’s nothing like a mother’s love, but a grandmother's love is something else altogether. I have a feeling they might be coming home permanently soon, but Apollo told me to keep a lid on it.
“Lo needs feeding.” I nod in understanding. The sitter could warm up a bottle of breast milk, but Lo sleeps better when he nurses from his mama.
“The twins are still out?” I ask and then fight a smirk. Rory and I took them all around the estate tonight during the annual charity fair. The first part of the night was more for the kids, but the auction is starting soon.
“They’re out for the night. You and Rory must have worked some magic.”
“All right, if you need anything, just let me know.” I give her a kiss on the cheek before she goes inside, but I’m pretty sure she’s in for the night. When you have three kids, you have to take your free moments when you get them. I’m so happy for Celeste and Apollo and how madly in love they are.
“Go win your man,” Celeste teases me before she waves goodbye, and I return to the tent.
The bachelor auction is about to start, and my husband took off a few minutes ago. He’s up to no good, and he knows it.
“That man loves for me to spend his money,” I say with a laugh, grabbing a glass of champagne off one of the trays.
Why else would Rory put himself in the auction? He’s far from a bachelor, and Craven Cove knows it. He wasn't even really a bachelor when he had the chance to be one. The man knows I’m not going to stand here and let some other woman bid on him and win a date with my husband. I don’t care if I have to bankrupt him, it’s not happening. Turns out I’m kind of jealous when it comes to my man.
“Mrs. Crew,” Sarah calls, snagging my attention. I head toward where she’s standing with a group of women. Some of the women in Craven Cove are lovely, and I’ve become close to them. A few are cold-hearted bitches. Sarah is a good one, and I’m grateful for that.
“Hey.” I walk over and stand by her side.
“Is this real?” She holds up the paper that lists the bachelors up for auction. I roll my eyes.
“I think he wants to watch me fight over him or something.” I take a sip of my drink. If I had it in me, I’d let someone else win him. He hates it as much as I do when women try and paw at him.
“Some of these snakes are running their mouths about it. The rumor tonight is there's trouble in paradise. They actually think they have a chance to win.”
“I don’t care what they whisper,” I say honestly. “You’d have to be blind and deaf to think Rory and I are having marital problems.”
Rory has a major PDA problem. The man can’t keep his hands off me, and I stopped fighting it years ago. Not to mention he’s always bringing up that I’m his wife or that he’s married to anyone within five feet of him. Like anyone has forgotten.
I glance to my left to see Bianca, Brandi, and Bonnie all dolled up with paddles in their hands. Sarah calls them the Triple Bitches. They have that typical Stepford Wives thing going on. Or they did until two got divorced a few years ago. One is newly separated. They’ve always disliked me, but I’m used to it. I don’t fit into the mold, and I also don’t let them get away with their backhanded remarks. I ignore them for the most part because their dislike for me is more about themselves.
The Triple Bitches perk up when the auction starts. This is the first year Rory isn’t hosting it, and I’m guessing it’s because he’s in it.
“You girls really think you have a chance?” Sarah comes to my defense even though I don’t need one.
“He put himself up there for a reason,” one of them says, lifting her chin.
“He gets off on me spending his money. That’s why.” They all purse their lips at my comment. “I mean, what kind of wife would I be if I didn’t spend it? He worked so hard for it, and I want to show him I appreciate it. It’s exhausting sometimes, though. No matter how hard I try, I can never make a dent.” I let out an exhausted huff.
“You poor thing,” Sarah says through a giggle.
“You’re a terrible wife,” one of them hisses.
“Trust me. I know.” I smirk. “He loves it the most when I’m terrible.”
“Hush, he’s up!” another one of them hisses as my sexy-as-hell husband strolls onto the stage.
“Five million dollars,” I call out before the bidding can even begin. I don’t need the auctioneer to list off all the wonderful things about Rory. I know he’s a good man that’s worth so much more than even that bid.
The crowd bursts into laughter. Craven Cove is used to our antics.
“It looks like my beautiful wife has won me again,” Rory says into the microphone before he jumps off the stage and heads straight for me.
“You’re in trouble,” I tell him when he gets to me.
Instead of answering, he grabs me and pulls me flush against him. His hand roams down my ass, and when he grabs me there, he pauses.
“No panties. I think you’re the one in trouble.” He had the no panties coming, and he knows it.
“Rory!” I yelp when he lifts me off my feet and throws me over his shoulder.
“Thank you all for coming, but it’s time I take my beautiful wife to bed,” he announces before he carries me into our very own happily ever after.
He offered me everything and told me to take it all.
I did, and I’m never letting any of it go.
THE END!
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