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She kissed him again and made sure to nibble his lower lip a little, too. “Somehow, I never believed love could be so good. I was more alone than I realized, always studying, feeling like the world was passing me by. I just… Thank you.”
Brent brushed some of her hair back from her face. “No, Jessica, thank you.”
Epilogue
Jessica
Five years later
“And the Oscar for best picture goes to… Oceans Deep, produced by Brent Sanderson and Allen Billings.”
Tears sprang to Jessica’s eyes as she rewound the DVR for the third time that evening. Her husband promised, if he lost, to be home as soon as the ceremony was over. If Brent won, he swore he’d try and just do the bare minimum number of interviews he had to and skip the Vanity Fair party. It was getting close to 9:00 p.m., and their twins – Hazel and Finn – had passed out long ago on the bed. They were four and any time past about 7:30 was way too late for them.
Jessica had to smile at the twins. They were inseparable. While they adored their big sister, Cara, the two of them were also so very close. She’d find one of them always snuck from their room to curl up with the other in bed by morning. Right now, Finn was holding Hazel tightly to his chest. His dark brown hair was a riot of curls over his head. He desperately needed a haircut, but his hair was too cute to cut. It was one of the few points she and Brent ever sort of fought over. It was unruly, sure, Brent was right about that, but it was totally Finn. In contrast, Hazel had inherited Cara and Brent’s coloring completely. Her golden hair was tied back in pigtails, and, if she opened her eyes, they’d be even bluer than Brent’s fathomless Arctic depths.
“You know,” Brent said on the DVR clip, “I need to always thank my wife, Jessica. She brought me so much. I was lost without her. She helped bring me a beautiful family and also helped foster my daughter, Cara’s, interest in the sea. I created Oceans Deep because I was as fascinated by submarines and marine life as Cara and it all was the seed for an amazing idea and journey.”
The reporter thanked him, and the clip ended, and, okay it might be a little shameless, but she restarted the clip again.
“If you’re happier with the TV version, I can always leave,” Brent said as he strolled into the den. The kids were still sleeping, and once he realized that, he lowered his voice to a whisper as he sat on the sofa beside her. “So,” he practically hissed out, “did they get my good side?”
Jess kissed him, her tongue tangling long and lovingly with his own. After years of marriage, the heat and passion between them had never dimmed. “Both sides are your good sides.”
“Well, did they get Ashley’s? We couldn’t have made it without her performance, so I’m glad the Academy recognized her, too.”
Not as glad as Jessica. Taking on that project was a godsend for her friend. Brent didn’t want an emaciated lead so he’d actually asked Ashley to get a therapist to deal with her poor eating habits and asked her to gain weight for the role, so she was healthier. Production had even halted until she could get well. It was just another generous side of her husband, and it had all paid off for them.
“She was great, too – looked amazing in green.”
“Redheads. Of course they do.” He smiled and kissed her cheek. “I have one that’s just been taped with Good Morning America. I called you ‘my muse’.’”
Jessica’s heart sped up at the moniker. “I’m your muse? You really mean that?”
Brent placed his hands on either side of her cheeks and forced her to look at him. Those deep Arctic eyes could never lie to her, would only hold the truth. Tonight was no exception; all she could see was the sincerity brimming in her husband’s eyes. “Nothing I have would be possible without you. Cara’s so happy now – has friends and a passion you helped me clue in to. I can’t imagine life without Hazel and Finn and would never want to. My film is a hit between your friend’s performance and your passion guiding me the whole way. Yes, babe, you couldn’t be a better muse even if you were part Greek goddess.”
“You know how to flatter me.”
Brent smirked and kissed her cheek. “Let’s put the kids to bed – because I also know how to worship you, and I want to do that. All night long.”
“I think that’s a big boast considering how tired you might be,” Jessica joked.
He put her hand in his and then guided it to his firm erection, so like steel. “Trust me, babe, I want to make love to you till sunrise. I want to watch the first light crest over the harbor view outside, watch the sky turn orange and gold.”
