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“I know, Ian. Trust me – I never intended to break my ankle, that’s for darn sure. Do you know it’s humiliating to be in here? They poke, prod, and touch all the time without asking. I mean, I could be sound asleep, and suddenly someone is in my room, touching my…”
“Typical Saturday night, Minx,” Ian joked, and she rolled her eyes.
“They are getting my blood pressure,” she retorted glibly, and then smiled softly. “But it does sound like a really good evening between us, doesn’t it?”
“I’m a charmer,” he teased softly.
“Always have been.”
Ian stepped back and looked at the hospital bed, frowning. He wiggled the arm of it, and managed to slide it downwards, before climbing into bed beside her.
“What are you doing?” June laughed softly, glancing at the door.
“It makes it hard to feel you up if there’s a bar between us, wife,” he joked intimately, and pressed his forehead to hers. “Happy anniversary, my heart and soul.”
“Happy anniversary, you sweet man,” she breathed, feeling a lump in her throat.
There had been so many beautiful moments over the years between them. Flashes of Ian running around the house with the kids pulling on his neck, trying to take him down. Moments of them all swimming out back together, splashing around. The way he cried proudly walking Ashley down the aisle – and Kristen – and Bethany – and Madeline…
Ian had wept each time he got to hold one of their beautiful babies in his arms in the delivery room, looking at her with so much love it was staggering… but there was something indescribable as he’d been gifted his son, their last child they would have together, before starting a different chapter in their lives.
He was a Cub Scout pack leader, learned how to braid the girls’ hair, was the guinea pig when they wanted to paint his toes, and even suffered through several attempts of eyeshadow. More than once she had come home to find the children all around him, laughing wildly, and Ian’s beloved face was covered in blush, eyeshadow, and red lipstick.
Her wild man never cared – he was all about the family… and always had been.
“Did I tell you that in a hospital gown – there’s no panties?” she smiled tenderly, touching his cheek, as he leaned forward slightly to kiss her cheek affectionately. “Loosey-goosey underneath this gown, you randy old goat…”
“You sweet tease,” he hissed tenderly, smiling impishly at her. “You just wait until I take you home tonight. All sorts ofbaaaaadstuff will be happening in our bedroom, wife.”
They both laughed as he literally bleated out the word ‘bad’ playfully, sharing a knowing glance. That fire hadn’t faded between them, and they were always holding, touching, or stealing kisses as much as ever over the years.
“Promises, promises,” she teased, and leaned forward to kiss him.
“Always, my love,” he smiled. “Always.”
AFTERWORD
I can honestly say that I have never laughed so much, cried so emotionally, or had to censor myself so much with a book. Our boy Selkirk is a WILD CHILD. I literally messaged one of my friends and had to ask if a phrase was too much… and it was.
There’s just something about a group of guys that speaks to me. You get the alpha male, the macho guy, the funny one, the crude fella, and the shy guy… then there is always the one with secrets.
I adore delving into their personalities and never quite know how they are going to develop. I knew I wanted Selkirk to be funny, outrageous, and ‘unfiltered’ when it came to his thoughts and his mouth… and absolutely adored the charmer we ended up with.
Well see him again in Paradox’s book – I’m sure.
And June?
I wanted her to be the exact opposite of Ian.
Where he was wild and outrageous, I wanted her to be lady-like and sedate. He’s a weirdo, and she’s a exceedingly polished. He wears camo - she’s in dresses. I thought it would be a lot of fun to combine the two… and it was.
I hope you enjoyed their romance as much as I did – Talbot is next and turning out to be just as wonderful of a hero, with a twist (naturally)…
With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls…
Hint, hint…
XOXO,
