EPILOGUE
EDEN stretched lazily on the lounge chair situated on the sprawling wood deck that was just yards from the water’s edge. Sunshine warmed her, spreading comfortable lethargy through her body.
She felt like a satisfied cat sunning herself.
It was a lazy day. The best. Contentment settled over her and she eyed her laptop sitting on the little table next to her chair.
Eh. It could wait.
She focused her gaze on the water, a shimmering sheet of glass catching the sun’s rays, sparkling like diamonds scattered liberally across the surface. She sat there several more minutes and then reluctantly checked her watch.
With a sigh she reached over to retrieve her laptop. Swanny would be home soon and she needed to be apprised of the details so they could discuss the situation when he arrived.
He was at the compound for a meeting to give the rundown of his team’s latest mission to the older Kelly brothers.
A surge of pride washed over her as she thought of Swanny and his job. Though he expressed reluctance to leave her for the first time since that awful time in Paris, she’d encouraged him to go. It was a righteous mission, a word she’d quickly picked up by being around the members of KGI. Swanny’s family. Now her own extended family as well.
She was closer to her father and brothers than ever. They had come for every surgery she’d endured since the first in Paris. They’d been there at Swanny’s side, supporting her—and him—through every procedure as her face slowly resumed its normal appearance.
Now? There was no sign of the slight scars that had been present after the first surgery. The first surgeon had done an impeccable job of meticulously keeping the scarring minimal. And the ensuing surgeries had been performed by the top plastic surgeon in the US.
Each time, Eden had been flown out on a KGI jet to California, where she’d quietly been checked into the hospital to undergo the process of making her appearance flawless once more.
She hadn’t minded the scars, but Swanny had been adamant that she never be permanently disfigured, as he was. Ruefully smiling, as she always did when she considered his adamancy on the subject, she’d allowed him his way because he’d been so determined.
He loved her. And she knew that because he loved her, he wanted the absolute best for her. He wanted her to have choices. He supported her in returning to her career, just as she supported him in keeping his own.
Yes, it was dangerous. Yes, she lived with the fear that he may not return from a mission, but it was a fear that every single wife of the KGI members shared. It was a bond between them, one that had drawn Eden close into the ranks of the Kelly wives, and the wives of the other team leaders as well.
Maren, the wife of one of the other team leaders, was a top-notch physician who practiced locally, and she checked in on Eden often, always ensuring that Eden was recovering well from each of her surgeries.
All the wives had accepted her without hesitation. They embraced her, and it was obvious that Swanny was held in high esteem and that Eden was loved if for no other reason than the fact that she accepted Swanny as he was and saw him for the wonderful man he was beneath the surface.
Eden opened her laptop and then went to her email to look for the message from her agent regarding Eden’s return to modeling. Ironically enough, for Aria.
They wanted to do a second campaign. This time for yet another new product. The last campaign had been a huge success—although Eden was certain all the press coverage over the attempts on her life certainly hadn’t hurt. But they wanted her for their next launch. And, well, she was ready.
Before? No, she hadn’t been. She’d thoroughly enjoyed her solitude with Swanny. The two had been married on Kentucky Lake, behind the walls of the KGI compound where they could be assured absolute privacy.
Her father and brothers had attended, and as Eden had wanted, the ceremony was small and intimate. No photographers, paparazzi, long guest list, etc. Just the other members of KGI, their wives and children, her family and, of course, Swanny.
She still smiled when she remembered her wedding day. She’d insisted on someone taking a photo of her and Swanny, despite the fact that her face hadn’t completely healed at that time and the faint lines were evident in the photo.
But she and Swanny had both been smiling so hard that they glowed. She wouldn’t trade that picture, that moment, for anything in the world.
“Hey, beautiful.”
A shadow fell over her, right before warm lips covered hers and even warmer hands slid up her bare legs to the hem of the shorts she was wearing. She smiled. Her husband was home.
“Hi there yourself, handsome.”
Eden got a kick out of the lengths Swanny went to in order to reassure her she was still beautiful. As beautiful to him as he was to her. What a pair they made.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he plopped into the chair next to her.
She drank in the sight of him. He was dressed in fatigues and a white muscle top. It made her want to climb on him and have her wicked way with him right out here on the deck, and damn the outside world.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Was just looking over the email Nigel sent me about the Aria account.”
“Ah,” Swanny said. “And? You going to do it?”
No displeasure. No judgment. Just encouragement in his voice. Nothing to register what he thought she should do. It was one of the things she loved most about him. He wasn’t remotely threatened by her career and he’d gone to great lengths to ensure she would still have a career.
He was leaving the choice solely up to her, but she didn’t fool herself for a moment by thinking her choice wouldn’t affect him. He’d made it abundantly clear that he supported her unconditionally and that she was free to pick and choose her assignments. However, he insisted on going with her to every one. He would act as her personal security, along with Micah and David.
She wasn’t sure he’d ever truly move past that awful day in Paris when she’d been abducted and subjected to the torture she’d endured. Though he might not hinder her in any way in continuing her career, he’d arrange to take a leave of absence for all of her shoots no matter how short or long they might be. He still lived in terror that she would be taken from him, and he made certain that he would be with her every step of the way when she did choose to go back to her career.
She studied him lovingly a moment and then, because she could and because she could never say it enough, she blurted, “I love you.”
His eyes warmed, catching the sun and the reflection of the water in his green eyes. “I love you too, honey.”
“And yeah. I’m going to do it,” she said decisively.
“Good. I’m proud of you. I know it took a lot of courage to make that decision.”
Her heart swelled. How well he understood her. In the short time they’d been married, they’d spent virtually every minute together, learning, growing. Already so far ahead of most couples with only a few months behind them.
He well understood her hesitancy. Her self-consciousness when it came to wondering if the scars were evident. He understood that only too well, having lived it for the last few years. He was her rock. Her support. And her biggest cheerleader. Always telling her how beautiful she was.
“When do we leave?” Swanny asked.
Just like that. So simply laid out. No questions. No reservations. Just a solid reminder that he was with her every step of the way. God, she loved this man.
“Next week,” she murmured. “Is that enough time to give your team notice that you’ll be out of action for a bit?”
He nodded. “Yep. Already have all that down. When I’m with you, they either don’t draw a mission or, if they absolutely have to, then one of the Kelly brothers fills in for me. Nathan and Joe are considering taking on another teammate anyway. We’re smaller than the other teams and we could use a sixth for times just like this. And, well, when I am in action, an extra teammate at your side never hurts.”