GONE - Part Three (The GONE Series Book 3) by Deborah Bladon

words, in his eyes. "I love you too, Mr. Parker. I love you too."
     
     

Epilogue
     
    One year later.
     
    "Sooner or later, you're going to have to quit your job there and come back to work for me."
              "Clive." I tap my hand over his. "I'm the director of new operations at Hughes. I'm not leaving my job."
    "I can give you a fancy title and more money," he teases. "All you need to do is tell Alec that it's over and you're going to work for your husband."
    I love hearing him say that. It's been only two months since we got married, but the knowledge that we are committed to one another forever still makes my heart skip a beat. 
    Our wedding had been intimate and beautiful. All the important people, in Clive's and now my life had been there with us. We married in Central Park at dusk. Cory had been the best man and Olivia had been my maid of honor. Technically, Sadie and Hunter had stood up for us. I'd taken a moment to hug Ben and toast to our mutual happiness. We've both come so far since we first met in the grief support group. Our lives crossing over in the most meaningful ways as our friendship has grown and blossomed to include our partners and friends.
    "Do you want me to go get you some pickles and ice cream?"
    I turn to look at my husband. The smile on his face radiates throughout every part of him. "I'm not craving anything tonight."
    "Not even me?" He scoots his chair closer to where I'm sitting at the table.
    I've spent every night this past month, organizing the old pictures that we brought to our condo from the storage facility. They are pictures of the family that I lost. I'm sorting through them, cataloguing them by date and event and placing the most special ones in albums.
    "I'll show you how much I crave you later." I reach to cup his cheek in my palm. "I need you to help me with this for now."
    "I'll do anything for my two beautiful girls." His hand settles on my swollen belly.
    It's only another three months until our beautiful daughter, Haven, arrives. We've set up the nursery, bought more diapers than we'll ever need and picked out an outfit that we can bring her home from the hospital in.
    She's named after my mother. Her name is a reflection of the woman who taught me about courage and grace.
    "I can't wait until she gets here, Clive." I place my hand over his. "I can't wait to see if she has your beautiful eyes."
    He nods slowly. "I want her to be just like you, Lilly."
    "She'll be just like both of us."
    "The world isn't ready for that yet." He chuckles.
    "The world may not be." I lean towards him to graze my lips over his. "But I can't wait for the next chapter in our fairy tale to begin."

Preview of TRACE – The New Series
     
     
    "There's a word for men like you." I try to sound as civilized as I can.
    "Handsome?"
    I look to the left to avoid eye contact with him. The man is devastatingly handsome. I can't say I'm surprised he realizes it. "No."
    "Charming?"
    I look at his face. He's smirking at me. He's actually standing in front of me, smirking. "No."
    "Well-hung?" His gaze drops down to the front of the hospital gown he's wearing.
    In instances like this I need to be professional. I'm a nurse. I'm a trained professional. If my eyes follow the path of his, there's no telling what I'm going to see. "No."
    "You didn't even look," he teases. "Your eyes haven't left my face even though I'm here because I have a pain in my ass."
    It's too easy. He's handing it right to me on a silver platter but I'm on duty so I can't react at all.
    "Mr. Ryan." I glance down at the chart in my hand. "I get that you can't sit on the exam table because of the pain in your derriere, but you need to stay within this cubicle. Dr. Foster is going to be here shortly and if you're not here, it's just going to prolong the process."
    "It's Garrett." His eyes settle on my nametag. “Vanessa, I'm in a lot of pain here."
    "What exactly happened to you?" I already know the answer to this question. He