EPILOGUE

It was New Year’s Eve in Paradise. Down at the Silver Nugget, the annual party was in full swing, but Matt and Shiloh had chosen to celebrate this special anniversary at home.

“I never believed in destiny,” Matt mused as they sipped champagne in front of a crackling fire. He turned toward Shiloh, his expression immeasurably solemn. “Until you.” He reached behind the sofa pillow, where he’d stashed the gift earlier in the evening.

Shiloh opened the gray velvet box and gasped at the dazzling pavé diamond heart. “Oh, Matt,” she breathed. “It’s stunning.”

“I wanted you to remember, while you’re in Oklahoma, that you’ve taken my heart with you.”

The producer she’d met at the film festival had called. And when she’d been offered the starring role in his movie, Shiloh had hesitated. But Matt had insisted, pointing out it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

“I’ll only be gone four weeks,” she reminded him.

Four weeks—that would seem a lifetime. Matt reminded himself that after having paid her dues in all those B-movies, she deserved to reap the rewards.

“I know.” He rubbed at the worry lines in her forehead with a tender finger. “And your husband and children will be home, waiting for you.”

Her husband. And children. Shiloh had never heard sweeter words. She lifted the heart from its bed of white satin and held it out to him. “Would you put it on me, please?”

He fastened the clasp, then sat back, gazing at the sight of her, dressed in the white satin nightgown, with his gift nestled between her breasts.

“I want to make love to you. Here, in front of the fire, with you wearing only that diamond heart.”

Reading the desire in his eyes, Shiloh was infused with a heat that had nothing to do with the crackling orange flames. “Right after we check the babies.”

He ran his hand down her cheek, thinking he’d never met a more natural mother. “It’s a date.”

As they stood beside the matching cribs, Shiloh gazed down at these beautiful children she and Matt had made together and felt her heart swell.

“They’re like tiny miracles,” she whispered.

He brushed a kiss against her temple. “That’s because we’re a match made in heaven.”

She smiled up at him. “Or Paradise.”

As they left the nursery, closing the door behind them, the babies turned toward one another. And smiled.

* * * * *