Victoria smiled as Lincoln lowered down beside her on the warm sand, and leaned back as he stretched out, using her lap as a pillow. She used her fingers to comb his damp hair off his forehead. “It’s going to be hard going back to New York after all this warm weather and Florida sunshine.”
“We can stay as long as you want,” he said, eyes closed.
She let her gaze roam over the blue ocean water, watched how the waves rolled onto the beach, then retreated, leaving the sand with a glossy sheen. It had taken well over two years, but Alderman Kelley was now in prison. So was Elwood. People all across the boroughs of New York were safer and healthier because of her husband. He’d worked tirelessly and hadn’t lost a single case against the Kelleys. She was so proud of him.
She was also proud that he wasn’t done. Not by a long shot.
The length of the cases and his commitment to see them through, had meant that he hadn’t ran for attorney general, but he would next year, when the term of the current one was up. Everyone was as excited about that as she was. Even her grandfather. He claimed it was past time to get some politicians people could trust.
She leaned down, kissed Lincoln’s lips. “We can stay as long as you want.” The plan was for everyone on both sides of their family to stay for a week, but she wasn’t opposed to lengthening that. She was never opposed to anything he wanted, because like their love, they shared dreams and hopes, and many times, ideas. Including buying a model V automatic sweeping machine for the beach house to sweep up all the sand that was tracked inside.
He twisted his neck, and kissed her stomach, where deep inside, their love was growing into a new human being that no one knew about except the two of them. Not because they were keeping secrets, but because other family news had needed to be celebrated first.
“It was a nice wedding yesterday,” he said.
“It was,” she agreed.
“I’m happy for them.”
“Me, too.” She let out a sigh that was filled with happiness. “You Dryer men are hard to resist.”
“So are the Biggs women.” He cupped the back of her neck and tugged her face down for another kiss. “Maybe we should have gotten married on the beach.”
“Neither of us were willing to wait long enough to plan something like that.”
“I planned the honeymoon.”
“You did, and Niagara Falls was wonderful.” She shook her head in partial disbelief. So many things had changed the past two and a half years. So many wonderful things. “Our wedding is where my mother met your uncle Troy, and now they’re married, spending their honeymoon sailing to the Caribbean.”
“And we are enjoying an extended stay at the beach cottage.” He glanced up and down the beach before he looked at her. “Do you think anyone will notice if we sneak away? Up to our room?”
She kissed him. “I don’t care if they do notice.”
He leaped to his feet and tugged her to hers. “Neither do I.”
Hand in hand, they ran across the sand, laughing, and happy, because they were both winners.
Always winners.
Making the impossible, possible.
If you enjoyed this story,
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Keep reading for an excerpt from A Liaison with Her Leading Lady by Lotte R. James.