“Home, Angel, we’re home,” he offers.
I turn, looking at him with my mouth open. “You bought this?” I whisper.
“Angel, please. I built this for you. Before we even got back together.” He wraps his arms around me, his dark eyes looking down on me, filled with love. “I knew you would come back to me, I knew you were the one. This is our new home, this is your home. I love you so much, and I wanted to show it. Now, shall we go inside, future Mrs. Philips?” he teases.
I nod mutely, unsure what to say, and he chuckles, kisses me, and pulls away before leading me across the gravel drive and up the huge marble steps to the wooden double doors. I can’t help but smile when I see the wings as door knockers. He pushes them open, and we step inside. The brightness blinds me for a moment as I look around.
Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, dripping diamonds. The floor is a grey and white marble, leading to two winding staircases, and between them, hung on a wall, is a giant painting of an angel.
Of me.
I can’t tear my gaze away from it, even as Tyler tugs me farther in, but I’m frozen on the spot. Is this really my life? I look to him to see he’s concerned as tears fill my eyes. A girl like me doesn’t belong here, but God I want to.
“Angel?” he murmurs in confusion, stepping closer.
“I—” I croak, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “I don’t belong in this neighbourhood or house.”
He scoffs and pulls me closer, pinching my chin. “You’re so fucking wrong, Angel. I bought land in this neighbourhood before it even built up. You belong here, you’ll see. Trust me, I will never lead you wrong, and I will kill anyone who has anything negative to say. Now, no tears, go and explore your new house, and then come back and show your daddy how much you love it,” he commands.
His words settle me, and the panic recedes, changing to pure excitement. He laughs as I kick off my heels and rush down the hall past the stairs and into the kitchen. There are more chandeliers here, and it’s perfect. The table on the back wall is raised and made of wood, with eight grey high back chairs surrounding it. Behind it are two open doors framing the table. To the right is the kitchen, which is huge, with brand-new modern fittings. It has lights under the grey cupboards. The island is grey and matches the floor, and the fridge a double door fridge, making me shake my head. It has everything you could imagine for a kitchen and more. It looks like something out of a catalogue.
Not that I will cook unless Tyler makes me.
I rush to the windows on the back wall, which are floor to ceiling and allow me to see outside. There’s a patio with a grill and a table. Then there is a pool past that, surrounded by sun beds, a huge oval chair, and rattan sofa. There is also a bar with angel wings on the wood.
Shaking my head, I turn and tread through the rooms of the house. He’s done an amazing job. Down below on a separate level is a conservatory with a music and dance studio for me. It has a music system and everything imaginable. He thought of everything. There’s a state-of-the-art gym, and two living rooms down here. Upstairs is a huge master bedroom with window seats that look out over the backyard. The king-sized bed is already made and so comfy, I want to jump on it. The furniture is tastefully done, and honestly, I couldn’t have chosen better myself. It screams luxury and comfort.
The en suite is massive, with a jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower. It has two sinks and lit up mirrors above them. More chandeliers are in here, black this time. I can’t even speak as I back out of the room and check out the other doors up here. Each one I open sends more excitement and shock through me. He built this…for me. Each room screams of his influence, and he remembered everything I ever mentioned about a house, down to the little details.
There are four spare bedrooms, as well as an office for Tyler, two more bathrooms, a cinema, and so much more.
Everything is done in shades of grey and black with pops of yellow, and I can barely breathe as I rush back downstairs, stopping at the bottom to see Tyler there, waiting. The open front doors are behind him as he smiles at me.
“Like it, Angel?” he asks. “You can change anything—”
I throw myself at him. He catches me, laughing, as his hands go to my ass. “I love it, and I love you,” I declare. “I can’t wait to start our lives here, husband.”
He groans. “Fuck, that’s so hot on your lips. Let’s break in the rooms, starting down here.” Laughing, I let him carry me away.
My heart soars, my wings holding me to my love.
As I stare into his dark eyes, my heart skips a beat. I got so lucky to find a man like Tyler Phillips. One who loves me for me, and so deeply, I feel it with just one look. I had to fight my way here, but God, it was worth it. Even without the big house and expensive jewellery, I wouldn’t care. Yet here we are in a huge mansion he built for me… Fuck, we could live in one room, and I would be happy.
All I want is him.
Forever.
Lexi
A Year Later…
It’s getting harder and harder to move around, and I need to pee constantly. My belly is so big, I look like I’m ready to pop, yet I have five more weeks until my due date. Sitting down, I sigh and rub my hand across it, smiling in happiness as I feel a kick from our little girl. My wedding ring sparkles in the light of the living room.
Our wedding was beautifully intimate and small, just like I wanted. Only the people we love attended. My girls performed and sang for us, and I even sang a song I wrote for Tyler as a surprise and made him cry. Our wedding picture hangs above the fire, and I can’t help but tear up as I see it.
Stupid hormones.
I wasn’t expecting to get pregnant so quickly, but honestly, it’s such an exciting time, and I can’t wait to meet my daughter. She will be spoiled, but I know Tyler is excited to be a father again, even if it sometimes hurts him to think of the son he lost.
I had to take a break from work. I couldn’t perform anymore when I got too big, but I plan on going back after the birth and when I’m ready to. I want to spend some time with my daughter before I do—this is my first child, after all. Tyler fully supports that decision and whatever else I want to do. The play I’m in and the club both assure me my jobs will be there when I get back. My girls are excited too, the whole lot of performers already spoiling this baby. She will never be alone like I was. She has such a big family she won’t know what to do. I even asked Allegra and Blair to be godparents.
Just then, the door opens, and I lift my head as I hear him strip off his coat and shoes and head my way. “Angel?” he calls.
“In here!” I reply.
He comes in and smiles when he sees me, his grin stretching across his handsome face. If possible, he only gets better looking the more he ages. He crouches before the sofa I’m on, kissing my belly. “Hello, daddy’s girl,” he whispers before standing up and kissing me. “Hello, daddy’s angel,” he teases, making me laugh as I smack his side.
He sits next to me, resting his hand on my belly, over our future.
Who knew such tragedy could lead to such happiness?
I went from a boring, unhappy relationship, to the best thing to ever happen to me. Love can be so unexpected, and if you’re not careful, you can miss it completely. You have to be open for it, ready to accept what you deserve, but when you get it, you hold on tight and never let go, because there is nothing else like it in the world. You spend your life searching for it, you spend nights finding hints of it in strangers’ bodies…but it never compares to the real thing.