Publicity died down fairly soon after the wedding. The asshole photographers basically disappeared or, when they did pop up, kept their distance.

I guess people are less interesting once they get married.

Regardless, the citizens of Chicago never seemed to make a big deal about us. I was hardly ever approached. And, when I was, it was usually by a tourist.

On this particular day we were in the park, specifically the concrete benches next to Crown Fountain; although, most of the locals just call it The Faces. I was sitting and she was lying on her side, her head was in my lap, watching people as they watched the interactive artwork.

My hand wound around her long braid and I moved my thumb over the silk of her hair. I loved it when she wore her hair like this. Call me sick and twisted, but I loved tugging on her braid or ponytail to get her attention. Maybe it was a holdover from when we were kids, but I didn't think so because-in retaliation, but only rarely-she'd grab a handful of my hair and pull a lot harder than necessary.

This always made me want to rip her clothes off.

Elizabeth seemed to expect and accept that teasing was going to be a constant in our relationship. Getting a rise out of her wasn't as easy as it used to be, with her love came patience. But I didn't mind, because truly flustering her was a lot easier now that I was allowed to touch her whenever I wanted.

And I wanted. I wanted a lot.

Elizabeth shifted on my lap. "I spoke to Angelica this morning."

"Really? Is something wrong? I just talked to her two days ago."

"No, she's great. She's doing really great. We talked about her friends. The homeschool group your mom has her in seems to really be working out well and she's started ballet class."

I nodded though I felt uneasy about the dance classes. "I knew about the homeschool group; I didn't know that mom had decided on the ballet."

"It's a small class and I talked to the teacher about arranging a special cleaning of the studio. I think it'll be really good for her."

"You talked to the teacher?"

She shrugged, her eyes focused on something in the distance. "Yes. I thought we could drive down there next weekend and visit."

"Definitely. I want to meet the teacher, make sure she understands the situation."

"Nico, the exercise will be good for improving her lung function."

I grunted my response.

"See that lady over there?" Elizabeth, perhaps trying to change the subject, indicated with her chin toward a woman about thirty or so feet from where we were.

I glanced at a woman, maybe in her mid-fifties, hard to tell. "Yeah."

"Every time one of the faces smiles she also smiles."

I returned my attention to Elizabeth. "How long have you been watching her?"

"About five minutes. Wait-just watch-she's about to do it." I didn't watch the woman. Instead, I watched Elizabeth, full of expectation. I knew the moment the other woman smiled because Elizabeth's grin was immense.

"See? Did you see that?" She sighed, looked happy. "She has a great smile."

I responded without thinking about it, "You have a great smile."

Elizabeth turned her head, still on my lap; her blue eyes met mine then flickered over my face. "I'm going to start calling you Romeo."

"Why is that?"

"Because you're Mr. Romantic. It's taken me a while to become accustomed to it, and it used to make me crazy, but I think I'm finally ready to accept the compliments."

"Should I call you my Juliet?"

"No. Juliet is universally acknowledged to be an idiot. If you're going to call me a Shakespearian something, Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing fits best."

I barked a laugh. "Yeah. My lady tongue."

She wrinkled her nose. "You like my tongue."

"Yes. I do." I nodded, tugged her braid so that her chin and mouth jutted upward, "I like everything about it."

"I accept that compliment, Romeo," She sounded breathless, "and I raise you a compliment about your hands."

I felt my body involuntarily stiffen. Judging by the wicked glint in her eye, she felt it too.

"Elizabeth. . ."

"Romeo. . ."

I ground my teeth. Her smart mouth made coherent thought difficult at times. This frustrated me because she was an excellent thinker. Usually, when this happened, I'd speak in Italian. However, at present, we were in a very public place; and I'd promised early on in our marriage never to speak Italian in public again.

Sometimes I even kept that promise.

She lifted her fingers and placed them over mine where I held her braid captive; she then stroked from my arm to my shoulder. "You need to learn how to take a compliment, Romeo."

"Forgive me, Beatrice," I bent closer and released her braid, instead moved my hand to cradle the back of her head. "But I'm still not used to your compliments."

She tsked. "That's a shame." Our noses touched; her nails gently scratched my neck. "I should give them more often."

"Yes, you should." I nodded my agreement because I did agree, and nipped her pouty bottom lip. I freely admit: I liked to be stroked everywhere, including my ego.

"Here's one," She leaned back; her eyes-so lovely, so brilliant-searched mine and I experienced a moment of perfection, of bliss when she said, "My Nico, you're going to make an excellent father."

The End

About the Author.

This is the second full length novel published by Penny Reid. Her days are spent writing federal grant proposals for biomedical research; her evenings are either spent playing dress-up and mad-scientist with her two people-children (boy-6, girl-4) or knitting with her knitting group at her local yarn store (Silver Linings in Tampa, Florida). Please feel free to drop her a line. She'd be happy to hijack your thoughts!

Come find me- Email: pennreid@gmail.com (sign up for the mailing list to receive exclusive excerpts from my next book) Blog: http://reidromance.blogspot.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReidRomance Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/people/ReidRomance (if you crochet or knit...!) Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ReidRomance "The Facebook": http://www.facebook.com/PennyReidWriter Please, write a review!

If you liked this book (and, more importantly perhaps, if you didn't like it) please take a moment to post a review someplace (Amazon, Goodreads, your blog, on a bathroom stall wall, in a letter to your mother, etc.). It helps society more than you know when you make your voice heard; reviews force us to move towards a true meritocracy.

-Book List/Plan, Knitting in the City Series- Book 1: Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance, March 2013 (Janie and Quinn) Book 2: Friends Without Benefits: Another Smart Romance, October 2013 (Elizabeth and Nico) Book 1.5: Neanderthal Marries Human: A Smarter Romance, 2014 (Janie and Quinn) Book 3: Love Hacked, 2014 (Sandra) Book 4: Untitled, 201? (Ashley) Book 5: Untitled, 201? (Fiona) Book 6: Untitled, 201? (Marie) Book 7: Untitled, 201? (Kat)

Acknowledgements

If you know me then you know I like to acknowledge people. I mourn the lost decades of hats that can be tipped.

First and foremost, I want to thank my husband. He had to live through my disbelief and rampant weirded-outness when Neanderthal Seeks Human was well received by strangers. Because of this, I feel sorry for him and will purchase him ice cream where ever we go from now on (contingent on the availability of ice cream). And, for whatever reason, he believes in me. I still don't know why but I'm very thankful.

I want to thank all the people who had a hand in editing this book (content edits, development edits, typos, line edits, copy edits, edit edits). This list is long, so bear with me.

To my primary BETAs, Karen and Penny, who read the book as it is written and offer feedback and encouragement. Thank God for you both!

To my secondary BETAs (aka beta BETAs) Jexa, Angie, Silvia, Laura, Cat; your brutal honesty and detailed notes took this book from mediocre to magnificent (yes, I just called my own book magnificent). Thank you so, so, much for disliking the first draft. It was crap.

To Heather (my BFF) for reading the final content draft and giving me the thumbs up.

To my professional editors, Kristin and Janet, thank you for your thoughtful reviews and edits.

And to Michelle, Kimberly, and Carey, friends and authors who provided the essential last read-through/proofread. Michelle, I love your face. Kimberly, you are a ninja. Carey, you are a gorgeous goofball. I love you all.

Lastly, I want to thank the amazing community of independent authors and review bloggers on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and elsewhere on the interwebs; especially the bloggers/reviewers who read and review indie books. I am proud to be part of this community of creative and supportive badasses.

I tip my hat to you all.

[1]Translation: I know my chickens [2]Translation: Mind your own business [3]Translation: Between saying and doing is the sea [4]Translation: Who has love in the chest, has the spur in the hips [5]Translation: God makes them, then mates them [6]Translation: Why hide such a beautiful thing?

[7]Translation: Or do you like?

[8]Translation: You make me crazy.

[9]Translation: I tried to forget you, but it's impossible.

[10]Translation: Your eyes are the color of the sky in summer.

[11]Translation: I love you always.

[12]Translation: The feel of your skin, I can't get enough.

[13]Translation: Mmm. Your fragrance. . .

[14]Translation: Although, sometimes you're more stubborn than a mule.

[15]Translation: I love the passion that is in you. Your sharp tongue excites me.

[16]Translation: I'll never let you go.

[17]Translation: I love you.

[18]Translation: From now on there is no way to go back. You are mine, forever.

[19]Translation: Why hide such a beautiful thing?

[20]Translation: Or do you like?

[21]Translation: You make me crazy.

[22]Translation: I tried to forget you, but it's impossible.

[23]Translation: Your eyes are the color of the sky in summer.

[24]Translation: I love you always.

[25]Translation: The feel of your skin, I can't get enough.

[26]Mmm. Your fragrance. . .

[27]Translation: Although, sometimes you're more stubborn than a mule.

[28]Translation: I love the passion that is in you.

[29]Translation: Your sharp tongue excites me to death [30]Translation: I'll never let you go.

[31]Translation: I love you.

[32]Translation: From now on there is no way to go back. You're mine, forever.