EPILOGUE
HEIDI
THREE YEARS LATER
Being four months pregnant is no joke.
Heartburn, peeing all the time.
It definitely has its lows, but experiencing Griffen in full protective caretaker mode is sexy as hell.
“Do you need anything else, baby?” He opens a cool water bottle for me to guzzle.
“No, this is good, thank you.”
He hovers at my side like he wants to say something else, so I wait patiently. Griffen likes to think before he speaks, which I appreciate. He's still a man of few words, but at least he's my man.
“I've been thinking…” he starts, “with the baby on the way, it might be nice to be near your parents. Our grandparents have had such an impact on our lives. Seems right that our own child has that same experience.”
My brow wrinkles. “But my parents live in Montana,” I remind him.
“I know,” he nods. “I think we should split our time between Guardian Valley and Suitor's Crossing, so our kid gets the best of both worlds. Both of our families.”
“You would do that for us?” Tears shimmer in my eyes, emotion overwhelming me.
Griffen's entire life is in Suitor's Crossing.
All of his siblings, nieces and nephews, Gramps and Greta. They're my family now, too, but I do miss my parents, aunts, uncles, and friends in Guardian Valley.
Plus, he finished his apprenticeship with Rhys two months ago. Isn’t it too soon to leave his mentor?
“I would do anything for you. You should know that by now. Besides, I've talked with your dad, and there's a parcel of land for sale. It already has a house and some outbuildings. Maybe I can convert one into a forge.”
“That would be perfect,” I gush, impressed with how much he’s thought this through.
The man has a serious plan, though that doesn’t surprise me. Griffen is always putting family first and considering how best to care for us.
“It'll be perfect because we're together.”
“Always.” I smile, then kiss my husband.
My gentle mountain man, my heart spark.