Epilogue
F ebruary blew in cold and windy. Cody pulled his coat tighter around him and buttoned the top to keep the wind at bay. He brushed down one of his favorite mares, enjoying a rare day working the ranch. He liked the methodical process. He did his best thinking when he was alone in the stables, brushing down a horse. Not that he didn’t enjoy being a lawyer. Being a partner had its perks and also a heavy caseload. Brooke watched over the ranch with their ranch manager more than he did these days. And it was doing well under her watch.
He couldn’t wait for her to get home. Quiet this morning, she left for the bookstore with little more than a quick kiss. It wasn’t like her to leave without them getting tangled together for several minutes.
He smiled when he thought about all the changes she’d made over the last thirteen months. After their holiday honeymoon, she bought the pizzeria and turned it into the Italian eatery she’d imagined it could be and the community now loved.
She loved working at the bookstore and café, checking in with the business owners who had moved into the second-floor office space. An accounting firm, tech startup, and graphic design business. She’d embraced being a businesswoman and his wife, supporting him at client dinners and social gatherings they were constantly invited to.
She’d been happier than he’d ever seen her these last many months.
She’d found her direction, and she was thriving.
At least, that’s what he thought, until he’d seen her grow quieter and quieter over the last few days. Something was wrong. He wished he knew what it was. He hated the sullen look in her eyes and the way she withdrew into herself.
He wanted to stop her from walking out the door this morning, but couldn’t come up with a reason why without possibly making Brooke defensive. When she was ready to talk, she’d come to him. She always did.
Fast footsteps crunched over the gravel road outside. He glanced up, then froze, concerned, as Brooke sprinted toward him. His men were all out checking on the cows and horses. The stables were quiet and vacant but for the horses occupying the stalls.
Afraid something had happened, he stepped out of the stall to meet her, but she didn’t stop running and leaped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. Her mouth crushed his in a hard and demanding kiss that he responded to immediately. He cupped her bottom and held her tightly to him, the wave of heat and lust sweeping through his system like wildfire.
Brooke grinded her hips against him until he was hard and throbbing.
“Make love to me. Right now.”
Brooke was a wonderfully giving lover, and they had sex as often as they could get their hands on each other. It seemed he could never get enough of her. Right now, she couldn’t seem to get close enough to him, judging by the grip she had on his waist and the lip-lock she’d planted on him.
Having trouble holding on to her, he backed her up against a stall gate and kissed her back. He didn’t care what had gotten into her. She wanted him, and he was hot on her heels, wanting her just as much.
He managed to get a breath when she buried her face in his neck and kissed her way up the column of his throat to that spot behind his ear that made him groan.
“Sweetheart, not that I’m complaining, but what is this all about?”
“I want you,” she said simply.
“It’s freezing out here.”
“I don’t care. Make love to me, Cody. Hurry.” She tugged his hair and pulled his mouth back to hers.
Her wish was his command. Pleasing her, making her happy, he lived for that because she did the same for him.
With her wrapped around him, he walked into an empty stall filled with fresh bedding. He slammed the gate closed to give them what little privacy they’d have if anyone came in. He pressed her up against the wall, then it was all heat and flying hands as jackets, shirts, pants, and underwear went flying.
Her hands grabbed at him, and he was in a frenzy when he took her breast into his mouth. Just that one intimate touch sent her skyrocketing. She arched into him, her hands gripped in his hair, holding him to her breast. He slid one hand down her belly and over her mound. He slipped two fingers into her slick core—so wet, she was practically dripping as she bucked against his fingers and ground against his palm. He slid his hand free, grabbed her waist, and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist again, and he buried himself inside her in one hard thrust. Hot and slick, she took him deep, and they kept the passion flowing as their bodies moved in concert.
He didn’t know what brought on this bout of torrid lovemaking. He didn’t care.
He let her lead him into the fire, but he made sure she burned with him.
Cupping her breast in his hand, he squeezed her nipple between his index and middle finger and thrust hard and deep. He tugged and rubbed at her breast as he kissed her with long strokes of his tongue, matching the beat of his cock pushing into her.
“Oh God, Cody, yes.” She burned for him with every pump of his hips to hers. She covered his hand on her breast and squeezed.
Her body tightened around his.
He thrust, nailing her to the wall as she contracted around him. He spilled himself inside her with a satisfying groan. His body sated, he relaxed into her.
Pressed against her, he felt his breath saw in and out in heaving gasps. Her breathing was just as labored. He leaned back just enough to see the smug satisfaction on her face. It made a smile tug at his lips. “Downright pleased with yourself.”
A soft, seductive smile curved her lips.
“Promise me something,” he gasped out, trying to catch his breath.
“What?”
“You’ll do that again. Soon.” He leaned in and kissed her hard before pulling back and looking at her swollen mouth. “You’re so beautiful.”
He put his hand to her waist. She locked her legs tighter around him before he could help her down. “Not yet.”
Her bright smile warmed his heart. How could he leave her when she looked at him like that? “You look so happy.”
“I’m more than happy. This is the second happiest day of my life. Well, maybe third, if you count our wedding day too.”
He brushed his thumb against her cheek. “What are you talking about, sweetheart? This morning you left looking sad. What happened to change your mood? Not that I’m complaining, because, darlin’, I love this mood.” Her smile infected him deeply, making it hard not to smile back at her.
She cupped his face and grinned even wider. “I’m pregnant.”
Cody went completely still. The smile faded from his lips. He couldn’t believe it.
“I’m more than a week late. I went to see Dr. Nash this afternoon. He confirmed it. I’m pregnant. We’re going to have a baby.”
Her excitement, the bright smile, it sank into his heart and made it soar.
They’d been trying for the last two months. The disappointment and sadness he’d seen in her eyes when it didn’t happen scared him. He’d worried getting pregnant might make her sad, remembering the baby they lost. He’d worried that not getting pregnant would make her fear they’d never have another baby.
He’d worried it was too soon to try, that something might go wrong, that it wouldn’t happen at all.
Most of all, he’d worried she’d spiral into depression again.
All his worries disappeared.
The pregnancy had made her happier than he’d ever seen her.
He had to admit, he was extraordinarily happy, too.
This time, he’d be with her through the pregnancy. This time, everything would be perfect.
He let out a whoop and a holler and kissed her soundly on the mouth, then he spun her around, making them both a little dizzy. “We’re pregnant. Sweetheart, I’m so damn happy.” He kissed her again.
“Where are my pants? I have a picture.”
Cody reluctantly set her down so she could grab them.
She took the ultrasound photo out of her pocket and held it up to Cody with all the pride and joy she had inside herself spilling out in her smile. She pointed to the little round ball in the photo. “It’s just a little peanut right now,” she showed him. “But in about nine months, it’s going to be our beautiful baby in our arms.”
His chest went tight. His heart expanded and ached with the pride and joy he couldn’t contain. “I love you.” He stole a kiss. “We’re having a baby.” He fell to his knees and kissed her belly, where his baby lay safe and protected under his mama’s heart. He kissed her again and again until they were both laughing with joy.
Eight months later, they welcomed their happy and healthy son into the world.
Cody walked into Brooke’s hospital room, a huge bouquet of roses under his arm, and found his wife breastfeeding their boy. Beautiful a day after giving birth, she smiled and it lit his heart with love.
He stole a kiss from Brooke, then kissed his son’s forehead as he worked his little mouth against his mama’s breast.
This was what she’d dreamed of for months. Her whole life, really. She finally had everything. Cody, their son, the happiness both of them brought into her life.
It hadn’t been easy getting here, but it had all been worth it. Especially when Cody wrapped his arms around her and their son and said with his whole heart, “I love you, Brooke.”