Epilogue
HATTIE
SIX MONTHS LATER
The sound of traffic becomes a dull hum as I roll over to face Casper. The man sleeps too well with the noise, I’ve realised. Despite living on a ranch his whole life, he doesn’t seem all that bothered by the busyness of the city.
I can’t help but watch the soft rise and fall of his chest as his lashes flutter.
What is he dreaming about? Our last night in Los Angeles after we enjoyed a date at Santa Monica pier?
Maybe the week we got to spend in Paris…
Or he’s dreaming of the fact that we’re about to go home for the first time in months to see his family.
As if sensing my stare, Casper makes a sound in the back of his throat, eyes fluttering open. Immediately, his stare finds mine.
“Morning,” he groans, rolling into me until I’m flat on the bed and he’s hovering above me.
I raise a brow, biting back a laugh. “Good morning.”
“What time is it?” he asks, dropping a kiss to my cheek. “How long have you been up?”
“Not long,” I reply quietly as I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “And it’s pretty early. Seven, maybe.”
“Seven isn’t early,” he mutters against my throat.
I shift, belly fluttering. “It is for us,” I reply, gasping when he moves down my throat towards my breasts. “I need a shower before we go any further, Casper Sterling.”
He looks up from my chest, eyes darkened with hunger. A smile pulls at the corner of his lips, one that makes my belly do a thousand flips. “What if we have our fun in the shower?” he suggests, face suddenly above mine. “More economical that way.”
I laugh, curling my fingers in his hair, which has grown longer since leaving Willow Ridge. It hangs around his ears, which is way too sexy and distracting, but it frames his face perfectly.
“I’m starting my period,” I tell him. “And we both know that won’t end well.”
Casper frowns and looks away from me for a moment. Before I can stop him, he grabs my cell off the nightstand and turns it on. “You sure about that, shortcake?” he asks, looking between me and the screen. “If you were, you would have started it three days ago.”
“Three days?” I grab the phone from his hand and stare at the screen.
My period comes like clockwork every month.
Casper figured out the timing pretty early on in our travels, and like a good boyfriend—actually, the best boyfriend—he’s always prepared for it, especially on days where we were flying.
But he’s right. We’d been so busy this last week that I hadn’t even realised I’m late.
“Cas…” I meet his wide stare. “Could I…?”
He releases a breath. “Only one way to find out,” he murmurs, cupping my cheek. “It could be nothing.”
“Or it could mean in nine months, we’ll have our deal baby.”
For the first time since our conversation about babies, I feel a flutter of anticipation. Of excitement. The worry of bringing a baby into a world where I’m scared of my family is completely gone now that I’m with Casper.
I’m not afraid of what the future will bring. I’m not afraid of this next step, either. With him, it feels right.
THE END