Epilogue
Colton
Summer had picked me and given me everything I could have ever dreamed of.
“You were going to marry a man that wasn’t my daddy?” Lacey whispered in pure disbelief.
“Was he as handsome as Daddy?” Harper scrunched her nose at the idea.
Both girls looked wide-eyed at Summer who only laughed, looking at me through thick lashes, her glasses sliding down her nose, making her look damn near irresistible.
I was starting to think we needed to give having kids another go because I needed another boy in this family. The estrogen levels in this house blew me away every single day, especially with Heather starting puberty.
The cheeky girl was sure as hell giving me a run for my money with the stunts she was pulling. I would be lucky if I wasn’t bald by fifty from pulling my hair out.
“No; he definitely was not even close to being as handsome as me.” The twins laughed, their giggles bouncing off the walls of their shared bedroom.
I glanced over at Heather who was lying on the floor. She gave me an eye-roll and then went back to inspecting her nails.
“Mommy, how could you?” Lacey asked, looking at her mother like she was the biggest villain of them all.
“Why don’t you ask your precious daddy why, baby?” Summer grinned at me like she had dodged the bullet.
As if I’d ever let her off that easily.
The twins looked at me, and I felt Heather’s heavy gaze pierce my back.
“Because daddy was married to someone else.” The twins fell back onto their pillows with big sighs.
“No way!”
Summer crossed her arms over her chest with a cheeky grin, the action pushing her breasts up, making me want to end this story and put the girls to bed so Daddy could have his own fun.
“But all that matters is Mommy and Daddy found each other in the end and now,” Summer paused, reaching for Heather who crawled over to her and sank into her arms, “we are all one big family, and we both love you all very much.”
“How much?” Harper asked, holding out her arms as wide as they could go. “Like this?”
“Even more, baby.” Summer kissed the top of Heather’s head before standing from her spot on the bed. “Now, my sweet girls, it’s bedtime.”
“Already?” Lacey whined on a big yawn.
“One more story, please?” Harper begged, clasping her chubby hands together.
“Ooh, like your wedding!” Lacey readily agreed, the two sharing a look like they really could take over the world.
Summer only laughed, leaning forward to kiss both of their chubby cheeks. “Maybe tomorrow night if you both do all your chores tomorrow.”
The twins sighed but nodded. I reach forward to pick Lacey up and move her to the bed across the room. I tucked her in and kissed the top of her head and then repeated the process with Harper.
I saw Heather had slipped out of the room, and I went to her room next, cringing at the boy band music seeping from the cracks under her door.
Summer slipped her arms around my torso, kissing my shoulder. “We did good, old man.”
“I am not old yet, darlin’.” Her sweet laughter jolted my heart, and I rubbed the spot on my chest. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better future.
We entered Heather’s room together, and Summer immediately started tidying up the messy room all the while scowling at Heather who was reading a book in her bed.
“Can I ask a question about my real mom?” Her small voice was deafening in the room. Summer dropped the things she had collected and turned to look at me, pain filling her eyes.
Pain for our daughter.
This woman always amazed me with her selflessness, even fifteen years later.
“What’s up?” I sat on the edge of her bed, hearing Summer return to cleaning.
“Do you think if she hadn’t died, you would have married Momma?”
I didn’t know how to answer her question because I knew in my heart that I would have married Summer one way or another. She was my soulmate. She was my reason to wake up each morning. Without her, I didn’t have a purpose.
But my child wouldn’t understand that.
Summer sat beside me, intertwining our fingers, giving me the reassurance I needed.
“I would have still married your momma even if your mom survived. Why do you want to know?” She pinched her brows together.
“I was just wondering because I can’t imagine my life without my sisters or Momma in it. I love you all so much, and I was hoping my mom would understand that and not be mad at me for loving someone else.”
Summer sighed, and I could practically hear her heart splinter at the confession.
“My sweet girl, your mom would understand. She only wanted the best for you. She wanted you to be loved and to love with your whole heart. You can still love me and her. You don’t have to pick,” Summer assured her.
How did she always know what to say?
Heather seemed to be content with that answer, and she reached forward to hug Summer. “I love you so much, Momma.”
“What about me?” I joked, my voice cracking under the intensity of the moment.
“I’m not sure if I have room for you, too.” She pondered, looking between Summer and me before leaning forward and wrapping her arms around me, too, suffocating me with her love. “Of course, I love you, Dad.”
Walking out of her room, I guided Summer into ours. I cradled her face between my two hands, brushing my thumb over her plump, bottom lip. I gently pulled her glasses off and set them on the counter before resting my nose against hers.
Drawing in a steady breath, I inhaled her intoxicating scent.
“I love you, woman.”
“Really? I had no clue,” she giggled, her lips brushing against mine.
“I want to make you a mother again.” I softly brushed my lips to hers, applying slight pressure, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“I hate to break it to you, but you can’t take that away from me and give it back,” she breathlessly replied.
“I want to give you another baby, darlin’. Hopefully a boy this time.” She sucked in a sharp breath, and I dove in, my tongue brushing her lip before seeking entrance.
She pulled back. “And if it’s another girl?”
“Then I’ll love her with my entire heart.”
“Are you sure, Colt? Four kids is a lot. Three is a handful.”
Three sure as hell had been a handful, but I wanted it all with her, and having another baby didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“I’m sure, baby.” I walked her back to our bed until her back hit our soft mattress. I climbed on top of her, kissing a path up her neck until I was nibbling on her ear. “Plus, didn’t you once tell me you wanted five kids? That means I have two chances to get my son.”
She laughed, the light sound filling our space followed by a moan as I pressed a kiss to the base of her throat.
---
Summer POV
God had a funny way of ensuring my happy ending with the man of his choice and mine.
Colton stood in front of the new work building that my father had officially handed over to me.
His little girl, struggling with the weight of fitting in, stood beside him, her eyes wide and uncertain, her black hair in a sloppy ponytail. One of our little girls was in his arms, her blonde curls bouncing with every turn of her curious head. Her blue eyes were bright with youth and excitement as she watched the rumbling cars. Her chubby fingers rested on her daddy’s face as he stared at me, his eyes fixated on mine, completely in love. Our other little one held his hand, sucking her thumb as she looked around warily.
I rested my hands on my swollen belly.
Today was going to be the best day of Colton’s life.
We were finally having a boy.
“Are you sure you can handle the business now with the new baby?” Colton asked for the third time today.
My dad hadn’t just handed it over to me, but to my siblings and me. He wanted us to rule his empire together and create a legacy for our children.
“I figured you could run it while I’m at home with our son.”
“Of course, I can do that, but it’s a lot of additional stress that I don’t want you trying to balance. Plus, you also help your mom at the bakery, too.”
He hadn’t heard me.
“It’s really no big deal. Plus, my brothers will be helping, too.”
I saw Heather had picked up on my surprise, and her eyes widened in excitement. She looked towards her father, a big smile taking over, braces she’d been trying to hide for weeks on full display.
“Maybe you should wait until the baby is a few months,” Colton suggested, looking around at the building where we had fallen in love.
“Honey, really, I can handle it. Plus, I hear boys are easier.”
I saw it on his face when he finally registered what I had been subtly trying to tell him.
“It’s a boy?” he whispered, putting Lacey down and letting go of Harper’s hand. Both girls immediately clung to Heather.
I nodded, smiling widely when he took a step forward in my direction.
“We’re having a son?”
“We’re having a son,” I confirmed, and he rushed over, his fingers sinking into my hair. his lips pulling me into a greedy, relieved kiss.
“God, I love you darlin’.” He sucked in a breath of air before pressing his lips to mine again, stealing my breath away before I could respond, so I poured all my love for him into the kiss.
I succumbed to his desire and stepped into his chest, one hand resting on his rough cheek. His beard prickled against my touch as my other hand sank into his hair, my fingers threading into his thick, black strands.
And together, we stood in the same parking lot where I first saw him. He devoured my mouth, reminding me just how far we had come.
He had been the forbidden fruit, and once I had a bite, I craved more.
I had craved Colton Michaels, my dad’s employee.
And then, Colton Michaels had made me his with one heated look. I had fallen head over heels for an older man.
Melting into his embrace, I didn’t have a single regret.
I made a taken man mine.