Epilogue
ALLIE
I watched the snow fall, and a smile spread on my face. I’d never been one to wish for snow. I was born and raised in Southern California, most of that time in Los Angeles, so snow came in the form of bubbles that fell from the sky after a show in Disneyland during the holidays or from watching it in movies.
I paced back and forth with a little bounce to my step while I patted my son on the back before he let out a big belch.
Snow. My first experience with snow had been a doozy.
Getting stuck in a cabin without power for five days would have freaked anyone out. But to get stuck in it with my ex? Best thing ever! I watched my husband emerge from the bathroom, much like he had about this time last year, wearing a plaid shirt over a long-sleeved henley and dark joggers, and I was reminded of just how much I’d loved getting snowed in with him.
“It’s still coming down,” he noted, coming right up to me and kissing my forehead.
“Yeah.” I smiled. “We have enough supplies, right? I mean—" He took our son from my arms and placed him on his own chest before pulling me in close, tucking me into his side.
I loved a lot about my husband. How sweet and caring he was. How he believed and supported every single one of my dreams. How he truly, truly saw me. But how I fit at his side? Damn, that seemed to always leave me a little speechless.
“Everything is fine,” he murmured against my head. “You and this little guy are always safe with me. You think I’d let anything happen? Much less not have enough supplies?”
“It’s just snowing, and last time I came up, I wasn’t paying attention. We got snowed in.”
“I get that.” He kissed my head. “But daddy’s here, and he always takes care of what’s his.” His fingers skimmed the top of my ring finger, where two bands sat. “I love you, Allie.”
“I love you, too, Win.”
“You okay? Would you rather head to Denver or back home?” he asked, and when I glanced up at him, letting myself get lost in his beautiful eyes, I relaxed and shook my head.
“No. I was just overthinking.”
“The cabin has two extra generators now. More than enough wood outside and supplies. Not to mention, I ordered extra groceries and dinner. Should be here any—" A knock sounded, and he winked. “Be right back.” He handed me our son before I watched him head to the door.
There, he chatted with the delivery guy and tipped him before pointedly wishing the kid a safe drive. “Let me get this unpacked, and I’ll serve you dinner.”
“Dinner? Isn’t it kind of early?”
“I don’t know. You need to eat and have some energy.”
“Oh?” My lips twitched while I followed him, our baby still in my arms sleeping soundly. “Why’s that?”
“I think he needs a brother or sister,” he shared nonchalantly, almost like he was trying to spring a surprise on me. Funnily enough, I was the one who had a little surprise gift waiting for him under the tree we had decorated just a couple of hours before.
Life was capable of being messy and complicated.
Overwhelming.
Maybe not all the time but a lot of it. I’d known from the first six months with Winston that it was easier when you had someone to share it with. But I’d had no idea just how much more beautiful it could really be.
A lot happened in the last year.
By New Year’s, we were living together. I’d been surprised Piper didn’t have a peep of a complaint over it. No warnings about me rushing into things. Nothing. Very unlike Piper, which had led me to believe she had something going on. Which she did, but thankfully, that ended up in her own happy ever after before Valentine’s Day.
By the beginning of March, not only was I wearing his ring, but we found out we were expecting. At first, it had worried Winston. That somehow by me getting knocked up, I’d be forced to say goodbye to my dreams of owning my own firm. I’d sat him down and gone over a plan I’d come up with, and that seemed to ease some of the worry off his broad shoulders.
I loved that he was so overprotective and supportive, but sometimes I needed to remind the daddy in him that we were a team. Sometimes, a lot of the time, especially behind closed doors or when it was just the two of us, I handed over control, knowing and trusting he would always take care of me. But out in the world, we were a team. Together, standing side by side, we would help one another make each of our dreams come true.
Not a month later, Winston surprised me with a trip to Lake Tahoe. Where he pleaded and begged me to marry him right then and there on a snow-covered hill, much like the one that had brought us back together. To be honest, he didn’t have to try too hard. I’d wanted him to be legally mine as much as he’d wanted me to be his.
But life was a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs.
By my second trimester, I was exhausted. Between cases and work, and constant morning sickness that hadn’t gone away despite what the books said, it’d felt like too much.
My doctor had put me on bed rest, and I had no idea why I had been so stressed out. Like always, Winston stepped up and took care of me every single day until our son, Brody, was born three months ago, and two days ago, just as we were finishing up packing and Winston was putting Brody to bed, I’d felt weird. But that was a secret for Win to find out on Christmas morning.
It was funny how we try to plan every moment of every day. But it’s in those unexpected, unaccounted seconds where life changes
One moment, you could be in line waiting for your morning coffee, then you’d turn around to unexpectedly fall in love at first sight with a tall, dark stranger.
The best things in life happen when you aren’t expecting them. I felt Win’s body behind mine before he made a sound. His strong warm arms wrapped around me. “Wanna build a snowman?” he offered, and I giggled.
“Hmm,” I sighed. “How about later?” I turned around realizing he had put Brody down in the mobile bassinet we had brought for him. “I think it’s time for me to tell Santa what I want for Christmas.”
“Hmm,” his deep voice rumbled; it made his chest vibrate against me. “First things first, princess.” His lips touched the shell of my ear, and I shivered. My thighs pressed together tightly while my already hard nipples puckered further with excitement. “Tell me, baby girl, have you been naughty or nice?” His hands dropped from my shoulders to my waist.
“Hmm, I don’t know, Daddy.” I turned to face him. His heated gaze and the hard length pressing against my soft belly told me I wasn’t the only one in a playing kind of mood. “What do you think? Have I been good or bad?” I asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
“Fucking hell, baby girl. Good, but I gotta tell you even when you’re bad, you’re fucking good.” His lips touched mine in a fierce, breathtaking kiss. “You drive me crazy,” he growled. I yelped and held on to his shoulders as he lifted me up and took me down to the couch.
“You’ve been a really good girl, princess, but it’s time to get naughty.” He groaned at the feel of how bare I was down below. I’d gone to get waxed as a treat for us for this trip. His thickness teased my slit as I rubbed against his hardened length.
“Naughty?” I whimpered, and he pressed his forehead against mine.
“Very naughty,” he promised. Oh man, I couldn’t wait!