BONUS EPILOGUE
A FUTURE CHRISTMAS
REMINGTON
The Annual Firth Mountain Smokejumpers Christmas Party is in full swing when Maverick ambles up to me. He has a red puff ball in one hand and a shit-eating grin on his face.
Of course.
“Wanna make this party a little more interesting?”
Curiosity piqued, I turn away from the table of sugar cookies I’ve been considering. “Always.”
“That’s what I like about you, Remington. You’re still the same devil-may-care son-of-a-bitch you’ve always been.”
“Hey.” I narrow my eyes. “Are you calling my mom the B-word?”
He snorts. “The B-word? Don’t tell me your old lady is making you spell out swear words these days.”
“No.”
It’s a decision we made together. Especially when we have our son, Everett, with us. I have him strapped to my chest right now. And while he might be napping instead of toddling around with the other kids, I swear, the kid picks up everything. He’s not just a sponge. He’s a ShamWow.
So far, my mini-me has mostly mastered the basics, like “Dada” and “Mama.” But Jade and I would prefer his next words not be “bitch.”
Even if it would be fucking hilarious.
I cluck my tongue and shake my head. “You’d better not let my sister—also known as your sister—hear you call her that.”
Maverick scoffs. “I’m not scared of her.”
“Then you must have a death wish. Or, you’re even dumber than you look.”
“And you’re becoming a regular tattler, too.” He sighs heavily. “I guess I was wrong about you.”
“Wrong?” Mocking gone, my brows knit together now in a genuine frown. “Wrong about what?”
“Marriage and fatherhood has softened you.”
My jaw ticks. “It has not.”
“Has so.”
“Has not.”
“Has s?—”
“Would you just get to the point?” I all but growl through clenched teeth.
“The point?”
I roll my eyes at his confusion but stop short of calling Mav a fucking idiot. But only because of the baby. Fuck would be an even worse word to pick up.
Proving I’m the mature one, I remind him that he asked if I wanted to make things interesting.
“Oh, right.” Maverick’s sly grin is back. “Calloway is setting things up for Pin the Nose on Rudolph.”
A spark lights inside me, brighter than the reindeer’s nose “Okay. Keep talking.”
“It got me thinking…” He twiddles the red puff between his fingers. “Why play for bragging rights—or a stupid gift certificate to the Elk Shack—when we could go for something… a lot more interesting?”
A slow grin spreads across my face. “What do you have in mind?”
We spend the next few minutes bickering back and forth, setting the terms. We’re shaking hands and agreeing to meet next to the oversized reindeer in five minutes when my better half joins us.
“More betting?” Jade shakes her head and brushes a kiss against our son’s cheek as she arrives with our freshly hatched daughter in her arms. “What are we going to do with your daddy and uncle?”
Mav and I both perk up to sneak a peek at my little princess. At just two months old, Stevie is still in the eating, pooping, and sleeping phase. She’s also the most beautiful baby who has ever existed.
She looks especially sweet in my wife’s arms.
When we’d first discovered Jade was pregnant for a second time while the little man was only a few months old, we’d both nearly shit a brick or two. But now that she’s here and we’re a family of four, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s going to be the best Christmas ever. Just Jade, me, and the family we’ve made together.
I kiss the top of Stevie’s head. “Hello, sweetheart. How’s daddy’s little angel?”
“You mean how’s Uncle Mav’s pretty niece?” Maverick coos. “After she wakes up. I bet I can get her to smile at me first.”
I frown. “If she does, it’s only because you make her gassy.”
Mav presses his lips together. “You can’t prove that.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Oh, for crying out loud.” Jade rolls her eyes. “Leave the children out of this. Stick to your original plan of seeing who makes less of an ass of himself with your little reindeer game.”
Everett stirs awake suddenly. We all hold a collective breath as he blinks. I grit my teeth waiting—just waiting—for him to say “ass.”
Eyes wide open, a big grin spreads across Everett’s face. He spreads his arms and opens and closes his fists. “Seester!”
Jade and I sigh in relief while Maverick gives him a high five for mastering another word.
Now that he’s fully awake, Everett squirms to be let down. I set the grilling equipment away and unstrap him from my chest. I hold his hand while Jade helps me remove the baby carrier.
“You two better hurry up and get over there.” She nods toward the assembly of children and more than a few grown-ass men.
“Loser picks up the tab?” Maverick asks.
“Loser babysits next Friday so the winner can take his wife out,” I correct.
Maverick nods. “See you there, brother.”
Setting the carrier aside, Jade gives me a quick kiss, pressing Stevie gently against my chest while Everett tugs on my hand. Mine. They’re all mine, and I’m theirs. My heart swells with contentment.
Pulling back, Jade wipes the lipstick from my lips. “Go give him H-E-L-L, Daddy Claus. Mommy wants a festive date night.”
The smoldering look she gives me is full of promise. The promise that she’ll wear something low cut and probably feel me up in the truck before we’re even out of the driveway.
I grin. Three years of marriage and two kids later, I love this woman more and more every day.
I couldn’t ask for a better gift or life.
“You’ve got it, Mommy Claus.”