Six Months Later
Tessa
I’m halfway through a paragraph when the door opens, letting the cold mountain air in. It’s only the middle of November, but already winter has settled on Iron Peak.
Not that I mind. In fact, I kind of love how extra cozy our cabin feels when the snow is falling outside and Holt and I are curled up on the couch in front of the fire.
Our cabin.
It is ours now.
Very quickly after coming back from Tofino, the cabin felt like home. I guess, in a way, it always did from the moment I set foot through the door. But now that I’ve added a few feminine touches around the place, there’s no denying that I belong here.
With him.
“Tell me you’ve eaten,” he says as he knocks the snow off his boots, leaving them by the door before crossing the room to me.
I look up from my notebook and bat my eyelashes at him. “Good afternoon to you, too.”
He shakes his head and bends to kiss me. Not a sweet, little peck, but a deep, claiming kiss that immediately leaves me wanting more before he pulls away. The scent of sawdust hangs in the air after he steps back.
He’s been busy in his woodshop, just as he has been ever since we returned from the coast. It fills me with joy that he’s able to work again now that I’m back. Just as his presence brings out my creativity, I seem to have the same effect on him. I love that we can be each other’s muses.
“I’m serious,” he says as he moves into the kitchen. “You’ve been sitting there writing since before I went out. That was hours ago.”
“You know how I get when I’m writing.”
He shoots me a look. “Which is why I’m asking.”
“I had toast.”
He huffs a breath and shakes his head before pulling the fridge open. “Toast doesn’t count,” he mutters almost to himself as he pulls ingredients out of the fridge.
Six months ago, I might have bristled at the implication that I needed to be looked after.
Now, I lean into it.
I love the way Holt takes care of me. It’s not that I can’t care for myself. I’m very capable. But letting him care for me fulfills something within him, too.
Besides, he has a point. I do tend to forget about everything else when I fall into my writing.
I watch while he builds me a sandwich and carries it to me with a glass of water. I close my notebook and sit up to take the plate from him. “Thank you.”
“You know I’ll always take care of you.” He holds my gaze for a moment.
“I know.” I blow him a kiss. “I like the way you take care of me.” I wiggle my brows, and he shakes his head with a laugh.
“Later, doll,” he says with a low growl. “First, you eat.”
The promise of the orgasms he’ll give me burns low in my belly, and I’m tempted to abandon the idea of lunch altogether for him. But I know he means what he says; Holt won’t let me come unless I’m taking care of myself.
I lift the sandwich to my mouth and take a big bite, making sure he’s watching.
His pupils dilate, and I know he’s thinking the same thing. I also know I’ll be coming so hard I can’t see straight in less than an hour.
“Eat,” he orders with a shake of his head.
“Yes, Daddy.”
He laughs, but I know his cock is probably hard as a rock already. “You’re such a brat.”
“Just the way you like me.”
He waits until I’ve eaten half my sandwich before he speaks again. “You working on something good?” he points to the notebook next to me.
“I think so.” I hesitate. “It’s different. But I like it.”
Returning to the cabin was like magic when it came to my creativity, but I haven’t been able to settle on just one thing to write about. Until recently.
“It’s about a young woman who sets out to find herself.”
His brow lifts. I laugh.
“It’s not an autobiography,” I say. “This woman doesn’t settle down. She keeps traveling.”
His expression changes. “You regret coming back?”
“Not for one second,” I answer without hesitation. “Do you regret coming after me?”
“Never.” His answer is faster than my own, and I believe him.
From the moment I saw him standing in front of me, the ocean behind him, I’ve never once doubted his love for me.
He chose me, and he continues to choose me with every move he makes.
He’s softened since the first time I met him, too.
Not dramatically, just in little ways. The lines around his mouth have lessened.
He doesn’t hold himself so tight. And more often than not, he sleeps through the night again.
He’s settled.
My dad’s noticed it, too. Not that he likes to admit it.
It took a little time. And he still grumbles when he comes over.
Still shakes his head when he sees Holt touch me or pull me in for a kiss.
But he’ll stay for dinner now. And I no longer feel like the two men I love most in the world are going to break out in a fight when they’re in the same room together.
Their relationship is coming back, too. Maybe even stronger than ever because now they actually see each other regularly. Because of me.
I know it’s not what any of us planned, but it works.
Our little family.
At the mere thought of the word, my hand goes to my stomach. Holt notices, too.
“I was thinking,” I say slowly. “Maybe we should have a family dinner on Sunday?”
“A family dinner?” He’s watching me carefully.
I nod. “You, me, my dad and…”
“And…”
That’s when I look up and smile. I wasn’t sure until this morning, but my period is officially three weeks late. Frankly, I’m surprised it took so long.
“And our baby—” Before I can even get the words out, Holt is pulling me up off the couch and swinging me around until I’m laughing.
“I’m going to be a father?” he asks when he finally stops and cups my cheeks in his huge hands. “Really?”
I nod, and he whoops, making me laugh again.
“Then I guess there’s no point waiting until later for this,” he says, the laughter in his voice cutting out suddenly as he releases me and drops to one knee, pulling a ring from his pocket. “Marry me, Tessa.”
The change is so sudden, it takes me a second to catch up. I shake my head with a laugh, but Holt is already grabbing my left hand and pushing a ring onto my finger.
“I didn’t say yes,” I say with a laugh.
Holt stands and pulls me in for a claiming kiss before pulling back and looking me in the eye. “Say yes,” he says. “Say you’ll be my wife and love me forever.”
“You already know I will.” I reach for my mountain man, holding him so he won’t miss it when I say it. “Yes,” I say, making it official. “I will be your wife, the mother of your children, and love you forever.”