Epilogue
Everly
I look up to find Jake in our bedroom, bare-chested with a pair of perfectly faded jeans hung low on his hips. Those washboard abs and V-shaped muscle taunt me. I’m positive I will never get used to the sight of him.
“We can cancel our plans if you’d prefer?” he says with a smirk that slays me.
“Oh, believe me, I’d much rather stay in this room and appreciate my boyfriend’s body than go to the aquarium.”
“What do you have against fish?” he asks, stalking towards me. “What did they ever do to you?”
“They’re like fireworks, everyone knows that. You’ve seen them once; you’ve seen them all.”
“We’ll make the best of it.” He takes the romance book that I’m reading from my hands and sets it on the bed. I stare at my devastatingly beautiful man, eyes wandering shamelessly over his smooth, muscled skin. My gaze catches on the trail of soft hair that disappears into his jeans. My core heats, badly wanting to reach for him and undress him.
My heart races.
My skin pebbles.
My god, Jake Matthews is pure perfection, like chiselled stone. He knows just how to light a fire in me.
My heart flutters as I look at the bird tattoo on Jake’s ribs. A simple sparrow for Birdie and the date Jake and I ran into each other at Catch 21 for me. He surprised me one afternoon while I was doing the dishes, removing his shirt, and telling me that he had been thinking about getting the tattoos for a while. My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw it. I ignored the dishes in the sink and with soapy hands I cupped his face and kissed him. After I finished kissing him, he told me that meeting Birdie and me was the best day of his life. He says the second best is the day Birdie told him she loves him. The fact that Jake wanted to honor Birdie speaks volumes about how much she means to him.
There’s a bright twinkle in his eyes when he notices me staring. A playful smile flashes across his face. This man knows exactly how to get my heart racing. “You’ve been reading that smutty book for an hour. Has Hunter won Faith’s heart yet?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I sass back, as he reaches for my hand, pulling me to stand. I lean forward and press my lips against his and he doesn’t hesitate to slide his hand to the nape of my neck, deepening the kiss. I take his cheek in my palm, brushing my thumb over the scruff that covers his jaw. We only break the kiss when we hear Birdie bouncing down the hall.
“Are you ready?” Birdie asks, appearing in the doorway.
Pulling back, Jake shoots me a wink before slipping his shirt over his head.
“We’re ready. The question, is are you ready?” He looks her over from head to toe. She beams. I melt. “Cat ears, check. Teeth brushed, check. Pretty dress, check. You look ready to me, beautiful. Let’s go.”
“Are you sure you want to wear that dress to the aquarium, baby? It might be a little fancy,” I say as Jake lifts her into his arms.
“I’m sure, Mommy. Now come on, let’s go.”
Minutes later, Jake deposits Birdie into her booster seat in the back of his F-150, and when he slips into his seat next to me, he takes my hand in his. He pulls the truck away from the curb, but instead of going south towards the aquarium, he heads north.
“You’re going the wrong way,” I remind him, shooting him a confused look.
Jake stifles a smile.
“Are you really not going to turn around?”
“I know where I’m going.” He turns to face me with a smirk before my daughter hollers from the back seat. “Don’t tell her, Dad. We’re almost there.”
The first time Birdie asked if she could call Jake “Dad,” I froze. I didn’t know the right way to handle it. After taking some time to think about it, I decided Jake is more of a father than Grant has ever been, so why not? He is a second dad to her, and he is always there for her. Jake might not be biologically related to Birdie, but he has earned the role of being her dad, and he loves her with his entire being.
Ten minutes later, he pulls into the parking lot at the beach, then gets out and opens Birdie’s door. The two of them stand in front of the truck, all smiles, and Birdie motions for me to join them.
“What are you two up to?” I ask suspiciously, as Jake takes my hand and tugs me to the spot in the sand where we officially met for the first time. I cock my head his way, but he just smiles his sexy, serious smile. Birdie giggles with a cat-that-caught-the-canary gleam in her eyes.
Stopping in front of me, Jake takes my hands in his, making my pulse race a little faster. “Ev…” he says, dropping to one knee, and I stop breathing all together. “I fell in love with you in this exact spot and as crazy as it sounds, I knew that day that you were the one. I never believed I could be this happy. And I can’t remember ever laughing like I do when I’m with you and Birdie. The two of you are everything to me.” He pauses, glancing at my daughter. “I want to be the man you and Birdie deserve.”
I press my hand to his chest. “Jake—” I murmur. “You are. You always have been.”
“I want to love you both forever. Say yes, Ev. Will you marry me?”
When he slides the ring onto my finger, my heart pounds in my chest. Every cell in my body ignites. And every fiber of my being is present in this moment with him. “Of course, I say yes. Yes, baby, yes, I want to marry you.”
I close my eyes as tears slip down my face. I never thought I’d be able to find anyone who loves my daughter like she is his own. And I certainly never thought a man seven years younger would be that guy. Jake has been the best surprise. But nothing surprises me more than the fact that I am going to marry him.
“I love you.” I drop to my knees in front of him and gather his face in my hands. I capture his lips with mine, and Birdie giggles before Jake pulls her into the two of us. Just us. It’s perfect. When the three of us are together I feel complete.
“I love you, too.”
I kiss the top of my daughter’s forehead. “Were you in on this, Birdie?”
She’s all smiles as she nods while Jake brushes the tears from my cheeks with his gentle, solid fingers.
My heart bursts in a way I’m sure it never has before with my baby next to me and Jake’s strong, protective arms wrapped around us.
We spendthe next several months as a family of three, eating breakfast together in the mornings and dinners at night. Jake and I take turns driving Birdie to school and dance classes, and I haven’t missed one of her recitals since I started working for Jake. Instead, Birdie has an entire cheering section in the audience. My parents, Sierra and Grayson and Gran all come to watch her perform. Franny often joins us as well. It feels like a dream. I’m positive it doesn’t get better than this.
Jake and I flew to New York one weekend to stay at the very upscale Seaside Hotel. We toured the city, ate pizza, and went to a Rangers game, where we cheered them on to victory over the Florida Panthers. When we weren’t busy sightseeing, we lounged in the jacuzzi tub on the private terrace overlooking Manhattan and made love for hours. It might have been the hottest sex we’ve ever had, and that’s saying something. Jake is an absolute aficionado in bed. Sex with him is a dirty, wild affair.
A few weekends after that, we watched Sierra marry Grayson. It was a picture-perfect wedding and Jake stood beside Grayson as his best man. Tucker and Holden were at his side too. I was completely floored when Sierra asked me to be a bridesmaid; I remember hugging her profusely.
Back at home, the three of us have dinner with my parents on Sunday nights, where Jake is only too happy to sit and watch sports for hours with my dad. He has become a second son to my parents, they love Jake as much as I do. On weekends, Birdie begs us to take her to Sierra’s new bakery, where there always seems to be a pink-and-purple cupcake waiting for her. Sierra quit her job at The Seaside Hotel to open Buttercup Bakery—a dream she has had since she was a little girl baking with her mom. And now it’s a reality. Jake is so proud of her. He’s always stopping off on the way to the office to pick up boxes full of croissants and muffins.
Time has flown by, and I still can’t quite believe that tomorrow is our wedding day. It feels like just yesterday that Jake and I crashed into each other at Catch 21, but it also feels like I’ve been waiting my entire life for this.
The night before the wedding, we host a rehearsal dinner in our back yard, surrounded by everyone we love. We sit under twinkling patio lights and drink champagne as dusk casts a lilac-hued glow over a picture-perfect evening.
I gaze across the yard at our friends and family, everyone laughing and chatting, and it makes my heart expand in 10 different directions. Gran is here, looking like a dame with pearls around her neck and sequins sewn into her yellow sweater. She’s chatting with my parents while my brother Adam and his wife stand to the left of them catching up with Willa, who made the trip from Brookmont to be my maid of honor. Holden and Tucker are getting drinks at the bar with Aubrey and Franny. We even invited Miranda and Douglas, who regretfully declined. They are in California visiting Grant. From what I hear, he is doing well. He calls Birdie every few weeks, which is more effort than he’s shown in a while.
“No more champagne for you?” Sierra asks, tapping my shoulder with her clutch as she and Jules come to stand beside me.
“Nope.”
“Birdie is the sweetest with Maya,” Jules gushes. “You three should really join us for the weekend in Cape May next month.”
“That sounds like fun,” I agree. “I’ll check with Jake.”
“What, so Grayson and I aren’t invited because we don’t have kids? How is that fair?” Sierra asks, pretending to be offended. She bites her lip, looking from me to Jules.
“Okay, I’m going to tell you a secret, but this is not to be broadcast,” Sierra warns. “We’re not telling everyone just yet.”
“Wait…” I say with wide eyes. “Wait… are you serious?”
Jules leans in closer, a huge smile on her powder pink lips. “You are pregnant?”
“Yes!”
It takes a real effort to stop myself from screaming.
“I am so happy for you!” I tell her in an exaggerated whisper as Jules pulls Sierra in for a hug.
I sneak a look at my fiancé. He is across the yard talking to Tucker and Holden, and as if he can sense me looking at him, his gaze finds mine. His greens blaze into my hazels, and my pulse races with lust. I almost forget how to breathe. Jakes walks my way in his navy dress pants, crisp white button-down, tan belt and shoes. His shirt sleeves are rolled up his forearms, and his skin is smooth with that sinewy vein that makes my mouth water. I couldn’t stop staring if I tried. I don’t really believe in magic, but the intense desire I feel to touch him, to press my lips to his mouth, it’s almost like he’s casting a spell.
“There you are.” His voice is low and smooth. “Please tell me you’ve changed your mind. Or are you really that determined to torture me?”
“You’ll live, Lover Boy. It’s only one night.”
“Will I? I’m not so sure,” he says, his eyes raking over me.
“My rules,” I say, absentmindedly twirling my engagement ring around my finger. Jake has been pouting all day about Birdie and I sleeping at my parents’ house tonight. I’ve reminded him it’s tradition for the bride not to see the groom before the wedding. He’s not buying it.
“But you’d have so much more fun if you were sleeping with me tonight.”
“And years of bad luck.” I press my hand to his cheek. “It’s not happening.”
Jake sighs. I smooth my thumb over his cheek, pretending to console him.
“Let me get you a glass of champagne. Maybe that will help to change your mind.” He smirks.
“Nope. I’m happy with my punch. But nice try.”
I feel his lips dust a kiss to the side of my hair as Tucker joins us. He claps my husband-to-be on the shoulder. “How do you do it, Everly. Seriously, tell me. It’s like you have some voodoo magic. I’ve never seen this ole’ grump smile so much.” He squeezes Jake’s shoulder who glowers at him in return.
“I love you too, man,” Tuck says to him teasingly.
“Fuck off, dipshit.” Jake swats at Tuck’s head. “Your ass can be replaced tomorrow.”
“You wouldn’t,” Tucker mutters, clutching his chest. “Don’t even joke. I take my duty as your number one groomsman very seriously.”
“Who said you are my number one?” Jake frowns. “I have three groomsmen, and if I had to choose between you, Beckett and Holden, I’m going with Holden.”
“Geez. Ruthless,” Tuck says, as I shake my head at the two of them.
As Tuck saunters away, I take Jake’s hand and tell him there’s something I’d like to show him. Pulling him with me, I move along the patio’s edge, and we slip through the patio doors unnoticed. Once in the bedroom, I tell Jake to sit on the bed.
“Really, Ev in the middle of our rehearsal dinner? I mean, I’m not complaining, but…”
“I didn’t bring you in here to have sex,” I laugh, shaking my head at him. “You have a one-track mind, Jake Matthews.”
“Are you sure? Because I can be quick. Fuck, Ev, you look so hot. It’s killing me.”
“I am sure it is,” I nod, turning to open the dresser drawer.
I return to where he’s sitting on the edge of the bed, moving to stand between his parted thighs with my hands behind my back. His hands immediately go to the back of my thighs, pulling me closer. The scent of his aftershave and the light eucalyptus of his shampoo floods my senses, intoxicating me.
“What are you hiding?”
“I’ve been keeping a secret from you.”
“Okay.” He frowns. The broody, serious face he sometimes wears is hot as fuck. “I guess we should talk.”
“I’m pregnant,” I announce, anxiously holding out the test I took this morning. I’ve been exhausted lately, but I chalked that up to everything with the wedding. I only suspected I might be pregnant when I was suddenly hit with a wave of nausea yesterday afternoon. The two pink lines that appeared on the test confirmed my suspicions. I was shocked at first. I’ve been taking the pill religiously, every morning after breakfast. I’ve never missed a day.
“Jake, are you okay? Do I need to get you a glass of water? A cold cloth…”
“You’re..?” He doesn’t finish the question, just looks down at the pregnancy test I’m holding in my shaking hands and then returns his gaze to me, his hand moving to my stomach.
“I am.”
Jake rises to his feet, pressing a hard kiss to my mouth, and I taste the champagne he’s been sipping on all night.
“We’re having a baby,” he says, his voice full of wonder.
“We are,” I say, taking a moment to look into his eyes. “It’s a surprise. Are you okay?”
“Are you kidding me, baby? I’m so much better than okay. You pregnant with our child makes me so happy. I just feel so… lucky.” His green eyes pierce my soul.
“We are lucky,” I say, fighting back silly, happy tears. It feels like a dream, like I have everything I’ve ever wanted and somehow more. We’re going to have a happy life. I feel that in the deepest parts of my soul.
“I’m going to spend my life making you, Birdie, and this baby happy,” Jake says, slipping his hand beneath my top, setting his warm hand on my belly. There is pure joy in his eyes. I think about this baby growing inside of me, our baby, and I’m positive that our little boy or little girl is fate.
“I’m thinking we have four more after this one.”
“Four? Is that so?”
“Well, I really want ten,” he says, eyes as serious as can be. “What do I have to do for you to agree?”
“Did you forget you are marrying an older woman? Ten little Matthews are not in the cards, but I might agree to one more after this.”
“Two more?” he says, eyebrows raised with a wise ass smile. Jake slides his hand along a path from my pregnant belly to my hip. “You went from ten kids to two just like that.” I laugh. “That was too easy. You’ve lost the fight.”
“You fry my brain when I’m this close to you. And you just told me I’m going to be a dad to our baby. I can’t think straight, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Jake growls and flips me around, laying me out on our bed and looming over me with a sexy grin. He gets on top of me and kisses me. “Can we tell Birdie together?”
I love how this man is always thinking about my daughter. “We can, but we’ll wait a little longer.”
“I’m so in love with you Everly Matthews.”
“Not a Matthews yet.”
Another kiss. “Fine. But almost.”
“Almost.”
He gets this ridiculously hot glint in his eye before he kisses me again, and I thank my lucky stars that I took a chance on Jake.
The End