Epilogue
EPILOGUE
River
Time for another lesson the ladies taught me.
With a little help from the manuals—aka romance books.
My eyes greedily took in every inch of my husband’s drool-worthy body as he stepped out of the bathroom and into our bedroom, a white towel wrapped around his waist.
Droplets of water still clung to his tan, toned chest and I thought how lucky I was to have my very own, in-the-flesh , hot fireman that some only read about in books.
He was definitely my hero .
And my savior.
Not only was he what I would call the sexiest man alive, my husband was the most caring, sweetest man on the planet, if you asked me.
And I was ready to show him just how much I appreciated him. Because it’s about give and take, right?
At the sleepover another lesson I’d learned was, give, and you shall receive. Well, my husband had been doing all the giving and now it was time for him to receive.
We’d just have to be a few minutes late .
I may not have known what the hell I was doing, but I’d wing it, and my man could teach me the rest.
Huntley’s gaze locked with mine. “You’re not dressed.”
“Huh, really? Imagine that.” I was feeling extra playful. It was a damn good feeling and made me feel so free.
He watched my movements as I reached back and flipped the lock on the bedroom door before I stalked his way. Now the hunted had become the hunter, and I’d locked onto my mark. The air in the room crackled and his eyes dilated like they always did when he was turned on.
When I was right in front of him, I snatched the towel from his waist and let it fall to the floor.
“Think you can be quiet?” I asked, my body tingling with nerves and excitement.
Huntley raised a brow and gave me a sexy smirk as he started to reach out. But I gently slapped his hand away.
“Nope, it’s my turn.”
I dropped to my knees and then looked up at him from under my lashes. His pupils darkened and he released a deep groan as my hand wrapped around his thickness as much as I could.
My man was huge.
Leaning forward, my tongue darted out and touched the tip of his cock before swirling around the head.
“Aww fuck!”
Didn’t look like he was going to be quiet.
Huntley’s palm smacked my butt.
“You’re a naughty girl, Mrs. Taylor.”
I would never get sick of hearing him call me that.
A slow grin stretched across his face and my panties almost melted from my body. We didn’t have time for anything else, and my lip jutted out in a little pout.
“I promise to return the favor when we get home,” he said with a wink, catching on to my thoughts as always.
“So you plan to water my lady garden, do you?”
He choked. “Your what?”
I was laughing so hard at his facial expression I couldn’t speak.
“Let me guess. The ladies again?”
“You know it,” I managed to get out after I regained control of myself.
After that, we both somehow managed to keep our hands off each other—it wasn’t easy—long enough to finish getting dressed and out of the bedroom. When we reached the front room, three pairs of eyes were staring at us with knowing looks.
Well shit, I knew Val was coming over to ride with us to Ruby’s house for our little wedding reception all the ladies insisted on putting on, but I hadn’t realized she was here yet.
It was bad enough that my kids knew there was some hanky-panky going on in the bedroom, but now she did too. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing. I may never have done anything like that, but the satisfied look on my husband’s face when I’d finished told me I had done something right and deserved an A+ on that lesson.
“So, who’s ready to party?” my goofy guy asked like we hadn’t just made everyone late with our oral sexcapade.
We couldn’t go just yet. There was something that had to be done first. A little surprise that had been in the works. I had already surprised Bre with her very own silver-heart tracking necklace which she was thrilled with. It also allowed me to rest a bit easier after everything we’d been through.
Maybe we could talk to the guys about coming up with something similar for Lennon, along with the other boys .
Now it was my husband’s turn for a surprise.
“The kids and I need to give you something first,” I told him.
His head tilted to the side and eyes turned curious. I headed to the kitchen table and everyone followed. It may have been for Huntley, but I knew Val would want to be here for the moment too. After all, it was all happening because of her amazing son.
I nodded at Lennon. He’d been the one to talk to his sister and then they came to me before we’d said our vows and told me what they wanted. I’d been filled with joy.
Lennon picked up the papers and held them out across the table toward Huntley. “Not long ago you mentioned wanting us to take your name. Bre and I, we want to be Taylors too.”
Val sniffed beside me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my guy. With shaky hands he read the papers from what would officially be his own son soon; I watched as the first tear hit the paper.
He moved around the table, closer to them. “You want me to be your dad?”
All he had to do was sign and we could finish the process.
I held my breath, watching the scene play out in front of me.
“You already are,” Bre said softly, tears trickling down her face now. “You’re my Superman too.”
Huntley sucked in a breath and then opened his arms. Bre rushed right into them. He looked over her head as she was tucked tight in his embrace and met Lennon’s gaze. Unwrapping one arm from around Bre, he held it out.
Lennon moved in and grabbed hold. “Yeah, we want you to be our dad,” I heard him say.
My husband held out his arm again and I squeezed my way into the group .
Then, I looked over to my angel who was crying with pure happiness and said, “Come on, Mom. Join us.”
She gasped when I called her mom and then again when Lennon said, “Yeah, Grandma, come on.” But she didn’t hesitate to get in on the hug.
Roxie started barking and jumping in circles as if she knew something monumental just happened and wanted to be part of it all.
Everyone laughed at her, tears in all our eyes. Even our son’s. He’d let down his guard a bit. Maybe he would finally let us all take some of the burden he held onto and just be a kid.
There were still so many things to work on, but we’d been doing it, together. Bre had been having some nightmares, but she didn’t shut down. She had no issue talking to me about them and keeping the lines of communication open. One day at a time she, as well as I, were getting stronger and working to put our past behind us.
I knew she wasn’t in the same place I was, but I had no doubt she would get there one day. She, and Lennon both had already come so far.
“I love you all so much,” my husband said, bringing me back to one of the happiest moments in my life.
A short time later, we walked out of the house.
The five of us. Because Roxie had to stay home of course. Something she was not happy with at all.
One big, happy family.
“So, my manual worked like a charm.”
Alley had a smirk on her face. She was damn proud of herself, that was for sure .
“And Val has a date next weekend with the doctor. Though I did have help with that one.”
Alley gave Ruby a high five.
When Val heard her name, she looked up from where she was talking with Gramps—Ruby’s grandfather—and blushed. She knew exactly what we were talking about.
I couldn’t wait to see how it went. The woman was special and if the hot doctor was a smart man, he’d see that too.
He just better treat her right—or else.
“… lady garden?”
I’d missed everything Gemma said, but the lady garden part.
Before I could ask her to repeat it, a throat cleared from behind me.
Not again.
Bronson stood next to Lake, baby Forrest in his arms, looking uncomfortable while Kace chuckled.
“Where do you gals come up with this shit? A lady garden?” Kace asked. “I think you’re worse than a bunch of men in a locker room.”
Teal moved closer and pinched her husband's ass.
“Oh shush,” she told him.
He started to open his mouth and was stopped by the Embry brigade. The whole lot of kids were watching her get her Uncle Kace to pay up for having a potty mouth before they marched back off to play.
“As I was saying—” Kace started but again was interrupted by a growl.
My husband glared at his friend. “We don’t need to be talking about my woman’s lady garden.”
This conversation was getting crazy and all the ladies and I started laughing. But that wasn’t the end of it.
“Who’s growing a garden?” Gyth asked as he slid up next to his wife. “It’s not the right time of year to plant anything except garlic and onions.”
Kace slapped a hand on his forehead. “How the fu—”—he looked around to see if Embry was anywhere. “I mean how the heck are you so clueless?”
Gyth glowered at his friend. “Hey, I didn’t hear everything.”
Summer snuggled into her husband's side. “It’s okay, Big Guy.”
The massive man turned into a teddy bear on the spot when it came to his wife.
Huntley’s warm hand slid into mine and he leaned down, whispering in my ear. “I forgot to ask earlier, what are we growing in this garden of yours anyway?”
I looked up at my husband with his playful grin. But something struck me and any teasing went out the window when I softly said…
“How about a baby?”
The hope and love that flashed in his eyes was powerful. “Seriously?”
I nodded.
“Words, Warrior.”
“Very serious. I love you, Mr. Taylor and I want to have a baby with you.”
He kissed me sweetly on the lips. “I love you too, Mrs. Taylor.”
Then his smile turned wicked. “I can’t wait to plant the seed. And water it too.”
“I do not want to hear that crap,” my brother-in-law said.
My sister and I broke out in a fit of laughter just as the doorbell rang.
Ruby broke away from the group. “Weird everyone’s already here. Not sure who that would be. ”
She started for the door, Lyric hot on her heels, and we all began talking again.
Seconds later, the room went stone-cold quiet as a man’s voice said, “Hello, ma’am, I’m looking for Mrs. Ruby Knight.”
Lyric wrapped an arm around his wife's waist, giving immediate support because it was clear something grave was coming.
“T-That’s me, I’m Ruby K-knight,” she stuttered, answering the official looking gentleman at the door.
You could hear a pin drop in the room that was so full of life just seconds before.
“My name is Gunnery Sergeant Rick Hughes and I am here on behalf of the United States Marine Corps. I regret to inform you that your brother, Corporal Jett Adams, has been listed as Missing in Action. We are doing everything in our power to locate him, and we will keep you informed with any updates during this difficult time.”
Ruby was trembling, her hands shaking as the gentleman held out a piece of paper. The Sergeant’s eyes and voice were sincere when he continued.
“This is information on a military liaison we have set you up with and who will be contacting you soon. If you should have any questions before that, please feel free to reach out to the name on the documents. I’m truly sorry ma’am.”
The guy turned and headed back down the porch as Ruby closed the door, her face now white as a sheet, and fell into Lyric’s arms.
“Baby, they’ll find him. Somehow, he will be okay,” Lyric tried reassuring her.
A cry echoed through the room as Ruby clung to her husband, her heart breaking before our eyes, but it was nothing compared to the soul-shattering sob that split the air as Patience dropped to her knees with a thud, a tidal wave of tears streaming down her face .
“H-He c-can’t be missing. He’s my best f-friend and I-I thought…”
Nothing more came out and I could see everyone’s hearts ripping in two. Then I turned to Gramps who had a sheen of tears in his eyes. I grabbed onto my husband, holding him like a lifeline and never wanting to let go.
“Mommy, what happened to Daddy?”
Patience gasped and looked up at her four-year-old son Griffin. Jett may not be his dad, and I don’t think he’d ever called him that, but it made sense he would see him that way. Jett had been there for mother and son since before Griffin was born.
The sweet, beautiful mother wrapped her arms around her boy and pulled him into her embrace, but she was sobbing so hard she couldn’t get any words out.
My urge to help was strong and I released my husband, moving toward the pair where I knelt down beside them.
Rubbing slow circles on Patience’s back, I whispered, “Nobody will give up looking for him. You know that.”
As someone who understood the emotional rollercoaster when it came to worrying about those you loved, I would be there for her.
And I had no doubt Patience loved Jett.
My heart turned over as her cries strengthened and she wailed…
“I c-can’t l-lose him.”
Will Jett be found? And will Patience and little Griffin, along with the rest of the family survive the fallout if he isn’t? Or if he is, will things ever be the same? Stay tuned for updates on when Patience’s Savior will be coming your way.