Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Six months later
K nox opened the front door with his elbow because both his hands were full. He had a bottle of wine in one hand, and a take-out bag from Pepe Giallo, the Italian restaurant Nola loved. He’d ordered her favorite spaghetti carbonara.
It was a special night, after all.
“Hey, Sprite. I’m home.”
He’d had a busy day. He and Nick had tracked down some corporate thieves. He’d then had the pleasure of watching Devyn kick the ass of a cocky CEO who’d tried to run when confronted with the proof of his crimes. Then he’d watched Killian lose it because she was pregnant and not supposed to be fighting, especially guys bigger than her. She wasn’t showing yet, and pregnancy wasn’t slowing her down.
“Nola?” he called out.
“I’m…um…” Her muffled voice came from down the hallway. “I’m coming.”
He frowned and set the bottle and bag down on the kitchen island. She sounded weird.
His apartment had finally been decorated. Nola had moved in a month ago, and now it was splashed with extra style and color. He loved seeing her sweater draped over the back of a chair, or a vase of fresh flowers on the table.
He was happy. Damn happy.
Back in California, he’d been unsettled for so long. He’d felt like he was wearing a shoe that didn’t fit.
Now, he liked New York, loved his job, and adored Magnolia Newhouse. He’d finally found his right fit.
They’d had some other news a few months back—Zolotov had been killed in prison. A rival had attacked him in the prison yard. Knox hadn’t felt a speck of sympathy.
Nola still hadn’t appeared, so he wandered toward the main bedroom.
He found her inside. She’d obviously changed since she’d come home from work and was wearing leggings, a tank top, and her feet were bare.
She turned, her face tense and her eyes worried.
His gut tightened. “Nola? What’s wrong?” He crossed to her and cupped her shoulders.
“Knox…” She shook her head. “I want you to know that I love you.”
His chest swelled. Even though they’d been together these last few months, they hadn’t said the words before. They’d been too busy getting to know each other, enjoying each other.
“I’ve been looking for my person for a really long time.” She pulled in a breath. “And it’s you. You make me happy. You make me feel safe.”
“Nola—”
She held up a hand. “I know you’re against marriage and kids. I was okay with that, as long as I had you.”
“Nola—”
“It was an accident.” The words spilled out of her.
Frowning, he cocked his head. He was getting worried now. “What was an accident?”
“ Oh, God .” She held up a strip of white plastic. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea how it happened.”
Knox took the stick and moved it so he could read the word on it.
Pregnant .
It was a pregnancy test. A positive one.
He felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. All sound turned muffled.
Nola spun away, pacing, her hands clasped against her chest.
Nola was pregnant.
With his baby.
Nola swallowed, her throat tight and her pulse fluttering.
She’d screwed up, and somehow, she’d ended up pregnant.
A secret part of her was elated. She loved her niece, Amelia. Nick and Lainie had the most gorgeous, chubby-cheeked little girl. Nola spent as much time with her niece as she could.
Lainie was an amazing mom, and Nick was exactly as she’d expected. A doting, overprotective dad. It was so cute when he was with his daughter.
So the idea of having a baby—hers and Knox’s baby—left her giddy. But she knew it meant she’d lose him. He’d been honest with her from the start.
She turned back to him.
He was still standing frozen by the bed.
“I’m sorry, Knox.”
Her voice seemed to kick him back into action. He walked over to her. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded, biting her bottom lip.
“Nola. God .” He spread a large palm over her flat belly.
And wonder filled his rugged face.
“A baby,” he breathed.
She blinked. “You’re…okay about it?”
He pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Nola, when I first met you, I was sure I didn’t want marriage or children. Then you strode into my life, and you made it better. You breathed life into everything.”
Warmth and love filled her.
He took her hands in his. “I love you, Nola Newhouse. I love being with you. I always want to be with you.”
“ Knox .”
“There was something I was going to give you tonight, over spaghetti carbonara and a glass of wine.” A wry smile crossed his lips. “The wine is definitely out now.”
She lifted her head. “Carbonara from Pepe Giallo?”
“Yes.”
“I really love you.”
Then he pulled something from his pocket. A small box. Nola’s chest hitched. He flicked it open, and she saw the ring and gasped.
It was a square-cut teal sapphire, flanked by two triangular diamonds. It had a vintage-meets-modern design she loved.
“Knox…” Flutters took off in her belly.
He shifted off the bed and knelt in front of her. “Magnolia Newhouse, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
She threw her arms around his shoulders and their mouths collided. She kissed him, or he kissed her, she wasn’t sure, and she didn’t care.
Then he pressed his forehead to hers. “We’re going to have a baby.”
“Yes.” She rubbed her nose against his. “You’re going to be a sexy silver daddy.”
“I’ll do everything to make you happy and take care of you. And our kiddo.”
“I know what I want right now.” She nibbled his lips.
Knox let out a low chuckle. “I know you well enough by now, Sprite. You want spaghetti carbonara.”
She laughed. This man really did know her well. “I do. Then I want my silver fox to take me to bed.”
He scooped her up into his arms. “Whatever my sprite wants, she gets. And I’ll keep doing that for the rest of our lives.”
I hope you enjoyed Nola and Knox’s story!