Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Tears well up in my eyes, and I can barely get the words out, my voice breaking as I say, “Yes. Yes, Knox, a thousand times yes.”
He stands, slipping the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms, his lips claiming mine in a kiss that’s filled with love, passion, and the promise of forever. We stand there, holding each other as the last rays of the sun dip below the horizon, the world fading into twilight, but everything between us shining bright.
“I guess Betty was right about us,” I tease lightly, my voice filled with warmth.
Knox chuckles, his arms tightening around me. “Betty’s been right about a lot of things,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “She’s got a damn good track record with the Steele boys. Barron and Tamlyn—she predicted them too.”
I laugh softly, the sound blending with the wind around us. I turn in Knox’s arms, meeting his gaze as I whisper, “I love you.”
He smiles, a rare and beautiful sight that makes my heart swell. “I love you too, Petal. Always.”
And as we stand there, hand in hand, looking out over Copper Mountain, I know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together—stronger, braver, and more in love than ever before.
Epilogue
Knox
The towering evergreens surround us, their dark silhouettes glowing in the soft light of a thousand fairy lights strung between their branches. The air is crisp, and the quiet hum of nature feels like it’s holding its breath, waiting for this moment. Our moment.
I stand there, staring down at Perry, my wife-to-be, as she smiles up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her lips curved into that sweet smile that has always unraveled me. The setting is surreal—exactly the way she wanted it—our family and closest friends gathered beneath the trees, the truck in the background, decorated with wildflowers that spill from the windows and bumpers. It’s the wedding that reflects us perfectly. Simple. Natural. Full of love.
I can't stop looking at her. The way the fairy lights cast a golden glow over her skin, the way her dress moves like it was made of air. Perry is the definition of magic. She’s always been that way to me, ever since the day she walked into my forge and flipped my whole world on its head.
“I’ve waited for this,” I say, my voice rough but steady as I take her hands in mine. The cool mountain air does nothing to calm the heat simmering inside me. It’s the kind of heat Perry has ignited since the very beginning. “You. Us. This. I never knew something so simple could feel this big.”
Her fingers squeeze mine, and I catch the way her breath hitches, like she’s holding back a wave of emotion. “Knox Steele,” she whispers, her voice barely above a breath, but every word is crystal clear, “you’ve made my heart fuller than I ever thought possible.”
The officiant, one of the local women from town that’s known the Steele boys since we were kids, clears her throat with a teasing grin. “If you two could save a little of that for after the vows, I think everyone here would appreciate it.”
Laughter ripples through the small crowd, and I glance around at our family and friends gathered under the canopy of trees, their faces lit by the warm glow of the fairy lights. Creed, Judge, Archer, Arrow, King, Pope, Barron, and Cruz—my brothers—stand off to the side, grinning like idiots. Betty, the café waitress and matchmaker with the sharp tongue and even sharper instincts, has a knowing smile that reaches her eyes.
I turn back to Perry, holding her gaze, my thumb tracing gentle circles over her knuckles. “I do,” I say, the words heavy with more meaning than just a promise. It’s everything I am, everything I’m offering to her. My love. My protection. My heart.
“I do,” she echoes, her voice steady and clear, the promise in her eyes unwavering.
The small crowd bursts into cheers, and as soon as I hear those words, it’s like a dam breaks inside me. I pull her into my arms, my lips finding hers, not caring that everyone is watching. The kiss is slow, tender, filled with the weight of everything we’ve been through and everything we’re about to face together.
I break away just enough to rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, in the softest voice, she leans into my ear and whispers, “I’m about to steal the air from your lungs, Knox.”
My heart stutters, and I pull back just enough to see her eyes glimmering with something more than just joy. There’s excitement, anticipation… something else. “What are you talking about, Petal?”
She bites her bottom lip, looking a little nervous but glowing in that way only Perry can. “I took a test last night,” she murmurs, her voice so soft only I can hear her. “Knox… we’re going to have a baby.”