Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
I laugh, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “I really did.”
He pulls me closer, his arms wrapping around me, his voice a low murmur in my ear. “I’m never letting you go.”
And I know, without a doubt, that he means it.
Second Epilogue
Archer–three years later
The late afternoon sun filters through the trees, casting a warm golden glow across the porch. I lean back in my chair, the wood creaking beneath me, and look out at the yard. Blaze is running around with his toy truck, dirt flying in every direction, and his laughter echoes through the crisp air. It’s one of those sounds that cuts right through you, making everything else feel like it’s in the right place.
I glance over at Bella, sitting beside me, her hand resting on her pregnant belly, and something tightens in my chest. Three years. That’s all it’s been since she walked into my life, and somehow, it feels like forever and no time at all. She’s here, with me, and every time I look at her, I get hit with that same gut-punch of disbelief that she’s mine.
Bella lets out a contented sigh, leaning her head against my shoulder. “Can you believe how far we’ve come?”
Her voice is soft, filled with that familiar mix of wonder and confidence, like she’s still wrapping her mind around everything we’ve built. And yeah, I feel it too. The inn is fully renovated, standing proud against the backdrop of Copper Mountain, a symbol of everything we’ve put into it. But it’s more than that. It’s the life we’ve built here—the family.
I press a kiss to the top of her head, my arm wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her in closer. “I knew we’d get here,” I murmur against her hair. “Just had to make sure you didn’t run away.”
She laughs, nudging me playfully. “I think you’re stuck with me now.”
My hand slides down to rest over hers on her belly, feeling the subtle movement beneath her skin. Our daughter, Alivia, growing inside her. A new life, another part of us, just waiting to make her entrance into the world. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Bella looks up at me, her eyes soft but filled with that spark of amusement that’s never far from the surface. “You’re getting soft, Steele.”
I raise an eyebrow, my lips curling into a slow grin. “Not when it counts.”
Her laugh this time is deeper, warmer, and it sends a shiver through me. “You never stop, do you?”
“Not with you,” I say, my voice dropping lower, teasing, because the truth is, I can’t resist her. Even now, with Blaze tearing up the yard and her belly swollen with our second kid, I still want her with the same intensity that I did the first time I laid eyes on her.
I press a kiss to her forehead and tweak her nipple at the same time.
“Ouch! They’re so sensitive right now!” She giggles and rubs at her sore nipple.
Before I can throw some witty comeback her way, Bella suddenly gasps, her hand flying to her stomach. My entire body goes rigid, my attention snapping to her face, the playful banter evaporating in an instant.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, leaning forward, every muscle tensed. “Are you okay?”
Bella’s eyes are wide, her mouth slightly open in shock, but then she lets out a soft laugh, glancing up at me. “My water just broke.”
For a split second, I just stare at her, processing her words, and then everything clicks into place. “Shit.” I stand, scooping her up into my arms before she can protest, her body soft and familiar against mine.
She laughs again, her arms wrapping around my neck. “You’re not seriously going to carry me, are you?”
I grin down at her, even as my heart pounds with adrenaline. “What? You don’t think I can handle it?”
Bella smirks, resting her head against my chest. “I think you just want to play the hero.”
“Maybe,” I say, starting to move toward the door. “But it’s your fault for marrying one.”
She rolls her eyes, but I can feel the way her body relaxes into mine. And that’s when it hits me—the mixture of excitement, nerves, and something more. Something solid, like the connection between us has grown even deeper over these past years. We’re about to meet our daughter, the next piece of our story, and I can’t think of anything I want more than to share that moment with her.
I push through the door, carrying Bella inside as Blaze’s laughter echoes from the yard. He’s completely oblivious to the fact that his world’s about to change again, and that thought makes me grin.
“Are you okay, mama?” I ask, half teasing, half serious. “Ready for round two?”
Bella’s hand tightens around my neck, her breath coming out in a soft, shaky laugh. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”