Epilogue

One year later

Jerricka tapped the button on the handheld electric fan. The manufactured breeze wafted across her sweaty neck cooling her instantly. If she weren't already a married woman, she'd propose to whoever invented the little electronic wonder.

"How are you doing, mija? Maybe you should go inside to the air conditioning."

Looking over to the woman seated in the lawn chair next to her, Jerricka shook her head.

"I'm fine, Mama Dee."

There was no way Jerricka was going to miss a second of her husband swinging a hammer and any other activity which caused him to sweat. She'd even shamelessly watched him work out in his home gym. She was technically supposed to be working out too. However, she set the pace on the treadmill to a moderate walk, grabbed onto the sides to keep from falling off, and watched him as he slung hundreds of pounds of weights around like feathered pillows.

"I just don't want you to be uncomfortable. You have to take care of yourself and my little neita."

As she said the word, grandchild, her mother-in-law couldn't resist reaching over to touch Jerricka's rounded belly. She was seven months along in her first pregnancy and the only person happier than Thiago had to be his mother.

Of course, she didn't miss an opportunity to tell her son he owed her for introducing the two of them. It was her go-to whenever she needed another voice on her side of any family debate.

"I promise, if I get too hot, I'll go inside."

"Okay, mija. At least drink some more water." Pointing toward the steel tumbler in the cupholder on Jerricka's right, Mama Dee wiggled her fingers expectantly.

Dutifully, Jerricka sipped the cooling liquid through the metal straw. As she did, her gaze traveled back to where her husband and his brothers were team lifting a truss onto the sides of the structure to form the roof.

Apparently, Thiago had come by his love of carpentry and construction from his father. They were building a workshop to replace the one damaged by a storm in the spring. While Thiago could've easily sent out a crew to have it replaced, he and his brothers along with their father and a few cousins did the work themselves.

The only thing they hired outside help for was the demolition of the old building once the salvageable items had been removed and stored. After they had the last truss in place and secured, Mama Dee sounded an actual horn getting their attention.

Speaking in rapid Spanish, she called them to the tables set up beneath the trees to rest and eat something. Between her and her sisters, Jerricka was shooed back into her seat anytime she attempted to help.

Resigning herself to princess treatment, Jerricka folded her arms, resting them atop her rounded abdomen. Her vision was suddenly filled with Thiago. He'd started letting his hair grow out, but it was slicked away from his forehead, wet from him pouring water over himself to cool off.

"How are my babies?" Kissing her lips, then the tip of her nose, he pulled back to stare into her eyes.

"We're just fine." Unable to resist, Jerricka slid her fingers into his hair tugging at the strands.

Placing one large hand on her stomach, Thiago kissed her lips again. "I love you, Dulzura."

"I love you too." Stroking his jaw, Jerricka accepted another kiss before Thiago bent down to perform the same routine with her rounded belly.

"See, hijo. I told you girls who read make the best wives. Look at you. You've never been happier."

Thiago didn't argue, he simply accepted the plate she put in his hands, turning to feed a portion to Jerricka before taking a bite himself.

As always, Mama Dee's statement sparked conversation. She was only too happy to tell her sisters again how she had to intervene in order to get grandchildren. While she regaled them, Jerricka motioned Thiago closer.

"Do your brothers realize that she's only going to ride off her success in getting you married for so long? They aren't safe just because she's getting a grandchild from us."

Nuzzling the side of her neck, Thiago hid his chuckle. "No. And don't you warn them. It's their turn to be harassed now."

Feigning hurt, Jerricka stared at him. "Hey, you consider being set up with me harassment?"

Wrapping his long, thick fingers around the back of her head, Thiago eliminated the space between them.

"The best kind ever and I wouldn't change a second of it."

"Matías! See how happy your brother is? Don't you want a pretty lady like Jerricka to give me more grandbabies?"

Right on cue, Mama Dee started lining up her next victim. Smothering their laughter with a kiss. Jerricka and Thiago conceded that Matías would have to find out on his own that it was easier if he didn't fight it. After all, when Jerricka gave in to her friends' suggestion, she ended up with her own personal book boyfriend.

The End