Epilogue

DAHLIA

I used the toe of my sneaker to push the hammock swing my husband had put on our sandy beach for me. I have no idea how he and Archer got this thing all the way down here, but I would miss it dearly when we had to pack it up for the winter months.

Already, the air off the water held a hint of a bite as September sped by.

I tipped my face up to the sun as I smoothed my hand over the baby bump that was rapidly growing. Work on the house was coming along and we were learning to live in the chaos of a remodel. I had far more empathy for my clients now that I was in the thick of one myself.

We could actually live inside the mansion now that the plumbing had been sorted, though we still snuck out to the Airstream for sleepovers sometimes.

At least when Archer was out of town since he'd pretty much taken it over once we finished the primary bedroom.

My pocket buzzed and I pulled out my phone.

Husband:

Where are you?

Guess.

Husband:

Swing time for baby. I have something I want you to see.

What did you do this time?

Husband:

You'll like this one.

Me first. Come outside.

Husband:

Grr. brT

My husband was seriously my worst client. Good thing we wouldn't be working together for the rest of our lives or there might bloodshed.

But this time, I had a little surprise for him.

He came blasting out the back door and I turned my swing to watch him. My beautiful husband had finally embraced some of his scars. We were still a work in progress for some of them, but he'd cut his shaggy hair—mostly.

It was short on the sides and back, with a messy bit of length on top. I was actually kind of glad he'd kept some of his long hair because I loved playing with it—and pulling it. He still had his beard, but it was trimmed up now and accentuated the angles of his face instead of hiding them.

The back porch had been finished and he and Archer had finally come up with a compromise on the stonework that made up the porch/balcony combo. The porch had a heavy, wooden door fit for a castle that accentuated the dark stone arches and grand stairs. Above it, the balcony off the tower room had stained-glass double doors in rich blues and purples that glowed in the sunlight.

Our house was slowly coming together.

Nolan thundered down the steps and skidded his way down the hill instead of taking the walkway I'd had them build.

Some things would never change.

He stopped beside the swing and pulled my hammock forward to give me a quick kiss, before giving me a little swing. "What's up?" He cupped his big hand on my belly, the ring on his hand glinting in the sun. It was complementary to mine in swirls of purple and green metal. "How's it cooking, Little Bean?"

I covered his hand with mine, my amethyst and diamond engagement ring the only additional difference to his band. "Cooking just fine. Now help me out of this thing."

He laughed and pulled me out and into his arms.

"Is that a new hole in your shirt?" I stuck my finger through one of many burn holes in the material.

He looked down and squirmed when I scraped skin, then he grabbed my hand and brought my wrist up to his mouth for a nip. "Maybe? I was working on the Grim Reaper for the store."

My big, bad husband was ticklish. "Almost done?"

"We'll be ready to open for Halloween, but there's a ton more to do."

I cupped his face. "You'll get it done. And Charlie will be glad you're busy."

He rolled his eyes.

Charlie, the stained-glass artist, had been fielding a ton of questions from Nolan since he'd started work on the house. I was pretty sure Nolan would end up apprenticing with him before it was all said and done. My husband was seriously obsessed with mixing metal and glass these days.

I was just happy to see him hip-deep in his art again.

When he wasn't hip-deep in me, anyway.

"I need you to help me with something in the truck."

"Oh, sure." He slung an arm around my shoulders as we made our way up to the Silverado.

As we got to the top of the hill, I grinned at the LITTLE DICK that was still etched into the driver's side door. He'd told me it was a placeholder for the first day we met. That and he knew he didn't have a little dick, so he didn't care what others thought.

"It's on the passenger side."

He nodded and jogged around the front.

I followed him, though a bit more slowly.

He swung the door open, then he immediately shut it and looked at me. He crouched down and put his hand on the door, then he bowed his head. "Is that what I think it is?"

"I didn't scratch it in this time, but this seemed a good way to tell you." I stood behind him so I could see the magnet I'd had made to put on the truck. LITTLE KING in my handwriting to match.

Rising, he turned and dragged me into a hug, his hand cupping the back of my head. "A boy?" He set me back, then he covered my bump with his hand. "Little Bean is a Mister Bean?"

I laughed. "Sure is."

He crouched down. "Be a good boy, and you keep cooking in there. I've got something to show your mom."

I pushed his hair out of his eyes. "You have a surprise too?"

"I sure do." He stood up and held out his hand for me.

"What are you up to?"

"It's a surprise."

Considering I'd made him come all the way outside for his, I guessed it was only right I had to follow him blindly.

He led me inside and up the stairs to the second floor, down the hall, past the tower room and our bedroom. When he went to the door of the small bedroom, my heart stalled.

"You haven't let me in here for weeks."

"Because you're a nosy pain in my butt." He pulled me beside him and waved a purple bandana. "Now turn around."

"I can just close my eyes."

"I don't trust you, now turn around."

"I only peeked that one time."

"All it takes is once, Hellcat." He twirled his finger.

I growled and turned around so he could put it on.

He lowered his mouth to my ear. "Might have to remember this for future use."

A shiver skated down my spine. We'd been enjoying a whole lot of second trimester alone time. First trimester, I kept falling asleep on a dime, which had ended up giving him plenty of time in his new workshop.

But he always slid into bed and curled around me and our Little Bean before midnight. Even if this girl didn't make it past eight o'clock those first few months.

"Can you see what I'm holding up?"

"Knowing you, it's your middle finger."

He laughed and kissed my neck. "Middle finger was one of them. I'll show you the other one later if you're lucky."

I elbowed him.

I heard the door unlatch and he slowly eased me forward. Even without my sight, I felt the sun on my face, and a sense of space. I reached behind me for him and tangled my fingers with his. "I love it."

"You haven't seen it."

"I know I'm going to love it because you did it for our baby boy."

"Ahh, Hellcat. You destroy me every damn day." He brushed a kiss over my temple. "And put me back together every damn morning."

My eyes stung under the blindfold. "Now don't get me all mushy, Mr. Devereaux."

"No promises, Mrs. Devereaux." The knot loosened and the blindfold fell away.

He'd put me in the middle of the room, directly in front of a massive stained glass circular window that echoed Harriette's library. This one held the bassinet with the little heart, as well as trailing vines.

The design was a little different from Harriette's with swirls of green and purple that echoed our wedding rings. I found myself walking right to it, trailing my fingers around the copper joins for the glass.

A metal tree took up the entire wall with swirling branches that created the foundation for circular bookcases full of children's books. They reminded me of Hobbit houses with the smooth wood.

"Did you do all this?"

"With the help of Charlie. But I did this window—mistakes and all." He came up behind me and touched the join that was imperfectly perfect around the cradle. "I'm getting better at the beadwork, but I'm still struggling with cusps."

"Whatever it is, you are mistaken, sir. This is pure craftsmanship." I turned in his arms. "For our baby."

"Yeah?" He grinned. "I wanted it perfect for you."

"And the tree?" Well, that did it. I dabbed at my eyes, but the stupid things wouldn't stop leaking.

He colored. "All me."

"Even the woodwork?"

"Yeah." He gripped the back of his neck. "Sanding is a bitch."

I went onto my toes, cupped his face, and kissed him.

He dropped his arm and curled me in tight against him. "You like it?"

"Like doesn't cover it. Everything is so special." I slipped away from him to trail my fingers over the bassinet that matched the stained glass.

"That can come in our bedroom for the beginning. You know, when you want the baby close to us."

I sniffled. "It's perfect." Then I noticed the rocking chair in front of the window. "You did this too?"

"No. I am not that good with wood."

I'd bet he could if he really wanted to. He was magic with his hands, as I could attest.

I sat down and rested my forearms on the wide arm rests.

"I did a little research, trying to find some of the old furniture from this house. Most of it had been sold off at auction, but the Barrows family was good at keeping track of certain things. That's Harriette's rocking chair."

"No." My eyes filled again. "Her chair?"

"Yeah, her husband kept it for a long time. Even after he remarried, he kept it. I contacted his great-grandson and he agreed it should go back to the house."

I launched myself out of the chair and rushed over to him. "You wonderful man."

He laughed as he caught me and twirled me around a little. "You weren't calling me a wonderful man yesterday."

I laughed. "It's a daily change of mood, and you better get used to it."

It was so very perfect for our baby's room, and for this house.

For the beginning of our family.

"I love every piece of this room."

"I figured we could talk to August over at Ladybug Treasures about the rest of the furniture, but this is a good start."

"It's a perfect start. I love you so much."

"That's a good thing, because I'm entirely sure I love you more."

"Not a chance." I held onto him for another minute before slipping away. "I think I need to thank you properly."

"Now that part I can agree with."

I took his hand and led him to the door. I looked back just before closing the door and saw the rocking chair slowly begin to rock back and forth.

"Have a good night, Harriette."

And I closed the door.