Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Two weeks later, Smutties Bookstore

I heard Wilson laugh at something Asher said.

My grandmother’s eyes sliced to me. Then she slowly smiled.

“You’ve done well, child.”

I had.

I couldn’t say in the last few weeks Wilson had had a total personality transplant—not that I wanted him to change—but I had heard him laugh quite a bit. He was the same Wilson, just not as uptight. He smiled more, joked with his friends, and didn’t shy away from discussing his past.

I’d learned a great deal about Barbara and her parents. The situation was tragic at best, but honestly it was terrifying to think that someone would go to such lengths to hide mental illness. I hated that more than anything. Wilson had told me about the letter she’d written him. He’d also told me after all these years of keeping it he’d burned it. Then he’d admitted he had a photo album. He’d told me this like it was a horrible secret.

He hadn’t been with me when I’d gone through the pictures, but he had given me permission to look through it. He wanted to throw it away. That wasn’t happening and one day, when he was ready, I wanted him to look through the pictures with me. Barbara was a gorgeous blonde who barely came to his shoulders. She was the opposite of me as far as looks. Flawless pale skin, blue eyes that were much lighter than Wilson’s. They made a beautiful couple. He shared fifteen years with her, and I wasn’t going to allow him to hide her away.

But that was a mountain to conquer for another day.

One step at a time.

“Did you get caught up?” Letty asked with a sleeping baby Maverick in her arms. “Or were you too busy doing the…” Her gaze fell to my grandmother sitting next to me. “Um… dishes.”

“Letty Kent,” my grandmother started. “Do you think I’m under the notion that my granddaughter isn’t having sexual relations with that hunk of a man?”

I loved and adored my grandmother. Living close to her meant I got to spend much-needed time with her. It also meant I was close enough for her to impart her wisdom in person. It was fabulous; I was enjoying every minute I could with her.

But I was not discussing my sex life with her.

Ever.

“Gram,” I groaned. “Please don’t.”

“What is it exactly you don’t want me to do? You know your grandfather and I had relations frequently. He had a very healthy sex drive.”

I was pretty sure I could’ve lived out the rest of my life not knowing that and been better off.

“If I cover my ears and sing lalalala will anyone think less of me?” I asked the women sitting around me waiting for the book club to start.

Sloane, Mia, Jane, and Sadie were all giving me big eyes. I took that as a no, they felt my pain. Brooklyn was smiling telling me she was enjoying my grandmother torturing me. Letty was now silent. Which was suspect—the woman always had something snarky to interject.

“Motherhood’s made her soft,” Brooklyn whispered conspiratorially when she noticed me staring up at Letty.

“Princess, I’m leaving.”

I glanced up at Wilson.

He might’ve been speaking to me but he was staring down at baby Maverick.

The sweet look on his face threatened to make my ovaries explode.

I did a quick look around the bookstore.

This was now my life—a group of great women who were quickly becoming close friends, my gram, my man, his friends.

I had a new job at the resort—one that didn’t include planning sex parties but weddings instead.

Life was good.

No, better than good—it was great.

The only pall was my father. He’d been smug when I told him I was leaving Vegas and disappointed I was moving to Idaho. After a twenty-minute lecture about how I was wasting my life, I’d hung up. And hadn’t answered the last two calls.

One day I’d need to patch things up with the Good Doctor, but that was for later.

Now I was simply enjoying my new life.

“Kiss before I go,” Wilson demanded.

I slid off the couch, shuffled between the chairs, and went to my man. When I was within reaching distance he tagged me around the back of the neck and gave me a long, wet kiss that was entirely inappropriate.

When he broke the kiss and looked down at me, his blue eyes happy, I no longer cared my grandmother had witnessed Wilson making out with me.

“Enjoy your book club,” he said as he swiped his thumb over my lips.

Suddenly communing with my friends no longer held the same appeal as going home and having Wilson all to myself.

Then in a very un-Wilson move he winked before he let me go.

Wilson McCray winking.

Holy Hannah.

“Mrs. S.” Wilson dipped his chin. “See you in a bit.”

“Willy, child, don’t you think it’s time you call me Gram?”

Willy?

Oh. My. God.

I felt Wilson’s body start to shake before his laughter rang out.

The others followed.

My grandmother’s smile said she was right proud of herself.

Yes. I was living the good life.

* * *

Wilson and Atlee’s house.One year later.

“It’s amazing how you never get any better,” Davis said around a mouthful of brownie.

River tossed his cards on the felt and flipped Davis off.

“Are you gonna share?” River grumbled, pointing at the chocolate squares Mrs. S had made.

“Make you a bet.” Davis smiled. “You win this next hand and you can have the last three.”

Davis’s brownies were safe. In all the years we’d been playing poker River rarely won a hand.

Reese chuckled from his side of the table as he stacked the chips he’d just won.

“Laugh it up, asshole,” River quipped. “I see you’ve been spending too much time in your wife’s bakery.”

Reese patted a nonexistent gut and smiled.

“She’s still got the best buns around.”

“I heard that,” Sadie called from the couch where she was feeding their newborn daughter Jolee. “That pick-up line was cheesy back then and it’s no better today.”

“Says the woman holding my baby,” he muttered.

“I married you because you’re hot, Reese. Not for your charm.”

I glanced around taking in the crush of people filling the huge living room. After months of searching, Atlee had found this house and fell in love with it. It hadn’t been my favorite until I watched her face light up as we did a walkthrough. It was a house meant for entertaining, something Atlee loved to do. We frequently had everyone over for no reason other than Atlee loved having family around. The house was big with an in-law suite. We’d offered it to Mrs. S but she’d refused. She liked her apartment. Atlee was disappointed but understood her grandmother enjoyed her independence and there would come a time when that was no longer an option. So for now, Mrs. S visited—a lot. Atlee had her grandmother whenever she wanted her and Mrs. S got what she needed.

“Oh, how times have changed,” Cole said as he shuffled the cards. “It’s like a maternity ward in here.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“Mine’s the only one not knocked up or who hasn’t,” Rhode rightly put in.

“That’s what you think,” Letty said as she stopped behind her husband’s chair.

Rhode’s gaze sliced to his wife sitting next to a very pregnant Mia.

“Something you forgot to tell me, sugar?” he asked.

“Damn, Letty, you have a big mouth,” she griped.

A baby’s sharp cry filled the room.

“That’s mine,” Jane said, standing.

“How do women do that? It could’ve been Dax,” Cole asked, referring to Asher and Sloane’s son.

That was a damn good question, one I needed to know the answer to.

“It’s a gift,” Sadie said unhelpfully.

Remington came into the living holding a squirming Maverick.

“He shat himself,” Remy announced.

“Boy,” Rhode immediately chastised.

Though it was done through a laugh.

“Gramps says it all the time,” Remy defended himself.

My attention went to my wife as she pushed herself off the couch, her rounded belly leading the way.

Christ, my wife was gorgeous and pregnancy had only added to her beauty—added to the fullness of my need for her.

Atlee had refused to “try” for a baby. Instead, she just stopped getting her birth control shot and said it would happen when it happened.

Three months later, it had happened.

I couldn’t say it hadn’t scared me shitless. What I could say was I hadn’t hidden that fear and Atlee being Atlee understood and rolled with it.

“Willy, a daddy,” Letty taunted. “Who would’ve thought?”

No truer words.

“A girl-dad,” Atlee put in as she made her way to the kitchen.

“Two princesses,” Mrs. S wrongly added.

There could only be one princess—my wife.

* * *

Treats Bakery.Two years later.

Helene Simpson sat and watched.

Sadie had closed the bakery for the day today.

A very special day.

Though something Helene had learned in her ninety-five years was there was no such thing as a special day. Every breath was special. Every minute a gift. Every sunrise and sunset a miracle to be treasured.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the birthday girl made her grand entrance in a pink sparkly dress. Her parents smiled as Jolee Turmel twirled, showing off her frilly dress.

Helene stared at the couple and smiled—how right she’d been all those years ago. Reese had worked hard, he’d proven time and time again he would protect his lioness but always knew when to step back and allow her to shine. And shine she did—Sadie was glowing, as a well-loved woman should.

“Gigi.” Helene felt a tiny fist pounding on her knee and looked down at the toddler.

“Sheesh, child, manners.” She feigned disapproval.

Big brown eyes stared up at her, reminding Helene of days gone by when an identical set used to look up at her the same way—full of mischief and wonder.

Chloe McCray was a spitting image of her mother.

“Gigi,” Chloe repeated.

“Wilson, would you be a love and set my girl on my lap please?”

“Dada.” Chloe clapped.

The child might look like her mother but she clung to her father.

“Do you want to sit with Gigi, angel?”

“Gigi.”

Wilson swung his daughter into his arms. Chloe immediately squealed in delight.

The man who Helene had met was a shadow of his former self. Oh, he was still the pillar of strength he always was, he was still the leader among great men, but the hard edges had been smoothed—Atlee had seen to that. He was a man smitten with his princess and angel and it showed.

Wilson set a squirming Chloe in her lap. But before he pulled away he very quietly told her, “We’re having a boy.”

Another blessing in a room full of precious gifts.

“You’ll need to open a daycare center for all these hellions.”

Wilson’s gaze went to the crowded bakery. An unpracticed eye would think he was looking over the children who were running around.

Maverick Kent the ringleader—as per usual. The girls: Isabella Wright and Emily Keniston, chasing him while Slade Daley looked on. Remington was far too old to participate in the shenanigans. He stood by his pregnant Aunt Letty.

But Helene knew Wilson wasn’t watching the children. Nor was he paying attention to his teammates or the group of pregnant women.

He was searching for his princess. And when he found her the smile on his face could only be described as serene.

The look of a man who had survived hell and found peace.

As the party went on around her, the beauty of the day took hold.

My beautiful Lenny.

Just a whisper of a voice in her mind.

I’m almost ready, Clive.

I’ll be waiting, my love.

There was one thing Helene needed to do before she was ready.

One more gift to receive—a baby boy to welcome.

Then she’d be ready to reunite with her one and only.

* * *

Rhode and Brooklyn’s backyard.Nine years later.

“It’s a good thing Rhode and Brook had the foresight to buy a house with so much land,” I muttered to Wilson.

“This was all he ever wanted. His land, his family, a place for his friends to gather,” my husband returned.

I knew that was the truth, if everyone wasn’t at our house, we were here. Rhode and Brooklyn also had a beautiful cabin in the mountains. Over the years Wilson had taken us up there, but it wasn’t a place to host a party such as this; it was a peaceful getaway.

The kids loved it up there. So did Wilson; there was no cell reception which meant Chloe couldn’t spend all day texting on her phone. Not that she didn’t easily trade her phone for her dad’s attention, she was a total daddy’s girl. But now that she was eleven, Wilson knew she had boys interested in her and to him, her phone was the means in which they—in his words—attempted to corrupt his angel.

There were tables set for lunch but for now everyone was waiting for Remington, Brooklyn, and Rhode to come home so we could start the celebration.

“When’s Raiden gonna get here?” my son asked.

Letty and River’s second son, Raiden, Reese and Sadie’s son, Davis, and Micha were inseparable and had been since they were toddlers. The three boys had been born within weeks of each other. It had been a crazy month.

“Soon. Why aren’t you playing with Davis?”

“Because he’s mad at me because I said he couldn’t marry Raine because I am.”

Oh, boy.

Davis and Jane’s second daughter, Raine, was two months younger than the boys.

“I told him he could marry Avery but Raine was mine,” Micha continued.

Avery was the third Wright girl and two years younger than her sister.

I had heard the stories about Davis wanting a big family and why. I wasn’t sure how big a herd was but after baby number five, Jane had declared her womb was closed for business. Three girls and two boys with the youngest being three was a lot to handle, or it would be if your name wasn’t Jane and you didn’t have a husband who devoted every waking moment to his children.

There was no doubt he loved his wife, but he lived for those kids.

I heard Wilson chuckle and tipped my gaze from Micha to his father.

“I think you need to speak to your son.”

“About what?”

“He’s too young to claim a woman, Wilson. He’s nine.”

“If I was his age and saw you, I’d stake my claim, too.”

God.

This man.

He never fails to make my insides melt.

“I don’t want the boys fighting over a girl.”

“Princess, they’re nine, they’re boys, they’re as close as brothers, they’re gonna argue and fight. They’ll work it out.”

Funny how his son would work it out, but if his angel was the slightest bit miffed by something the world was coming to an end.

Speaking of Chloe.

“Your daughter and Dax—”

I smiled at my husband’s growl before I could finish what I was saying.

“Dax Noble knows my girl is off-limits. They’re eleven.”

Indeed they were, along with Jolee, Isabella, and Slade Daley. But that didn’t mean that Chloe hadn’t staked her claim.

“A smart girl knows when to stake her claim, too, Daddy.”

“Son, go find your sister and ask her to come here.”

Micha smiled up at his dad and ran off.

“You just can’t help yourself, can you?” I laughed.

Wilson’s hand went to the back of my neck, his fingers curling the way I loved, and he dipped his mouth to my ear.

“I like your dress, princess,” he whispered. “I’m gonna like it even more when I bend you over and flip it up before I fuck you in it.”

All these years later and still all it took was a few whispered words for Wilson to set me on fire.

It didn’t take long for Micha to drag his sister away from Dax.

“Hi, Daddy,” Chloe chirped.

I glanced up at my husband and waited—I knew it was coming, it happened every time his daughter was close, but changed slightly when she called him ‘Daddy’—he looked like he’d just hit heaven. This was the only way to describe it.

Wilson slid an arm around his girl.

I pulled my son close and didn’t have to lean down as far as I once did to kiss the top of his head.

“Mama?” Micha called.

“Yeah, baby?”

“I love you.”

“Love you more.”

After I’d moved to Coeur d’Alene it hadn’t taken me long to finally understand what Gram had been trying to explain to me all those years—the love my father had for my mother had been all encompassing. When he lost her, he lost himself. That wasn’t to say I agreed with how he handled it by shutting me out of his life. But as a woman who loved deeply, I got it. I couldn’t say I was any closer to my father now, however he made an effort with his grandchildren and never lectured me about what he thought of my life. He was just there, in the background, still holding himself apart. At times it made me sad, all the things he’d missed out on, I couldn’t imagine not having that time with Chloe and Micha. But it was what it was.

Life was life and through all the ups and downs, Wilson was there next to me.

“Look! Raiden’s here.” Micha happily bounced in front of me.

“I see.”

And I did. It was hard to miss the Kent boys. At twelve, Maverick was already taller than his mother. At nine, Raiden was inching his way up, closing in on Letty. Much to Letty’s excitement both boys got their father’s icy blue eyes. As they got older their hair was getting darker—not Letty’s black, but a dark brown. The boys were a handsome mix for sure.

Behind the Kent family, Letty’s parents, Michael and Tally, walked out the back door smiling. Rhode, Brooklyn, Slade, and Remington followed.

Remington Daley—the man of the hour.

“I did it!” Remy shouted.

The young man hadn’t changed a bit from the boy I’d met.

The backyard erupted into cheers.

“Remington Steel, high school graduate,” Asher whooped from his place next to the patio.

His arm was around Sloane, Dax standing close.

“Before we celebrate, I want to say something,” Remy declared, his gaze going around the backyard.

Brooklyn looked up at her son. My friend’s smile was so big and bright it filled me to bursting with happiness.

“The best day of my life was the day my dad came into Aunt Letty’s bookstore looking for my mom,” he started. “Not that my life wasn’t perfect before he showed up. I have the best mom in the world. She gave me Aunt Letty and Gramps and Grandma and I always knew she loved me. But the day my dad showed up, he gave me all of you.” Remington stopped, pulled in a breath and searched the crowd until he found who he was looking for. “He gave me Uncle Reese who taught me there’s always something to look forward to.”

I glanced over to the Turmel family—Reese had Sadie in the curve of his arm. Jolee, Davis, and Hazel huddled close, all smiling at their dad. And yes, Sadie named her only son after Davis Wright, the man who had saved her life. Reese was fully on board with the name, seeing as if it wasn’t for Davis, he wouldn’t have his wife or his children.

“He gave me my Uncle Asher,” Remy went on. “Who helped me pass four years of math class with his wicked smarts. I think I can admit now, he did most of my homework for me.”

Rhode shook his head and smiled. The rest of us laughed at the confession.

Remy went back to looking around.

“He gave me my Uncle Davis who taught me all of his best comebacks and always made time to cheer me up and cheer me on.”

Jane shifted Rhys to her other hip and pressed closer to her husband. Isabella, Raine, Avery, and Emmett did the same.

“He gave me my Uncle Cole who always knows exactly the right thing to say when I need to hear it.”

Cole dipped his chin. Emily tipped her head back to smile up at her dad. Mia proudly scooted closer to her husband.

“He gave me my Uncle Wilson who taught me what real strength looks like.”

I felt Wilson stiffen next to me. My arm slid around his back and I pressed into his side.

“My Uncle Jack.” Remy found Jack standing off to the side with Jet Brasco. Unfortunately his wife and family couldn’t make the trip from California. “Who proved that real family shows up and not just for the big stuff. Even after they move away they don’t stop being family.”

I heard Wilson clear his throat and looked around, pausing on each man.

The Takeback family.

The team my husband had once led as merely the leader, now he was fully one of them. He no longer held himself apart. They were all truly brothers, in every sense of the word.

“Today I graduated. I have this piece of paper that says I passed a bunch of classes. But the truth is, everything I needed to learn to be the man I want to be came from all of you. From my dad. My gramps once told me that if I wanted to know how to be a good father, a good husband, all I had to do was watch how my father treated my mother. He also told me if I wanted to know what kind of a woman I needed I should pay attention to the women in my life. Thankfully, I was given strong, sweet, protective, smart aunts who taught me not only what I want but how to be the man my future wife will need.”

Remy paused. His gaze came to me and I froze.

“I miss her,” he softly said, speaking directly to me. I felt wet hit my eyes and the ball of grief that would never go away tightened. “She taught me something that at the time I didn’t understand, something that as I get older I reckon I’ll come to realize is the most valuable lesson I could ever learn. Every breath we get is a blessing. Every moment we share with our family is a moment worth celebrating. So with that, we’re celebrating. Not the piece of paper. But family.”

“Christ, that kid is smart,” Wilson muttered and held me tight.

Through the whoops and cheers I stood with my family knowing that Gram would’ve loved hearing Remy’s speech. She would’ve loved being here watching all the kids run around, basking in the glory of the families we’d created.

I love you, child.

Just a whisper of a voice I heard regularly.

“Was Remy talking about Gigi?” Chloe asked.

“Yeah, sweet girl, he was,” I answered.

The crowd was moving around, making their way to congratulate Remy.

I stayed where I was.

Micha shifted to look up at me.

“Can I go play with Raiden now?”

“Yeah, baby.”

Chloe waited until her dad nodded at her unasked question and trotted off.

“You okay?”

“Yep.”

“Princess.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “I miss her.”

Wilson turned me and wrapped his strong arms around me.

My cheek rested on his chest, the sound of his heartbeat lulling me as the pain slowly receded.

“Ready to go see Remington?” I asked.

“I’m ready when you are.”

That was my husband. He was only ready when I was.

“I love you, Wilson McCray.”

His hand slipped up my back, curled around the back of my neck, and pulled my face off his chest. And only when he had my eyes did he say, “Until my last breath, I love you, Atlee McCray.”

I felt that truth down to my soul.

A truth he never let me forget.

Not for one second in our lives together had I ever doubted his love.

“This is a celebration—”

“Every day is a celebration,” he corrected. “Every moment, every breath, every time you smile at me. Every morning I wake up next to you. Every night when you crawl into bed next to me. Make no mistake, princess, I revel in the miracle of you.”

With no words to properly convey all that meant to me.

I did the only thing I could do.

I kissed my husband.

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