Epilogue

EPILOGUE

HALEY

One Year Later

" Y ou can put her down, you know."

Hugh paces the floor of the apartment, our newborn daughter, Hannah, held so carefully in his arms. I gave birth just a week ago, and not only does Hugh believe I shouldn't walk a single step, but he also seems to think that Hannah needs to be held every minute of her life.

"I want her to know that her daddy is always here," Hugh tells me, and I roll my eyes, even as fierce love for the two of them fills my heart. There could be no better man to be a father to little Hannah.

"Oh, something tells me she knows, Hugh," I giggle, watching my husband look adoringly down at our daughter before reluctantly laying the sleeping baby in her bassinet. Right next to our bed, of course.

After Hugh proposed, everything seemed to move in fast forward. We were married in a month, and I was probably pregnant within two. The move to LA went quicker than I expected since Hugh sold his Seattle house and all the furniture in one fell swoop. He let me decorate the new penthouse, buying all new things and having them installed before we even moved in.

I'm still taking online classes and working short shifts at a family-owned bookstore, much to Hugh's chagrin, until I have my degree and can open my own. Well, I was working until I got too pregnant to move through the stacks. I'm in no hurry to go back, but I do miss the smell of the books. At least a little.

Hugh is thriving at his new job, and his hours are shorter, too. We spend our days making love, exploring the city, and just reveling in the perfect life we've created. Nothing could be better than this. Nothing. Especially now that sweet little Hannah is here.

Hugh settles on the bed next to me, peeking at the baby one more time before he finally relaxes. Pulling me against him, he kisses the top of my head, and I melt against his warm body. It's so nice to be home from the hospital, surrounded by everything that I love.

I've almost drifted off to sleep when I hear him murmur, "I want more."

I open one eye to look at him. "More what?"

I snort a laugh, taken off guard. "Goodness, Hugh, give me a minute to rest, why don't you?"

I feel his breath against my neck as he chuckles. "Yeah, yeah. When you're ready, though, I'm going to put another baby in you right away."

We won't be able to have sex for months yet, but his words still make me shiver. I'll have to seriously think about having another kid as soon as possible, but the process of getting pregnant…that I thoroughly enjoy.

"Maybe," I acquiesce. "I'll have to ask my doctor."

Hugh plants a kiss on my jaw and then my mouth before telling me, "You just did. I say yes."