EXTENDED EPILOGUE

SEVEN YEARS LATER

TANNER

“Don’t move a single inch.”

Bailey gives me an incredulous look. “I’m tied naked to our bed. Where in the world would I go?”

I walk to my drawer and grab a pair of black sweatpants. She whines, “If you’re going to leave me high and wet, the least you can do is wear gray sweatpants.”

I replace the black ones with a gray pair. “Anything else, dear?”

She bites her lip. “No top.”

I raise an eyebrow as I pull up the sweatpants, and she giggles.

She tugs on her restraints. “You know you can’t leave me like this. We’re seconds away from—"

As if on cue, an intruding voice shouts, “Mommy! I need you!”

I exhale a long breath, knowing my morning fun is officially over. I was hoping to head it off. I yell back, “Mommy is tied up right now, Dani.” I wink at Bailey, and she rolls her eyes. “She’ll be down in a minute. Get yourself dressed today.”

Bailey’s eyes widen. “Oh god, don’t let her dress herself. Who knows what she’ll come up with?”

I chuckle as I untie Bailey’s restraints. We got lucky with Lorelei and Rory, but six-year-old Dani is a chip off her aunt’s block. She’s Kam reincarnate and lives to drive me crazy, just like her aunt.

When Bailey sits up in bed, I run the back of my fingers over her cheek. “Only a T-shirt for you, sweet girl. Don’t otherwise get dressed. Our morning isn’t over. It’s merely on pause.”

She pinches her eyebrows together. “Are you driving the girls to school?”

I shake my head as my hands can’t help but run all over her body. “I texted Fallon and Harper. Harper is coming by to take them.”

Bailey’s face lights up. “Oh good, I’ll make her breakfast too. It’s a big day.”

Tonight is Harper’s high school state championship softball game. It’s her senior year. This will be the last game that Bailey ever coaches for her. Since the Olympics ended, she’s coached every single game of Harper’s. Bailey has been an emotional wreck about it all week.

I rub her arm. “It’s a big day for you too. Are you okay?”

Tears fill her eyes, but she straightens her shoulders. “I’m fine. I’ll be able to spend more time on Lorelei’s softball and Rory’s basketball.”

Rory prefers basketball to softball, and we haven’t forced anything. Dani just started playing basketball too and seems to like it. We’re certainly letting the girls do the activities they prefer. We even suggested non-sport activities. All three girls laughed in our faces.

I nod. “I’ll deal with Dani. You deal with breakfast.” As I’m about to exit the room, I turn back. “Don’t forget, only a T-shirt.”

She gives me a sexy smile. “Yes, Daddy.”

My dick twitches in my pants. Her eyes immediately find it, and her smile widens knowing what she just did to me.

I grumble as I adjust myself and walk out of the bedroom.

Thirty minutes later, we’re in the full morning swing. Bailey is at the stove, the three girls are eating fruit, and my hands are back on my wife where they belong.

I turn my head to Dani. “Did you use the bathroom this morning?” In always trying to keep up with her big sisters, she’s managed to have the same issue Harper used to have. Once again, my linen closet is full of word of the day toilet paper.

Her eyes widen. It means she didn’t do as she was supposed to. “Yep. I went,” she lies.

“Oh really? What was the word of the day?” I challenge.

“Umm…well…” She lifts her juice in one hand and Rory’s in another. “Irish handcuffs.”

Bailey snorts in laughter as she simply shakes her head. “I don’t know, Dan, that sounds more like an Aunt Kam term, not a toilet paper term.”

I whisper in Bailey’s ear. “Isn’t that an Urban Dictionary term for when someone is holding two alcoholic beverages?”

She giggles as she nods.

“Your sister is briefing our six-year-old on the Urban Dictionary. Am I the only one who has an issue with that?”

She giggles again, always indulgent of Kamryn’s crazy.

I look at my youngest daughter. “Dani, don’t listen to Aunt Kamryn. She’s a wacko.”

Dani shakes her head. “Aunt Kam said we’re candied spirits.”

“Kindred spirits?” I ask.

She gives me a toothless smile. “Yes. That one.”

I hear the front door open and then close before Harper’s voice sings out, “Ooh, I smell pineapple pancakes.”

Dani gasps as she practically leaps down from the chair. “Harper’s here!” She paddles her little feet toward the foyer area where I can hear them happily embrace. All three girls worship the ground Harper walks on, and she, in turn, is an amazing big sister.

A few seconds later Harper walks in with Dani on her hip. She immediately scoffs. “Ugh. Stop groping Bails in front of my little sisters, Dad.”

Dani asks, “What’s groping?”

Harper answers, “When Dad has his hands on your mommy.”

Lorelei nods. “Oh, then he gropes Mommy a lot. Like all the time.”

Harper adds, “And put on a shirt, Dad. No one needs to see that much gray this early in the morning.”

Bailey turns around and points her spatula at Harper. “Don’t knock the gray. I love it.”

I smile in satisfaction at my eighteen-year-old. She playfully narrows her eyes at me in return.

Harper has blossomed into a beautiful woman, both inside and out. She now looks like Fallon’s clone with her blonde hair and blue eyes, but on the inside, I like to think she’s a mix of all her parents, both biological and not. She’s smart and kind. Compassionate and giving. And talented beyond measure. She’s an all-around great kid.

I reluctantly remove my hands from Bailey as she begins to pile the pancakes onto a platter, and we all sit at the kitchen table.

We’re chatting away when Rory looks up at Harper. “What’s that on your neck? Did you get hit by a softball?”

Harper’s eyes widen as she immediately covers the mark with her hand. My jaw tics in both terror and anger. “Is that a hickey?”

Rory asks, “What’s a hickey?”

Bailey lets out a laugh. “Umm…a love bite.” She smiles at Harper. “Is Luke home?”

Harper’s boyfriend of two years, Luke O’Connell, was mercifully away at college this year, though he did come home for her senior prom a few weeks ago. He attends a college across the country and originally said he couldn’t come to the prom, which devastated her, but he flew in at the last minute to surprise her. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her as happy as she was when he walked through the door in his tuxedo with about three dozen roses for her. Smooth motherfucker.

He's Cassandra and Trevor’s nephew. He has more game at nineteen than any man I’ve ever known. His friends call him Casanova O’Connell, and he’s the bane of my existence. Not because he mistreats my daughter. Just the opposite. He treats her like a queen and she’s puddy in his hands. Ugh.

Harper visibly swallows, still covering her neck, and cautiously answers, “Yes, he came home last night. He had his last final and jumped onto the first flight because he didn’t want to miss the game tonight.”

Bailey clutches her chest. “Aww. He’s so sweet.” Another woman besotted by Don Juan O’Connell.

Just then, I hear the front door open and close again. Fallon’s six-year-old daughter, Kendra, comes running in straight to Bailey, who immediately pulls Kendra onto her lap and covers her in kisses. “Hi, Kennie. Are you hungry?”

She nods and yells, “Aunt Bailey’s pancakes!” as Bailey quickly begins making her a plate.

Fallon walks in a few seconds later with her three-year-old son, JJ, on her hip. “Hey. Sorry, but Harper forgot her uniform.”

Harper has a sheepish look. “My bad. I could have swung by and picked it up.”

Fallon gives her a knowing look. “I needed to talk to your father anyway.”

Harper gives a fearful, knowing nod. “And…that’s my cue to leave. Everyone pile into my car. I’ll take Kennie too.”

Fallon nods. “Dani, I’ll pick you up from school with Kennie. You two have basketball practice, but we have to leave early to get to Harper’s game. No shenanigans from you two.”

Dani and Kendra smile at each other. They’re the best of friends and co-conspirators in all things mischievous.

The girls all follow Harper out the door, leaving me, Bailey, Fallon, and JJ, who’s happily distracted eating Kendra’s leftover pancakes.

Fallon blows out a breath. “Don’t freak out, Tanner, but I feel like I need to let you know that when I went into Harper’s room this morning to tell her she needed to get up early to drive her sisters, Luke was in her bed.”

I suck in a breath, and my head starts spinning. I grit out, “That fucker is a dead man.”

Fallon rolls her eyes. “Stop the dramatics. Obviously they’re having sex, but I am not okay with him sleeping over when her siblings are in the next room.”

“What do you mean ‘obviously they’re having sex’?”

I feel Bailey’s hand rubbing my back. “Babe, they’re eighteen and nineteen. They’ve been together for two years. What did you think was happening? They’re being safe. Fallon and I took her to get birth control pills last year when it was time. The three of us had a long conversation about it. She went in eyes wide open.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

Bailey and Fallon share bemused looks.

“Why wasn’t I included in this little chat? I would have put an end to it, not encouraged it.”

Fallon sighs. “That’s exactly why you weren’t included. Anyway, I just felt like I needed to tell you. They’re going to be at school together in the fall doing whatever they want, but I have a feeling this summer is going to test all of us. I just want us all to communicate.”

Bailey nods. “We will. Are you sure you’ve got Dani today? It’s a huge help. I need to be at the field early and Tanner is managing the twins’ activities.”

Fallon nods. “Of course.” She stands. “I need to get JJ to preschool and get myself to work. I’ll see you two at the game.” She gives me a look of warning. “Be nice to Luke. Don’t make me regret telling you.”

My face twitches. “Hmm. We’ll see.”

She smiles at Bailey. “Good luck with that.”

Bailey giggles. “I think I might need it.”

Fallon leaves, and Bailey looks at me. “Don’t get crazy about this. You were doing worse things at eighteen. Harper is a good kid with a good head on her shoulders. They’re in a healthy, happy relationship. He treats her well. More than well. You know that.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I can’t break her confidence, or she’ll stop confiding in me. I understand why Fallon had to tell you today, but unless there’s a safety concern, I’m not telling you things you don’t need to know. Harper has to trust me.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “This is a lot to take in and it’s not even eight in the morning yet.”

She runs her hands up my leg. “I know how to take your mind off it. After I clean up, why don’t we pick up where we left off.”

I quickly lift her off her chair and onto my lap as she screeches. “Funny that you think you’re in control.”

She moves to straddle my body and runs her fingers through my beard as she grinds her hips over me. I can feel her warmth run over my rapidly hardening cock. “Daddy can have control if he wants.”

And…now I’m fully hard.

Our lips meet. She tastes like pancakes, pineapple, and Bailey. A perfect combination.

I stand and place her on the kitchen counter. Our lips break apart and she smiles. “This is the exact spot where we had sex that first night.”

“Hmm. A good memory. My addiction to you began that night. Too bad I’m not wearing a tie. I wouldn’t mind seeing you with your hands tied to that cabinet again while I have my wicked way with you.”

She lifts her hips and shimmies off her panties, offering them to me. “You can use this to tie me up and have your wicked way with me, Mr. Montgomery.”

I lick my lips and do just that.

That evening, we’re at the state championship softball game. I see so many familiar faces in the crowd, including Arizona, Layton, Ripley, and a gaggle of other players all here to support Harper. We’re lucky for our amazingly supportive circle of friends.

Fallon arrives with Dani and Kendra just as the game is about to start. Some of the older kids offer to take them over to the playground so that we can focus on the game.

Fallon loops her arm through mine. “This feels crazy, doesn’t it? Her last game.”

I twist my lips. “It’s not really her last game. She’s playing in college next year.”

Harper had a ton of scholarship offers but ultimately chose UCLA because that’s where Bailey went, and she’s always been laser-focused on doing the same. She said it’s now a family tradition. Bailey and Kamryn were over the moon with the decision. We’re going to buy a condo out there so we can go to as many games as possible.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.”

I feel Fallon squeeze my arm. She mumbles, “Be nice,” as I see Luke approaching the stands. He’s a good-looking little shit with messy light brown hair and Cassandra’s same ice-blue eyes. He’s walking with his best friend, Scott, who also happens to be Andie’s boyfriend. I see Beckett scowl in their direction and Amanda pinching his arm in the same manner Fallon is pinching mine.

I growl, “He looks smug.”

“No, he doesn’t. Don’t be an ass. He’s a good kid.”

He walks up into the stands and kisses Fallon’s cheek before offering me his hand. “Hi, Mr. Montgomery. It’s good to see you.”

I grind my teeth through a small smile and shake his hand in return. Hard. Very hard. I give him an I know you were up to last night look. Suave James Bond doesn’t break stride as his perfect, white-toothed smile remains intact and he sits next to Fallon. Within minutes he’s got all the moms in the stands giggling like schoolgirls. What is it about this kid?

BAILEY

The game is underway, and it’s as tight as Kam and I suspected it would be. Kam is my sometimes-assistant coach. She has a lot going on and doesn’t like to overly commit. But with this being Harper’s final season, she wanted to coach with me. Our last dance with Harper, Andie, and a few of the other girls we’ve coached for a long time.

I keep glancing at Tanner in the stands. Only Fallon sits between him and Luke. I hope he doesn’t do something stupid.

Kam elbows me. “Stop ogling your husband and fucking focus.”

“I’m not ogling him. Fallon caught Harper and Luke in bed this morning. I’m afraid Tanner is going to strangle him.”

She lets out a laugh. “Oh shit. Get some, Harper. A little pregame action is good.”

I roll my eyes. “Can you not talk about my daughter that way? It’s creepy.”

She smiles.

“Also, stop teaching my youngest daughter Urban Dictionary terms.”

She waves her hand dismissively. “Dani is my bestie. She gets me. She’s inquisitive. You should be happy that she likes learning new words like Harper used to.”

“Beneficial words. Words that build an intelligent vocabulary. I frankly can’t contemplate a reason that my six-year-old needed to learn the term Irish Handcuffs.”

She spits in laughter. “Classic. Did she hold two drinks when she said it?”

I bite back my smile. “She did.”

“Sign of intelligence. That’s all I’m saying.”

We’re now down by one run going into the bottom of the seventh and final inning. If we don’t score a run, we’ll lose.

Andie leads off the inning with a single up the middle. It’s exactly what we needed. The next batter bunts her over to second base. Now Harper is up.

Harper has truly become one of the best players her age in the country. She’s a dual threat, being a great fielder and hitter. It’s why every top softball program in the country wanted her. She never wavered from her dream to go to UCLA like Kam and me.

I’m coaching third base and call a timeout, motioning for Harper to walk over to me. When she does, I throw my arm over her shoulders. “Don’t swing for the fences. We need one run to send it into extra innings. A single scores Andie. We don’t need a home run.”

She winks. “Got it, Coach Bails.” She then echoes her words to me from her big moment in our first championship game together. “Easy peasy lemon squeezy.”

I can’t help but smile. She’s going to swing for the fences and she’s going to hit a walk-off home run for the state championship. There’s not a single doubt in my mind.

“Love you, Harper.”

“Love you too, Bails.” She fist-bumps me as she makes her way back to the batter’s box before turning back to me and shouting, “Wouldn’t be here without you.”

God, I love this kid.

The first pitch is thrown for ball one. She then fouls off the second pitch on a monster swing. Yep, she’s swinging for the fences.

The third pitch comes in and…crack. I don’t need to watch the ball to know that it’s gone. Way gone. Home run. We win the state championship.

Harper points at me before placing her hands on her helmet and doing a little dancing twirl. The same one I did at the Olympics after my home run seven years ago. I didn’t even realize I was doing it at the time, but it went viral. It became a whole thing for softball players to do when they hit home runs. It’s been a few years since it was popular, but Harper loves to bust it out in big moments, and certainly none have been bigger for her than this one. So far.

Kam is jumping up and down as Harper passes her with a high-five at first base. She has a huge grin as she makes her way to me at third. We do our trademark low-five before she races toward a sea of her teammates at home plate, all there to congratulate her.

I look over toward the stands. Tanner and Fallon have tears in their eyes. They’re jumping up and down with all our collective kids. Our big, happy family.

This is the last time I’ll ever coach Harper. It’s a poignant moment. Happy and sad at the same time but mostly happy.

And I couldn’t have scripted it any better if I’d tried.

THE END