Second Epilogue

Archer–three years later

The late afternoon sun filters through the trees, casting a warm golden glow across the porch. I lean back in my chair, the wood creaking beneath me, and look out at the yard. Blaze is running around with his toy truck, dirt flying in every direction, and his laughter echoes through the crisp air. It's one of those sounds that cuts right through you, making everything else feel like it's in the right place.

I glance over at Bella, sitting beside me, her hand resting on her pregnant belly, and something tightens in my chest. Three years. That's all it's been since she walked into my life, and somehow, it feels like forever and no time at all. She's here, with me, and every time I look at her, I get hit with that same gut-punch of disbelief that she's mine.

Bella lets out a contented sigh, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Can you believe how far we've come?"

Her voice is soft, filled with that familiar mix of wonder and confidence, like she's still wrapping her mind around everything we've built. And yeah, I feel it too. The inn is fully renovated, standing proud against the backdrop of Copper Mountain, a symbol of everything we've put into it. But it's more than that. It's the life we've built here—the family.

I press a kiss to the top of her head, my arm wrapping around her shoulders, pulling her in closer. "I knew we'd get here," I murmur against her hair. "Just had to make sure you didn't run away."

She laughs, nudging me playfully. "I think you're stuck with me now."

My hand slides down to rest over hers on her belly, feeling the subtle movement beneath her skin. Our daughter, Alivia, growing inside her. A new life, another part of us, just waiting to make her entrance into the world. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Bella looks up at me, her eyes soft but filled with that spark of amusement that's never far from the surface. "You're getting soft, Steele."

I raise an eyebrow, my lips curling into a slow grin. "Not when it counts."

Her laugh this time is deeper, warmer, and it sends a shiver through me. "You never stop, do you?"

"Not with you," I say, my voice dropping lower, teasing, because the truth is, I can't resist her. Even now, with Blaze tearing up the yard and her belly swollen with our second kid, I still want her with the same intensity that I did the first time I laid eyes on her.

I press a kiss to her forehead and tweak her nipple at the same time.

"Ouch! They're so sensitive right now!" She giggles and rubs at her sore nipple.

Before I can throw some witty comeback her way, Bella suddenly gasps, her hand flying to her stomach. My entire body goes rigid, my attention snapping to her face, the playful banter evaporating in an instant.

"What's wrong?" I ask, leaning forward, every muscle tensed. "Are you okay?"

Bella's eyes are wide, her mouth slightly open in shock, but then she lets out a soft laugh, glancing up at me. "My water just broke."

For a split second, I just stare at her, processing her words, and then everything clicks into place. "Shit." I stand, scooping her up into my arms before she can protest, her body soft and familiar against mine.

She laughs again, her arms wrapping around my neck. "You're not seriously going to carry me, are you?"

I grin down at her, even as my heart pounds with adrenaline. "What? You don't think I can handle it?"

Bella smirks, resting her head against my chest. "I think you just want to play the hero."

"Maybe," I say, starting to move toward the door. "But it's your fault for marrying one."

She rolls her eyes, but I can feel the way her body relaxes into mine. And that's when it hits me—the mixture of excitement, nerves, and something more. Something solid, like the connection between us has grown even deeper over these past years. We're about to meet our daughter, the next piece of our story, and I can't think of anything I want more than to share that moment with her.

I push through the door, carrying Bella inside as Blaze's laughter echoes from the yard. He's completely oblivious to the fact that his world's about to change again, and that thought makes me grin.

"Are you okay, mama?" I ask, half teasing, half serious. "Ready for round two?"

Bella's hand tightens around my neck, her breath coming out in a soft, shaky laugh. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

"Good," I say, my lips brushing against her forehead. "Because I've got you."

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, everything else falls away. There's a flicker of emotion there—something raw and real—and it makes me feel like I could take on anything. We've faced down storms, old bosses, family drama and doubts, but this… this feels different. It feels like the culmination of everything we've built together, everything we are.

"I'm glad I'm here," she whispers, her voice filled with a quiet kind of awe.

"Me too," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "We've got this, baby."

As I carry her upstairs, getting ready for what's about to happen, I glance out the window. The first snowflakes of the season are starting to fall, drifting down in lazy spirals, and it's like the world outside is giving us this perfect, peaceful moment to breathe before everything changes.

Inside, there's a different kind of stillness. The kind that comes from knowing you're about to step into something big, something life-altering, but you're not afraid. Because you've got the right person by your side.

"Will you text Indie and tell her to come quickly? I have a feeling this little girl is gonna come quick." Bella slides a palm over her stomach and winces. Through clenched teeth she adds, "And tell her not to tell Betty–I don't want an audience for this birth."

I chuckle, thinking how perfect is is that Betty's niece, Indie, is the new traveling midwife in Copper County. Betty's been trying to marry the Steele boys off and pressuring us to have babies since we were old enough, she would absolutely love being at the birth of our daughter if she had a chance.

As I send a quick text to Indie that it's go time, Blaze runs in from the yard, his cheeks flushed from the cold, and I see the way Bella's face lights up when he toddles over, his toy truck still clutched in his hand. "Mama!" he yells, oblivious to what's happening, but his excitement is contagious.

"Hey, big guy," I say, setting Bella down on the bed for a moment to give her a break. "You ready to meet your sister?"

Blaze's eyes go wide, and he grins, not fully understanding but excited anyway. Bella reaches out to him, pulling him close, her hand brushing over his soft hair. "You're gonna be a big brother," she says softly, her voice full of love.

I watch them, my heart swelling with something that feels bigger than I can put into words. This is my family—my world—and I'd do anything for them.

As Bella winces, another contraction hitting, I move back to her side, taking her hand in mine. "Time to go, mama."

She squeezes my hand, her eyes meeting mine with that same fierce determination I've come to love. "Let's do this."

And just like that, we're on the verge of welcoming the next chapter of our lives. The snow falls outside, blanketing the world in white, but inside, there's nothing but warmth, love, and the knowledge that whatever comes next, we'll face it together.

I lean down, kissing Bella's forehead, my voice low but steady. "We've got this," I whisper, and in that moment, I know it's true. I cup her stomach in my palms, then place a kiss at her navel. "I was wired to love you, baby. All three of you. It's the only thing I was put on this Earth to do. Forever."

The End.

Read the next book in the Men of Copper Mountain series here.