Raquel After everything that had happened today, my head was absolutely spinning, but right now, I didn’t care about family politics or even the future. I’d missed Theo with every fiber of my being, and for the first time in over a month, it was just him and me. I straddled his lap and kissed him hard, needing him to know how much I’d been longing to feel his arms around me again and how terrified I’d been that I never would. He groaned into my mouth and kissed me back, one hand coming up to catch my face while the other banded around me, pulling me even closer to him. “I love you,” I whispered into his mouth when it occurred to me that I hadn’t told him yet. “I love you, Theo Westwood.” He stiffened against me, then let out an actual moan and gave me a bruising kiss before he pulled back to look into my eyes. “Say it again.” “I love you.” I held the sides of his neck, my gaze fixed on his. “I’m so desperately, wildly in love with you that I didn’t even want to say it before because if I admitted it, I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to let you go.” “I love you too,” he said after just staring at me in absolute disbelief for a few long seconds. “Hopefully, you’ll never let me go because I have no intention of letting you go again. Never.” He stroked his fingers across my back, dropped both hands to my ass, and abruptly stood. Surprised laughter tore out of me, but it faded when I realized he was carrying me to our bed. Ours. The first one we’d ever sle ep on together that was meant for us to share for the night. The suite Theo had gotten us was insane, with an expansive view of the city, a sunken lounge, a tub the size of a swimming pool in the bathroom, and a truly monstrously sized bed. I wasn’t sure why the honeymoon suite had such a big bed, considering that honeymooners probably never wanted quite that much space between them, but none of those things mattered to me right now. The only thing that mattered was that this crazy, luxurious, way over the top hotel suite somehow seemed to signify the beginning of our lives together. Before, we’d either been at his place or mine. Those two things had always been s eparate, but not now. Not tonight and hopefully never again. As he laid me down on the bed, he looked at me like he’d had the same realization. Like he was suddenly feeling as protective and reverent of this moment as I was. When his mouth met mine again, his kisses had changed too, slower and gentler, but somehow more meaningful at the same time.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he murmured against my mouth. “You came to Chicago for me.” “I felt so crazy for doing it until I saw you,” I admitted quietly, opening my eyes to look into his. “Until you got here, I k ept wondering if I made a mistake.” “You didn’t.” I smiled and pushed both of my hands into his hair. “I knew that the second you walked in, Theo. Life just wasn’t the same without you and none of the differences between us seem to matter when we’re together.” “They really don’t.” He laid another kiss on my lips, then broke it to press his mouth to my eyelids, my temples, and the tip of my nose. “You’re the one. I’ve known that for a while, but you really are, Raquel. I genuinely don’t care about our differences. I think they might even be what makes us fit together so well.” Tears filled my eyes, but I arched an eyebrow at him anyway. “Look at you, getting all de ep and corny on me.” “I’m not de ep yet,” he teased, dragging his lips along the line of my jaw. “I will be soon, though.” “That’s presumptuous.” “Still true.” He reached for the hem of my sweater and lifted it off over my head, groaning when his gaze dropped to my chest. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” Both the sweater and my bra were plain cotton, a little washed out, and definitely nothing like any garment his sisters-in-law owned, but he still looked at me like he was enraptured by the sight. Slowly sliding a hand around my back, he unhooked the bra and pulled it off slowly. Then he lowered his head and pressed kisses around my breasts too. Cool air washed over my exposed skin, but I felt my chest and face flushing with the heat rising from de ep inside. My nipples formed sensitive points and Theo sucked each of them into his mouth like he was welcoming them home. I moaned and writhed underneath him, reaching for his fitted, long-sleeved Henley and pulling it off over his head. Thankfully, he’d taken the jacket off when we’d walked into the suite, so all it took to feel his skin against mine again was that one garment being removed. As soon as both our torsos were bare, he settled his weight more firmly on me, allowing me to feel his heart racing against my chest. We kissed as we rolled around on our gigantic bed, neither of us rushing but not really waiting or moving slowly either. The rest of our clothes disappeared in a flurry of hands and moans, but he started to sit up once we were both naked to look around for his pants. I caught his wrist and pulled him back to me. With the position we’d landed in, the movement made his cock slide across my folds when he let me pull him back down, and he went as rigid as a board, those eyes wide as they flew to mine.
“Fuck, Raquel. We still need a condom.” I r epositioned myself underneath him, arching my hips until his tip was nestled right against my entrance. My heart was pounding, my body aching for him to move, but this was important, so I did my best to focus through the urgent need coursing through my veins. “We don’t,” I said. “I’m on the pill and I have been for a long time. I won’t get pregnant and I trust you. I love you.” He swallowed hard, those eyes suddenly like twin green flames staring into mine. “You’re saying...” “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. We don’t need condoms anymore.” “Shit.” “Unless you want them.” He responded by planting a searing kiss on my lips and thrusting into me. Both of us moaned when he encountered no resistance whatsoever on his way in. I hooked my legs around his ass, so wet there wasn’t even a hint of discomfort. Without anything between us, Theo started trembling almost immediately. He started moving. His thrusts were slow and deliberate. His breathing was as labored as mine. I rolled my hips in time with the pace he was setting, unable to control myself. Feeling him everywhere, in all the right places, my orgasm started building very soon after. I clung to him, losing myself in his love, his kisses, and the way it felt like our bodies were melting into each other. When I felt myself approaching that point of no return, Theo’s stomach dipped against mine and he swelled de ep inside me. His kisses faltered for a just a beat as we went over the edge together. The orgasm was so intense that it made me feel boneless in its wake, leaving me a writhing, panting mess. Theo moaned my name, waiting until I’d ridden out the last of its waves before he gathered me in his arms and rolled over, setting me down on the mattress beside him. Wrapped in soft hotel sheets and with the glow of Chicago’s skyline outside our windows, I lay tucked against Theo’s side, tracing lazy circles across his chest with my fingertips. I didn’t say anything for a long time as my heart rate returned to normal and my brain went back to trying to process everything he’d said earlier. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. Avery was going to let Theo help us and Alex had approved of Theo’s plans to move to Quartz Pass. Neither of us would have to give up our families and we got to be together anyway. It was incredible. He pressed a kiss into my hair and I smiled against his shoulder before finally glancing up at him. “Now what?” His grip on my hip tightened and I honestly thought he was going to give me a thoughtful answer about the future, but instead, he rolled me onto my back and hovered over me with a devilish grin.
“Quick marriages are a family tradition for me.” My heart started racing as I stared up at him, trying my best to gauge whether he was serious. “What?” Those eyes were bright and alive, but I couldn’t find any trace of joking in them. He seemed completely sincere. “You heard me.” “Yeah, but...” I trailed off for a beat. “Well, how quick?” He chuckled, leaning down to brush his nose against mine. “Don’t worry about it. Clearly, I’m not much for family tradition.” “Is this part of what you discussed with your brother?” His fingers sw ept through my hair before he dipped his chin in a nod, his eyes never leaving mine. “Alex has approved of us, but we can still take our time and savor every st ep.” I lifted a hand to brush my thumb across his cheek. “Colin told me that Alex still wants you married, though.” “Yeah, he does, but I told you. I don’t care. I’m downright obsessed with you.” I laughed, but he remained completely serious. “No, really. I am.” My cheeks flushed. “I’m pretty obsessed with you, too.” “I want to take my time with you,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to my neck and pressing tender kisses to my skin. “I want to treat you right and really get to know what makes you tick.” I groaned. “Stop talking about me like I’m a motorcycle engine.” He pulled back to look into my eyes, then made a revving sound with his mouth. I laughed. “Oh, God. You’re ridiculous.” “I think you pronounced that wrong. Charming was the word you were looking for.” He descended on me for more kisses and I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him to me, unable to comprehend how I’d gotten so lucky. This was what I’d always wanted, someone I could be myself with completely and who loved me for exactly who I was. Someone I could laugh with until my ribs hurt and be ridiculous with without fear of judgment. Theo was all that and so much more. I didn’t care about his money or the fancy suite. I didn’t care about the giant castle he’d grown up in. Hell, I didn’t even care about the exc eptionally intimidating family he came from. All I cared about was him. Getting to be with the guy who allowed me to be every facet of myself and loved them all. I slowed our increasingly passionate kisses to a natural end and looked straight into his eyes. “If you asked, I would say yes. Whenever you’re ready.” He blinked hard, his chest stalling against my own, and he stared at me like I’d just handed him the keys to a whole new kingdom. As I looked back at him though, I knew with absolute certainty that I would be the happiest woman on earth if I got to spend my life getting lost in that gaze.
A weirdly nervous smile ghosted across his lips before he sat up, let out a long, slow exhale, and reached for my hand. “Raquel, will you marry me?” My heart nearly burst with joy, tears suddenly streaking down my cheeks. I pushed myself up on one elbow and nodded, bringing my free hand to his cheek and stroking that patch of soft skin under his eye. “Yes.” After everything we’d both been through to get here, that was really the only answer I could give. I’d flown to Chicago without even knowing how to find him, without any idea how it would play out or if there was a way we could make it work, and I’d missed him because he’d already been on his way to me in Arizona, determined to make things right, no matter what he had to give up to do it. Theo laughed and his mouth crashed back into mine, I held him tight and thanked every deity out there for having Martha give up outside of Quartz Pass. Given how much he’d traveled, the universe could’ve stranded this man literally anywhere, and instead, it’d sent him straight to me—and I was going to get to ke ep him. Forever.
Epilogue Alex Ten years ago, I never would have believed that I’d be spending a sunny afternoon stretched out on the deck of my yacht off the coast of Italy while my wife hunted down our toddler with a juice box. I definitely never would have believed that I’d be this happy about it. In fact, I was reasonably certain that I would have checked myself into a mental hospital just for trying to imagine that this could be my life. But it was. The Mediterranean stretched out around us, the azure blue water glittering in the sunshine. A warm breeze drifted across the deck, carrying the scent of salt and sunscreen on every breath I took. The entire scene was like something out of a travel brochure, and yet, the view wasn’t even the best part. The best part was Cam and Jane, my family, both of them giggling with the kind of joy that still astounded me every single day. Honestly, I couldn’t believe people could be this happy, but I knew it was true because I felt it as I watched Cam race across the deck. “Cameron,” I said to the tiny blur in a life jacket. “Not too far.” He continued barreling toward the stern, shrieking with laughter as he went. Jane appeared at my side. “Go catch him before he goes over the edge. Or you could take him swimming. That’s what he really wants anyway.” Cameron looked at us over his shoulder and immediately changed direction, the sudden alteration in course meaning that he was either already guilty of something or about to become guilty. Jane must’ve had the same thought because she narrowed her eyes and started after him. “What did you do, Cam?” He laughed and k ept running. I sighed and pushed myself up on the deck chair I’d been lounging on. “That’s not a particularly reassuring answer.” “My thoughts exactly.” She disappeared after him, presumably to grill him over the crime he must’ve committed. My guess was another sweet snuck from the kitchen and added to his stash. I’d spent most of my adult life assuming satisfaction came only from accomplishment. Happiness hadn’t even been on my radar. My sole focus had been on the company. To be fair, I hadn’t exactly been unhappy. I’d just always been moving toward the next acquisition or into another negotiation. These days, I managed to balance that with time spent at home, but the company wasn’t everything anymore. Jane and Cam were everything, the family immediately after them, and the company coming in at a distant third. For the last few years, getting my siblings married off had felt like a second full-time job, taking even more of my attention from my actual work. Charlotte’s union with Trent had been by
far the smoothest, while our brothers had given me incessant headaches when their turns had come. In the process, I’d earned myself a startling number of threats, insults, and accusations of being a tyrant. Some of those accusations had been valid, though. I could admit, at times, I had gotten a little sucked into the details, the bigger picture blurring at the edges. Thankfully, it had all worked out in the end—even if a few of my brothers had truly hated me for a while there. Jane’s laughter drifted from somewhere inside the cabin, a delighted shriek coming from Cameron seconds before a loud crash. I bolted upright in the resulting silence, scrambling to my feet just as Jane called out. “We’re fine!” I relaxed again. “What happened?” She walked out with Cameron hot on her heels, both of them grinning as she came over and settled on the wide lounge chair with me. “We had a minor mishap while I was changing him into his trunks. He might’ve knocked your laptop off the desk, but it’s fine.” Cameron beamed as he climbed into my lap. “You’re not working.” I wrapped an arm around him and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “No, buddy. I’m not working, but you didn’t have to sabotage my laptop. I promise, I’m all yours for the next month.” He clapped his hands and settled at my side, resting his head on my chest. Jane reached for her drink and took a sip before stretching her legs out and tilting her face toward the sun. “Nate, Kate, and Emma have landed. They texted to let me know that they’ll meet us at the marina in Rome when we dock tomorrow.” “I still can’t believe Nate is actually taking a vacation.” She chuckled, nodding without opening her eyes. “Kate physically searched his luggage and he hasn’t even packed a laptop. Unlike you, I might add.” I groaned. “I need to be able to get online if there’s an issue. You know this. It’s the first time since I took over that neither Nate or I are going to be at the office. I still think it’s a recipe for disaster.” She reached out and took my hand, lacing our fingers together before she squeezed it. “When was the last time your family took a vacation together, hmm? You deserve it and so do the kids. The company will be fine.” My heart tripped over itself, but what was done was done. Since Theo was engaged now, Jane insisted this was a celebration of the end of my matchmaking responsibilities. I was on cloud nine, more relaxed than I’d ever been now that I was officially off the hook. Jane was ecstatic too, but if I was being honest, I’d kind of enjoyed playing matchmaker. Even if a few of my brothers had ended up choosing for themselves in the end.
She shifted beside me, cracking open one eye to look at me. “What are you thinking about?” “How do you know I was thinking about anything?” I asked quietly, glancing down at Cam, who was right on the verge of falling asle ep with his head on my chest. “Maybe I was just zoning out.” “Nope. You were making those little sounds you make whenever you’re trying to solve a dilemma in your head.” “There’s no dilemma.” “There better not be,” she grumbled, then opened her other eye too, her fingers tightening where they were still holding mine. “What’s going on in that big brain of yours, my love? You seriously shouldn’t be thinking about work.” “I’m not.” I considered lying about what I’d really been thinking about but quickly decided against it. Jane knew me so well that she could practically read my mind, and besides, we’d always made a point of being honest with each other. “I was thinking about your brothers.” She sat up and turned to face me, her eyes widening as she held my gaze. “Oh no.” “Oh, yes,” I said, ignoring the warning in her tone. “Do you think any of them are interested in strategic marriage alliances? There are a few significant families who have reached out to me and I think—” “Alex, no.” She gave me a look that suggested she was about to throw me overboard. “Stop it.” “What?” I asked mildly. “You are on vacation,” she said, exasperation dripping from her tone. “You’re not supposed to be mentally arranging marriages while physically on a boat in Italy. For once in your life, could you just relax?” “I am relaxed,” I countered. “Besides, I’m not arranging anything yet. I’m just assessing potential compatibility.” Jane inhaled a de ep breath, her eyes sliding shut like she was silently counting to ten. “My brothers are not part of the empire you’re trying to build.” “No, but they could be.” I used my grip on her hand and tugged her closer to press a kiss to her sun-warmed forehead. “I love the way you still look at me like I’m capable of taking over the world and completely crazy at the same time.” “Does that mean you’ll give it a rest?” she asked, smiling as she brought her eyes up to mine. “Promise me that the only thing you’ll think about for the rest of the month is which drink you’re having next.” “Fine,” I said. “No more matchmaking for the rest of the trip. Unless someone expresses interest.” Jane flopped back down on her chair and shook her head. “God, you desperately need a hobby.”
“I have hobbies.” I tried to think of one to mention, but nothing came to mind immediately. “Work, for example.” “Work is not a hobby.” She let out a long sigh. “Maybe it’s time you worry about something else for a change.” “I already worry about everything else,” I said lightly. “I’m an extremely balanced worrier.” Cam shifted in my arms, fast asle ep now, and I instinctively tightened my hold on him to stop him from flipping himself off the chair. Jane noticed, smiling softly as she watched us together. As soon as I saw tears welling on her eyelids, I frowned. “Jane? What’s wrong? What just happened?” She hesitated for half a second before she sighed and her gaze locked on mine. “I’m pregnant.” For a moment, I genuinely thought I’d misheard. “Can you r epeat that?” Her smile widened, a single tear now clinging to the very corner of one eye. “I’m pregnant, Alex.” “You’re...” My voice gave up as I stared at her, blinking too fast and in capable of saying another word for several long seconds. We’d been talking about it for a while. Trying. But I’d honestly thought that maybe Cam had been a miracle baby. “Are you serious?” She smiled. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this.” A disbelieving, joyful, almost overwhelmed laugh es caped me as I reached for her again, pulling her closer until she was tucked against my side. Cam stirred but didn’t wake. I pressed my lips to her temple and closed my eyes, my heart suddenly galloping. “God, I love you,” I murmured. “When did you find out?” “Last night.” She turned her head into me. Her eyes closed as she rested her nose along the length of mine. “I thought about telling you before I took the test, but I wanted to be sure.” I slid the arm not holding Cameron around her hips, lifting my chin to bring my lips to hers. Our mouths met in a slow, grateful, maybe slightly incredulous kiss while the sun dipped lower, giving the air a magical, golden quality that perfectly matched what I was feeling right now. Once Cameron woke up from was bound to be a brief nap, he was absolutely going to insist on going for that swim I owed him, but right now, Jane and I had this moment all to ourselves. Just a few quiet minutes to absorb the fact that our little family was about to expand, our lives about to change again. In the best possible way. Relief spiraled through me, tangling with the joy, gratitude, and de ep sense of peace settling into my heart. I’d seriously never thought life could be this good, and now, somehow, it was about to get even better.
Epilogue Trent It was one of those February afternoons in Texas that reminded me why I would never live anywhere else. The blue sky was so clean, it looked like it’d been freshly scrubbed, the sun a massive, glowing ball hanging on the horizon. Gravel crunched under my tires as I pulled up to the house, even the dust trailing behind me lingering a little in the calm air before it settled. Charlotte was waiting on the porch, her dark hair tied up into a messy bun right on top of her head and the baby steady on her hip. Honestly, when she held him like that, he looked like an extension of her, both of them so comfortable that it was like she’d had him her whole life. Tyler had his little face turned toward her chest, half asle ep and completely content. That sight right there had become one of my favorite things in the world, coming home and seeing them. Exc ept today, I wasn’t the only one appreciating the view. My mother was on the porch too and I exhaled a heavy breath through my nose. A small but very reasonable part of me considered staying exactly where I was. It was quiet in the truck. Peaceful. As much as I wanted to wrap my arms around my wife and son, I wasn’t much in the mood for Mom right now. She and Charlotte had been two peas in a pod since literally the first time they’d met, though. If she’d come over from the main house, it was because Charlotte wanted her here, and whatever my wife wanted, I would give. Always. Both of them smiled as I shut off the engine. My window for avoiding Mom’s rapid-fire chit-chat had officially closed. I climbed out, already being waved at like I was late to my own life by the time my boots hit the gravel. “There you are,” Mom called. “It’s about time you got here. Charlotte’s arm has been going numb for the last twenty minutes and little Tyler is just as stubborn as his Pawpaw. He’s refusing to come to me.” Charlotte laughed and extended him toward me before I’d even had the chance to kiss her properly. “Here we go. Your turn.” Tyler made a soft, offended noise when I took him, but then he smiled when he saw me, just about making me melt right there in my boots. “Hey, buddy. You holdin’ court out here without me?” He blinked slowly, looking for all the world like he was considering the accusation. My mother st epped closer, grinning at him like he was a prized show calf. “He’s got your jaw.” Charlotte leaned into my side, pushing herself up on her toes to nuzzle my neck. “Sure, he does, but he has my attitude.”
“That’s unfortunate,” I said, lowering my head to the top of hers. “I love it on you, though. Won’t lie.” My mother took a st ep back and smiled at us, apparently still smug about her role in making sure Charlotte stuck around Texas even this long after we’d gotten married. I wasn’t sure it would ever wear off. “Oh, you three. You’re just the cutest darn family ever.” I grinned. “All credit for that goes to my wife and child.” She stared toward the porch st eps, then stopped and looked back at me. “Before I forget, Theo finally set a date. They’re getting married in Arizona. Late spring. It’s about time that boy stopped dragging his feet, but if you want me to watch Tyler for the weekend, I’ll be more than happy to.” My eyebrows shot up. “Theo’s actually doing it? He’s getting married? I honestly thought he might just be faking the engagement to get Alex off his back.” “He wouldn’t have been the first.” Charlotte grinned. “I don’t think that’s it, though. He sounded pretty excited when I spoke to him.” My mom chuckled. “Well, I’ll let you two get on with things. Don’t forget about dinner on Sunday.” “I never forget about dinner on Sunday,” I said. “That’s because I remind you every week,” she r eplied, walking down the st eps. “Have a good one, darlings!” When her little car finally disappeared down the drive, Charlotte exhaled and leaned fully into me. “Her ability to smell news is terrifying. I swear, seven seconds after I got off the phone with Theo, she was here.” “She likes you more than she likes me,” I said. “Maybe she’s developed the ability to sense how you’re feeling all the way from the main house.” She chuckled but shrugged as we walked inside. “That’s probably not impossible. I was pretty excited when I got the call. He sounds so happy.” As I shut the door behind us, feeling Tyler’s head settling de eper into my shoulder, I smiled and k ept my voice down, the way his body was softening telling me that he was probably going to be asle ep any minute now. “I’m glad,” I murmured. “He’s always seemed like the restless one. It’s good he finally found his place in the world.” “Yeah.” Charlotte glanced at Tyler, then spun and preceded me upstairs to the nursery. As I ascended behind her, I looked down at the first floor, the flowers on the kitchen counter and the blanket of the couch. In the living room, baby toys were strewn across the floor and a play mat sat next to the dining table. Charlotte had made this place feel like home practically from the day she’d walked in here, but between her and Tyler, it was hard to even remember how empty it had felt before. When we reached the nursery, I laid him down carefully, then both of us lingered next to his cot a little
longer. Charlotte’s fingers brushed his hair before she turned back to me. “Let’s go,” she whispered. “I have more to tell you.” I swiped my tongue across my lips and nodded, wondering if I should be bracing myself for yet another shock. Moments of peace were rare when one was part of the Westwood clan, and we’d been in a season of peace for a while now. We were probably due another media storm. “Wine?” I asked as soon as the nursery door clicked shut behind us. “I feel like we’re going to need it. Do we?” “If I say no, does that mean I won’t get any?” “Nope.” I reached for her hand, tugging her into me and finally pressing a long, slow kiss to her mouth and moaning softly now that her body was pressed against mine. “I missed you.” She smiled against my lips. “You were away for three hours.” “I know. It was a lifetime.” For a few seconds, I just held her, finally letting her go only when I heard the kitchen timer buzz from below. Although it had been a couple of years, I still couldn’t get enough of this woman. I just wasn’t desperate enough to let the oven set the house on fire with our child sle eping soundly in his room. She pulled roasting dishes overflowing with chicken and vegetables out of the oven. I poured us each a glass of wine, handing hers over once we were seated at the counter. She took a sip, smiling at me as I dished up. “Jane called today,” she said. “She’s sending Alex down here to Texas.” My eyebrows hiked up. “Why?” “To get his mind right.” I snorted. “His mind is always right. It’s the rest of him that’s the problem.” “You’d think so, but apparently, he’s been talking about setting up the Thayer brothers with wives now that all our own brothers are married.” “Fuck.” I laughed, rolling my eyes. “He really is a sucker for punishment, isn’t he? I can definitely put him to work, though. Maybe we’ll be able to satisfy his matchmaking tendencies with the next batch of cows.” Charlotte pointed at me with her glass. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. You encouraging him.” I shrugged. “He’s actually pretty good at it.” “At matchmaking?” “At working people until they figure out what they want,” I corrected gently. “It’s a useful skill to have in your family’s world.” She sighed. “That man does not need encouragement and Jane’s brothers aren’t Westwoods. They have no obligation to let Alex makes moves in their lives like they’re no more than glorified chess pieces.” I shook my head. “I disagree. I’ve talked to Colin a little bit at all the family events and I think he’s ready for a wife and a family.”
Charlotte arched an eyebrow at me, an amused grin ghosting across her lips. “That doesn’t mean he’s one good dinner away from proposing to whoever has crossed Alex’s desk.” I laughed. “Neither of us actually know him well enough to say that with confidence.” She studied me over the rim her glass. “If Alex ke eps going like this, he’s going to end up with his own dating reality TV show.” “I’d watch that.” “Not if it’s hosted, produced, and judged by him,” she said, waggling her eyebrows at me. “They’ve got another baby on the way. That’s what he should be focused on.” I smiled and reached for her hand across the counter. “Give him a break. That’s probably why he wants to set up the Thayers, to ke ep himself busy until the baby arrives. It’s either that or he drives Jane crazy for the duration of the pregnancy.” “That’s going to happen no matter what,” she joked. “You might be right, though. He really can’t sit still.” A small, unmistakable whine carried through the baby monitor on the counter and Charlotte groaned, her head dropping back. “Oh, come on.” Tyler’s fussing escalated into a proper complaint when a wail came from the baby monitor and upstairs at the same time, so enthusiastic now that we heard it in stereo. Charlotte slid off the stool. “I swear, he waits until the exact moment I sit down—” “I’ve got it,” I said, st epping in before she even finished the sentence and dropping a quick kiss on her forehead when I passed her. “Sit. Eat. Drink your wine. Just relax, okay? I’ll be right back.” I headed upstairs, not really minding the disruption. This was just life now, even if I happened to agree that he could sense when she finally relaxed. Tyler was shifting in his crib when I walked in, his little hands curling and uncurling until I scooped him up and cradled him against my chest. “What’s up, little buddy? Why are you complaining, huh? You hungry or did you just want some cuddles?” He quieted almost instantly and I smiled down at him, moving over to the window as I rocked him gently and looked out over our property. “All this is for you, you know. Who knows? Maybe someday soon, your mom and I will give you a sibling.” Tyler made a soft sound against my shirt and I shifted him a little higher, my hand steady on his back. “One, or two, or maybe even five. There are a lot of bedrooms in this house. We might as well use ‘em.” I looked back out the window, only a sliver of sun still visible across the fields. “You’ll always be the first, though. The one that made me a dad.” Tyler yawned, his body stilling as I stood there with him, thinking back to the days when I’d been convinced that I’d be alone forever. I honestly hadn’t thought that love was waiting for me
out there, and I definitely hadn’t expected to find it in the little sister of one of my best friends, but I had. Somehow, thanks to Alex’s meddling that no one else seemed to appreciate as much as me, I’d found her. I owed the guy, and if he really wanted to start setting up the Thayers next, then I would have his back. All the way down to Jane’s very last brother.
Epilogue Jesse Jacque and I had decided it was a great idea to travel to England in the final stages of her pregnancy. We were staying with Will and Eliza, spending time with Little J before our own baby came. We hadn’t found out what we were having yet, wanting it to be a surprise. I wasn’t sure I was on board with that plan anymore, but I was smart enough to ke ep my mouth shut. Jacque was sold on the idea and I valued my balls too much to tell a woman in her third trimester that maybe we’d had enough surprises lately to last us a while. She was currently lounging in the sunroom of Roderick Castle with a cup of tea the size of her head and a pillow wedged behind her back. I watched her through the windows from my perch outside, where I was playing some kind of lawn game with Little J and Will. Or perhaps more accurately, Little J was playing the lawn game while his father berated me for continuing to live my life on the edge even though I apparently shouldn’t. “You’re not twenty-two anymore, Jess. You should’ve learned by now that you’re not indestructible.” “Trust me,” I said. “I do know I’m not indestructible. I get hangovers now. Do you have any idea how much that sucks?” “As it happens, I do.” He spun the bat, or club, or whatever this particular type of wooden sporting stick was called between his fingers. “I’m not talking about hangovers, though. I’m talking about the fact that you’re about to become a father and yet, you’re here.” “Relax,” I said, waving him away. “Jacqueline wanted to see her sister and her folks too. Besides, it’s only a quick trip. We’re leaving back to the States tonight.” “She’s thirty-seven weeks pregnant, Jesse.” He blew out an exasperated breath and looked out at what was, essentially, their backyard. It just wasn’t really the typical sort of backyard. Theirs had rolling green fields, hedges trimmed with surgical precision, woods, and the springtime tourists milling about on the public side of the gardens. “You should’ve just flown her family to Chicago if she wanted to see them.” “Sure, but she’s from here,” I countered. “Who am I to argue if she wanted her feet back on home soil one last time before she becomes a mom?” “Let me think about that,” he said slowly, then snapped his fingers and turned to squint at me. “Oh, I know. You’re her husband and the father of her unborn child. You’re also supposed to be the voice of reason right now.” “She has a voice and she gave me plenty of reasons,” I said, shrugging. “You didn’t expect me to deny a pregnant woman, did you?”
He sighed. “All I’m saying is that you had the means to bring her family to her. I’m worried, is all.” “Don’t be,” I said firmly, then changed the topic before he decided to drive us to the airport with five hours to spare. “Did you hear that Theo and Raquel have set a date?” “Yeah, it looks like we’re all heading to Arizona soon.” There was a faint edge of disbelief in his voice. “Do you even know where Quartz Pass is?” “Sure,” I said, flashing him a wide grin. “It’s in Arizona.” He chuckled. “Alright, then. I suppose we’ll all find it together in a couple months. I still can’t believe he moved there and he’s marrying a mechanic.” “Yeah, that whole situation definitely makes the rest of us look sane, and you pretended to be me for months.” I glanced at Little J, who was swiping his club—or bat—through a flowering plant near the path. “Our marriages might’ve been unorthodox, but it sounds like we had a walk in the park compared to him.” Will snorted. “Speak for yourself. I spent those months pretending to be you, thinking I was going to have to watch my twin with the love of my life for the rest of my days.” “I thought Jacque was our cousin,” I said, dead pan. “I win. The only person who’s got me beat is Theo. He got lost in the desert and willingly decided to stay there.” “He didn’t get lost. He broke down.” Will finally caught a glimpse of what Little J was up to and raced over to grab the club. “No. Bennet, no. Miriam is going to ke ep all her chocolate chip cookies for herself if you ke ep destroying her flowers.” Immediately, the boy stiffened and started backing away from the plant, spinning as if turning his back on the damage meant it had never happened in the first place. I let out a soft laugh and shook my head at my brother when our eyes met. “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s because we gave him your name.” “He doesn’t only have my name,” I protested. “His middle name is Bennet.” “Yeah, but the Jesse we threw in there as a first name was asking for trouble,” he said. “I should’ve thought it through.” “Nah, he’s perfect.” I felt the corners of my lips twitch as I watched him, back to playing the game as if nothing had ever happened. “He’s already learning to ignore problems until they go away.” Will laughed. “That’s the thing, though, isn’t it? They don’t go away if you ignore them. The flowers are still lying on the path and Miriam is still going to refuse him a cookie tonight because of it.” “I’ll sneak him one.” “And that’s the other problem. You’re way too committed to teaching him how to avoid responsibility.”
I scoffed. “He’s too young for responsibility.” “He’s Viscount Roderick.” Will sighed. “On second thought, you might be right about this. Maybe responsibility can wait until he’s a little older.” “For sure,” I agreed, sliding my hands into my pockets as I turned toward the picturesque lake in the distance. “This place will teach him all about it soon enough, and if it doesn’t, his uncle Alex sure will.” “Nah, his uncle Alex’s reign of terror is over. We can relax now.” “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” I muttered. “I’m convinced we can’t get too comfortable.” “Why?” He arched an eyebrow at me. “Are you planning something?” “Me?” I put a hand over my chest, pretending to be offended. “Never. I’m retired from causing chaos.” Jacque waddled onto the porch with Eliza beside her, one arm tucked around Eliza’s and the other braced under her belly. She was moving at that careful, deliberate pace pregnant women developed, as if they could ke ep gravity in check if they just didn’t move too fast. Will saw them, his spine straightening like he was witnessing the fulfillment of a prophecy he did not want fulfilled. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me as I glanced at my brother. “Before you say anything else, we’re leaving soon.” Will’s eyes narrowed. “Tonight might not be soon enough, Jess.” “It will be,” I said. “She’s not having this baby in England.” Jacque paused, blinking at both of us. “I’m not in labor, gentlemen.” “Well, I mean, not yet, but I feel like we’re pushing our luck on British soil.” I checked my watch. “Speaking of which, I’m going to go make sure all our stuff is in the car.” She rolled her eyes at me, but an affectionate smile spread on her lips. She caught my hand as soon as I reached them. “Hey, I’m fine. There’s no need to be dramatic.” “Eliza almost had the baby here,” Will said, his gaze swe eping across my wife’s midsection like he was assessing whether said baby was getting impatient in there. “Nobody kick me for saying this, but she was moving very much the way you are right now before we had to race her to the hospital.” Eliza laughed softly and waved him off. “I would’ve been fine. That being said, I’ll go help Jesse check that they’ve got all their things and Miriam has lunch ready for us before they leave, so we’re to r eport to the dining room anyway.” As I nodded and walked into the castle, my sister-in-law quickly caught up, the expression on her face suddenly a lot more serious. “Watch her closely on the flight, Jess. She says she’s fine, but I’m not
convinced. There’s been some pain in her abdomen that she says is indigestion. I think it might be the very early-stage contractions.” A few hours later, I learned that one should never question the intuition of a woman who’d been pregnant before. Somewhere over the Atlantic, Jacque grabbed my hand and squeezed it so hard I considered updating my will. “I think something might be happening,” she said calmly, her free hand sliding to her belly. “I think this might be it, Jess.” She breathed out slowly and I blinked a few times, desperately trying not to freak out when she was the one about to have a baby. “Does that mean you’re in labor?” “Yeah, I’m pretty sure, but it could just be Braxton Hicks.” “You had that before,” I said, my heart suddenly starting to thump against my ribs. “Does this feel the same?” “Nope.” I closed my eyes and promised myself that being who we were, we could take this in stride. Then I realized she could also be having a baby mid-air. Fuck. Will was right. It’s okay, though. We’ll never tell him I even had that thought. “Okay,” I said as I reopened my eyes. “I’ll call ahead to the hospital and make sure they know we’re coming.” Jacque remained supernaturally composed, just sending me a calm smile as she nodded. “I think that’s probably a good idea.” By the time we landed, I’d aged approximately six years and both Jacque and I were fairly confident it had not, in fact, been Braxton Hicks. We made it to the hospital in a blur of flashing lights, rushed corridors, and a nurse yelling at me to stop sprinting because “you’re not the patient, sir.” I respected the sentiment, but fuck. We’d barely made it here in time. I couldn’t stop moving now. Only one ice-chip run later, our daughter arrived, a small, furious, perfect human being who immediately made her presence known by letting out a remarkably impressive wail. The staff didn’t seem either alarmed or impressed by it, but I was so proud of the sound, my chest swelled at least six sizes. Jacque was exhausted, her hair damp against her forehead, but she was smiling as they finally handed her our baby. I just stared, pretty sure if I looked away, the whole scene might disappear, taking my gorgeous wife and our beautiful little girl with it. “You’re quiet,” Jacque murmured a little while later. “Yeah.” I blinked a few times, leaning over to press my hand against the baby’s side. She was all bundled up in a little blanket, but I could feel her in there, real and warm. “I was just thinking.”
“That’s probably dangerous,” she said lightly. “Is it a new skill you picked up in England?” I wrinkled my nose at her. “Don’t ruin it.” She laughed softly, drifting off to sle ep not long after I settled the baby in a little bassinet next to her bed. I still just sat there, torn between who to stare at in any given moment, so floored by the miracle I’d just witnessed that I didn’t have words for it. Naturally, that was when my brothers decided it was time for me to formulate words. Lots of them. My phone buzzed with an incoming video call and I took it, shifting the phone so he’d be able to see the small bundle in the bassinet next to me. “Tell me that is whoat I think it is,” he said quietly. “Did you at least make it to the hospital in time?” “Only just,” I said. “She and Jacque are both doing well, though. All’s well that ends well, right?” “Wait, she?” Alex smiled. “Another little Westwood girl. That’s awesome news.” Nate leaned into frame beside him. “Is she talking yet?” “No, but she’s got a decent set of lungs on her,” I said. “Tell Theo to add one more to the guest list for his wedding.” Alex’s smile widened. “We can always make room for another princess. Congratulations, Jess. We can’t wait to meet her.”
Epilogue Theo Spring had sprung in the desert, bringing with it hillsides that had turned yellow and orange with brittlebush and poppies. The cacti had bloomed with little white flowers. Even this barren lands cape came alive after the winter. It was the perfect time for a wedding, which was why today was the big day. I stood across from the dance floor, watching my family mingle with the locals while late afternoon sunshine caught on the strings of the lanterns swaying gently between mesquite trees. Long tables dressed in ivory linen had been set up between the trees. A live band was tucked underneath a wooden pergola beside the dance floor. This was about as high class as it got in Quartz Pass, but I’d have been happy with a backyard barbeque as long as it meant I could marry Raquel. In the two months since I’d moved to Quartz Pass, I hadn’t regretted it for even a minute. Living with Raquel had been a dream. Going to sle ep together every night and making breakfast together every morning was so much more satisfying than I could ever have imagined. I was loving the easy, simple domesticity of it more and more every day. We’d been working together on the house every night to turn it into everything we wanted it to be and we were finally almost done. She’d made it crystal clear from the day we’d landed back in Arizona that it was my home too, and after a few arguments about what that meant financially, we’d settled into the kind of life I’d always prayed I would have. As I looked at her now, laughing with Kate and Jane beside our table, my heart skipped about a million beats. Maybe that’s an exaggeration considering I’m still alive, but fuck. She looks so goddamn stunning. Miley had sw ept Raquel’s hair up into a messy, wavy-looking braid. They’d k ept her makeup light but accentuated her lips with a dark red lipstick and her eyes in golds and browns. Her wedding dress was fitted at the top but short, the lace hitting just above her knees. She wore brown leather boots with it, and honestly, she looked like a model in a country wedding spread. She turned and caught me staring at her. A soft smile spread her lips that made my heart go bat shit crazy all over again. After leaning toward Kate and Jane for a second, she started toward me, those gray eyes locked on mine. The way she looked as she made a beeline for me practically made me drool. My wife. God, how did I get so lucky? I met her halfway across the dance floor and took her hand, seamlessly tugging her into me just as one slow song morphed into another. She folded her fingers around mine and hooked an arm around my neck without skipping a beat. Smiling, she rested her head against my shoulder.
“Mrs. Westwood,” I murmured against her temple. She let out a soft laugh. “That has a nice ring to it.” “It really does.” As I led her around the dance floor, I caught sight of Zach and Adeline near the bar, talking to Sterling and Laney while Jameson, Callum, and Will were chasing after kids, looking like they’d been sucked into a suited game of tag. Jesse, Jacque, Harrison, and Nate were watching them with various expressions of amusement on their faces. Trent and Charlotte had joined Kate and Jane at the table where Colin and the other Thayer brothers had made themselves at home. Alex had a smug smile on his lips where he sat with Dad at the head of the table, the two talking quietly while sipping on regular old bottles of beer. I couldn’t believe things had turned out this well, but they really had. My entire family had flown in for the wedding and they’d been here for a week, helping Raquel with the final details for the wedding while Alex, Nate, Sterling, Jameson, and I had been hard at work at the Arizona branch of W&S. So much had happened just this week that it made my head spin, but it was safe to say that opening a branch here hadn’t been a mistake. Raquel tilted her head up to look into my eyes, her gaze snapping me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay?” My fingers flexed against her back as we k ept swaying to the music. “I’m better than okay. How’s Clyde holding up? I saw Avery with him, Randy, and Harvey a little while ago. They were all smiling, so I took it as a good sign.” “Yeah.” She smiled, toying absently with the hair at my nape. “Dad’s actually having a really good day today.” My eyebrows hiked up. “Seriously? That’s awesome.” Her eyes shimmered with tears as she nodded. “He was lucid all morning and Avery says he’s been the same since.” “Wow.” “Yeah, he even told me he was proud of me right before he walked me down the aisle.” She inhaled a de ep breath, clearly trying to hold back tears. “He said I was the spitting image of my mom on their wedding day.” My heart ached for her. I held her even tighter, resting my head against hers and inhaling a de ep breath. “I’m so glad you got to have such a special moment with him today, baby.” “Yeah, I’ll cherish it forever,” she murmured. “Definitely.” She settled against me as one song turned into the next. We danced to it as well, neither of us apparently interested in letting go just yet. As I moved to lay my cheek against her hair, I caught sight of Avery standing at the edge of the dance floor, a beer in one hand and the other in his pocket as he watched us. We locked eyes and I gave him a small nod, silently letting him know that everything was good. He gave me a small smile and returned my nod, then backed away toward the bar. Once he was gone, I decided it was now or never. I’d been dying for a proper kiss from my bride all
damn day and this felt like my best shot. “Come with me,” I murmured, slowly dancing us toward the edge of the dance floor. “I’m stealing you away.” “Not if I steal you first,” she joked, taking my hand and es caping with me as we rounded the edge of the barn. We’d chosen our venue for its simplicity, just a barn that doubled as the main hall for those who wanted their rec eption inside, some bathrooms, an interior and exterior bar, and the pergola for the musicians. Unfortunately, that meant no storage rooms or such to disappear into, but the back side of the barn was deserted. Perfect. The second we’d made our way around it, I had her against the wall. She let out a surprised laugh, but it morphed into a moan when I kissed her. She grabbed at my jacket, pulling me closer like she’d been waiting for this moment too. Kissing me back, she melted into me and I ran my hands along her sides, digging my fingers into the lace of the dress and groaning into her mouth. She giggled against my lips when I hooked my fingers around the skirt, shoving it up a little. “Stop pawing at my dress,” she murmured. “We have to go back soon. I can’t do that if you tear it off me.” I finally paused, breathing hard as I brought my forehead to rest against hers. “It’s not my fault you picked a dress that does things to me.” She let out a breathy laugh. “You can take it off later. I promise, but it does need to last for the rest of the rec eption.” “That doesn’t help,” I grumbled, chucking as I shook my head. “At all.” I kissed her again, but it was softer and slower this time. It still felt like fire under my skin, though. Eventually, I forced myself to pull away and Raquel smoothed her dress, smirking as she shot me a warning look. “We’re going back out there. You’ll have to behave for at least a couple more hours.” “Bad behavior still qualifies as behavior.” She laughed. “Sure, but if you’re not on your best behavior, I’m taking the dress off myself when we get home.” I sucked in an elaborate gasp. “Treachery. You already promised I could.” “And you still can. As long as you don’t try to take it off while both of our families and all our friends are still out there, waiting for us.” “You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Westwood, but I guess I see your point.” I offered her my arm. “Shall we get back to our party?”
“Let’s.” She took it, following me as we returned to the party. Raquel led me straight to the bar and immediately got pulled into a hug by Miley. I left them to their squealing and laughter, resting my elbow on the counter as I looked out at our guests. Somehow, I’d gotten the best of both worlds. All the people I loved were here, having a blast in my new hometown. A small town in the middle of nowhere that had stolen my heart and given me an unexpected place to belong. Old friends laughed with new friends and I was at peace with my family while getting to be with the woman of my dreams. If my mother were here, she’d be proud. The night wore on in a haze of laughter, dancing, and talking until my throat went dry, but by the time Raquel and I got on my motorcycle, I was ready for it to be over. The guys had tied cans to Martha with ribbon and string, and they clattered as I pulled away with Raquel’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist. Just like I’d always dreamed. Cheers erupted behind us, the cans clinking as they dragged against the pavement. My engine roared as I accelerated, eager to finally get home. Raquel’s laughter broke free, light and unrestrained as she clung to me, filling my heart with a level of joy I’d never experienced before. My grip tightened on the handlebars, the dark desert road stretching out ahead of us, long and full of endless possibilities. *** Want more of Theo and Raquel story? Download this Extended Epilogue today!! Get your copy HERE!! *** Want more of Ali Parker? Check out Book 1 in The Inheritance Series! Go read book 8 in the Inheritance series, One Year Husband! I don’t believe in fairytales. I believe in contracts. Clean exits. Ironclad terms. So when my father lays down the ultimatum—get married, have a child, and prove I’m worthy of the Westwood empire—I do what I do best. I go get what I want. She’s gorgeous. Curvy. Smart-mouthed. And absolutely furious that I now own 51% of her struggling business. Lucky for her, there’s room to negotiate. She wants to save her company—and have a baby. I want my inheritance—and zero romantic entanglements. One year. One baby. No feelings. Just signatures.
Simple enough... until she starts showing up in my head, in my bed, and in my carefully controlled life like she belongs there. Now I’m pretending to be a devoted husband in public, sle eping a little too close in private, and breaking every rule I set in the fine print. I built my legacy on logic. Falling for my fake wife? That’s a complication I didn’t plan for. Get your book HERE!