He pulls his shirt over his head. “Yes, we do.”
Lucky for us, the roads are clear by the time we leave the strange little Inn with the vibrating bed—which we never used, thank God. The trip flew by; I didn’t want it to end. Bond drops me off in front of the hospital. I grab my bag, a nervous feeling settling in my stomach as I turn to say goodbye.
“Sure you don’t want to come in?”
Bond shakes his head. “I’ll meet your sister and that baby, but not now. You guys need to be together.” His eyes sparkle at me, making me feel like the most beautiful woman alive. “But I will text you about dinner tomorrow night.”
“Sounds good,” I say and hesitantly close the door.
The rental car pulls away as I head toward the hospital entrance, and as soon as the automatic doors whoosh open, I get a text from Mick telling me the baby’s coming. I smile down at the screen, amazed at the last twenty-four hours and how Bond’s sixth sense helped make everything work out perfectly.
EPILOGUE
LACEY
Five YearsLater
Planning for a children’sbirthday party shouldn’t be this stressful, but I guess if you take into account that there are two children with the same birthday, it makes sense. I brush Mira’s baby fine hair to the side and secure it with a bow. She has her father’s bright green eyes and a smile that melts my heart.
“Who’s turning two today?” I ask her, and she points her tiny little finger at herself.
“That’s right.”
“And Brenton,” she says. This kid loves her cousin like an older brother, and he loves her right back. The fact that they were born on the same day, three years apart, only makes them closer.
“Knock, knock.” My gorgeous husband peers his head into the bathroom. “Where’s my little princess?”
“Right here,” I tease and stretch my neck out for a kiss.
“Myotherprincess.” Bond presses his lips against mine, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. It’s unbelievable how he still turns me on. One kiss, and I’m raring to go. But…party.
“Don’t you look pretty?” Bond whistles and nuzzles Mira’s cheek, causing her to erupt in a fit of giggles. “We have to be at the park in about fifteen minutes,” he says, squinting at his watch.
“Where are your glasses?”
Bond scoffs. “I don’t like wearing them.”
“Babe, you look so sexy in them.” I lift my two-year-old off of the bathroom sink and set her down. She runs out of sight and I know I only have a few seconds before I have to check in to make sure she isn’t turning the house upside down.
“I’ll get them.” Bond rolls his eyes, but it’s playful. A sense of gratitude washes over me. Sometimes it just hits me in the strangest moments.
It turns out that Bond was right; freedom comes from stability. Thunder Mountain is a different place for me with him in my life. Ever since that first night we went to dinner, we’ve been inseparable. My sister was worried about me, which is hilarious considering how much shit I gave her for dating Mick at first. But once she met Bond, at the hospital, after our first date, she knew that we were meant to be.
We load the car and head to the park. The minute Mira sees Brenton she screeches at the window, her little hand waving maniacally. My sister Charlie smiles at us, Mick’s arm wrapped around her waist. My sister and I have always been close, but it seems like the last few years have only brought us closer together.
“Are you ready for this?” Bond asks as Mira desperately tries to free herself from her car seat.
“Twenty screaming children? Never.” I unbuckle my seatbelt. “At least there’ll be wine.” I reach for the car door, but before I can exit, Bond pulls me close to him.
“See that little girl back there?” His lips brush mine when he speaks.
“Yeah.”
“We made her.” He scrunches his nose, but only to hide the fact that she’s his proudest achievement. Bond is the world’s best husband, but he’s an even better father.
I glance at my daughter in the backseat, and she simultaneously sticks her finger up her nose. “That’s your kid.”
Bond does a double-take and laughs. I take his chin and pull his face around to meet mine, and press my lips against his. He parts his lips, and our kiss deepens, reminding me of the first night we spent together and every other night since.
“Mommy, help.” Mira whines from her car seat.
Reluctantly, I pull away. “To be continued?”
Bond licks his lips, narrowing his eyes at me. “You just try and get away from me tonight.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
We both hop out of the car. Bond grabs Mira, and we all head toward the party. I smile, greeting my family, hugging my sister, my niece, and nephew. Looking around at this simple Saturday afternoon at Thunder Mountain Park Pavilion, the point drives home.Thisis excitement. Family, friends, and the knowledge that the love of my life will please me to the point of exhaustion as soon as we put our sweet little one to bed.