“I had you in mind when I designed it.”
He’d brought a blanket, but she still had grass in her hair. Didn’t take a genius to know what they were doing, but he picked the strands out. Her head jerked around. “No one else can hear that?”
“Hear what?”
Her eyes found his. “You seriously don’t hear it?”
“Don’t know cause you haven’t told me what yet.”
“The turkey.”
He listened, but only heard the dogs. “Don’t hear it, Baby.”
She turned her head. “I don’t hear it now either.”
The turkey was part of her past; if she thought she heard it, maybe on some level she did. Weirder things had been known to happen.
“We send everyone home in an hour,” he told her.
She laughed. “Four.”
“Three,” he countered.
“Deal.”
He stood, reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“My panties,” she said, looking around.
He pulled them from his pocket, helped her back into them, his finger brushing over the lace that covered her. Heat swept her face, chased by love.
He tucked himself back into his pants and reached for his jacket that he threw over a low tree branch. He didn’t bother with the tie, stuffing it into his pocket. He folded the blanket and put it back in the saddlebag. Instead of putting her on Lady, he lifted her onto Cisco, before swinging up behind her. The sun was setting, the landscape stretched out before them. His hand rested on her stomach, her head against his chest. It was the closest to heaven he’d ever get. He pressed a kiss on her temple, held her tighter and turned Cisco for home.
Epilogue
Three years later
Killian stepped outside then stopped at the sight he’d never grow tired of seeing, mother and daughter, kneeling in the garden. Both with those wild curls, and both dressed in clothes that were so bright they could be seen from space.
Cedar’s head tilted back as she laughed, then turned and saw him; the smile that was reserved just for him curved her lips. She pointed, and Sage turned, her blue eyes landing on him, before she jumped up and ran to him. He hunched down and caught her, pulling her close before lifting her to his chest.
“Daddy, we planted carrots and potatoes and radishes.”
“My girls have been busy.”
He walked down the deck toward Cedar. She stood, her stomach swollen with his child. She was due any day.
“I’ve got to call Natalie. Make sure the signs arrived for the sale at the shop.”
He moved into her, caught her around the waist, hauled her close and kissed her.
“Eww,” Sage said and started to squirm.
Killian released her. Lucifer, who had been sunbathing, strolled over and rubbed up against her leg. He loved two people, Killian and Sage. She loved him, too, picking him up and hugging him. Cooper and Max flanked her. She giggled and started to run; they chased her. Killian wrapped his arms around Cedar and looked down at her. “You left the sofa.”
“If I sit for another minute, my ass is going to be the size of my stomach.”
“And that’s a problem why?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “So, did you do it?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I did.”
“And how does it feel?”
He’d stepped down as sheriff. Johnny took over. He was surprised that he got a little emotional about it. “It was the right decision.”
“You’re going to miss it.”
“A little, but then I get to spend every day with you.”
“I love that, not going to lie.”
“Not as much as me.” He kissed her, long and deep, before he led her to the deck.
“I’m not sitting on that damn sofa. I’ll light it on fire.”
His wife was dramatic. “The deck then.”
“Fine. Is the addition done on the tavern?”
After Liam took control of the tavern, he started making changes; business went crazy, so much so, he needed to build onto the back. He owned it outright, was written up for the best burgers in Wyoming. “Almost. Holding off the unveiling until you’re able to go.”
Cedar smiled, but it didn’t last because, despite what was going on with the tavern, something was up with Liam. Couldn’t get him to talk about it, always slipping back into the carefree Liam. He’d lost Natalie, who married Ron and was expecting their first kid.
“Still won’t talk about it,” she said. “I’m going to have to work on that.”
“First, you’re going to sit down.”
“So bossy.”
He got her settled and started for the door when she grabbed his hand. “Thank you for this life,” she whispered, her eyes lifted to him. “Thank you for the dream.”
He didn’t answer, well, not with words.
Cedar
I stood in the hallway and looked at the new photos on the wall: Killian and me on our wedding day, at the opening of Cupcake, with Liam at the tavern, the birth of Sage, a few with Brock, Sage on his shoulders, her godfather. He loved her, was so good with her. I thought Killian would have a problem with it, but he surprised me. I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised because everything Killian did, he did for the love of his family.
There was a new wall I started. Pictures of Killian, the one I took outside the station that day, the one of him on his horse, another of him and Sage. There wasn’t enough wall space, but that didn’t stop me from taking his picture.
My hand rested on my belly as I walked to the nursery. My eyes burned every time I came in here. I’d never forget the look on Brock’s face when he saw it. Killian and Graham had fashioned our childhood, a fort, a tree because of my penchant for climbing them, there was even a turkey. Flowers were painted on the walls…he hadn’t just accepted Brock; he’d brought him into the family. Not that we saw Brock
