Epilogue

Jackson

SIXTEEN MONTHS LATER…

“Muskoka,” Mallory calls.

I stay back, leaning against a tree, watching her as white and brown fluff comes charging toward her out of the forest. His mouth is open, tongue out and wagging. Behind the Alaskan shepherd is a six-month-old husky, Daisy, named after Mallory’s favorite flower.

With that puppy’s appearance, Mallory gives a visibly relieved sigh.

“Stop worrying about her,” I call.

Mallory glances over her shoulder then and smiles. “She’s a baby still, and she refuses to listen.”

I whistle and Daisy beelines straight toward me. She happily sits at my feet, tail wagging. With a grin, I arch my brow.

Mallory sighs, rolling her eyes. “Or I should say she doesn’t listen to me.”

I chuckle. “Muskoka will keep an eye on her.” I watch the beauty approaching me and add, “Besides, she can’t get in too much trouble here.”

“I guess you’re right.” Mallory stops in front of me and shrugs. “But she’s already cost us fifteen hundred dollars because of her love of eating socks. I don’t want her falling off a rock or something.”

It’s true the dog has been expensive so far, but there is no price that I wouldn’t pay for that look I’d seen on Mallory’s face when I brought the dog home on our first anniversary. “I have a feeling she’s going to cost more than that in the years to come.”

“Probably.” Mallory laughs softly and glances down at Daisy, who’s staring at me, awaiting my next command. “You are such a traitor,” she jokes. “Have you forgotten you’re supposed to be my puppy?”

I laugh, taking Mallory’s hand, pulling her closer.

She leans against me and adds, “You know, I’m beginning to feel like they both love you more.”

“Nothing can possibly love anything more than the way that I love you.” I wrap my arms around her, capturing a kiss. I pour all the heat I can into the kiss, stealing away those thoughts.

I keep up the kiss until she’s melting beneath my touch. Only then do I break away, finding her cheeks flushed and eyes dilated. I reach for her hand and kiss the ring I’d placed there a month ago. “Or have you forgotten how much I love you already?” I had proposed right here in Muskoka, on the rock overlooking my mother’s cottage.

“I do know how much you love me,” she whispers. “And I love you right back.” She stands on her tiptoes, sliding her hands around my neck and bringing my mouth back down to hers.

I dip my head again and pull her close, deepening the kiss until she gives me that sexy wiggle she does, showing me how much she wants me to own her. It never grows old for me. I want her just as much. The craving for her, even after sixteen months, still burns wickedly hot.

I press my cock against her, thinking a quickie in the forest sounds fun, when she suddenly gasps and breaks away. “Did you hear that?” she asks, eyebrows drawn.

“Hear what?”

A piercing scream echoes across the lake, followed by “Help,” making me understand exactly what she meant. I grab her hand and spin, running back to the cabin, the dogs on our heels. The fear in that voice is clear-cut. I’m on immediate alert now.

By the time we reach the dock next to the cabin, I slow, seeing exactly what the problem is. At the end of the dock, Liam is on his knees, Aria resting against him, her one hand in his, the other on her very round belly. Her face is bright red, her brows pinched tight, sweat beading on her forehead.

Liam’s eyes are frantic. “She’s gone into labor.”

“Yes, I see that.” As far as I knew Aria wasn’t due for another couple of weeks. That’s why they made the trip out for this long weekend. “Let’s get her in the boat,” I offer, moving forward. “We can take her to the hospice.”

Liam shakes his head. “We can’t.”

I stare at him in slight horror, realizing the situation we face, when he adds, “We don’t have time. She won’t release my hand to help her.” He cringes when Aria screams and squeezes his hand.

“I’m scared. Oh, my God,” Aria sobs, her eyes open during an obvious break in her contractions. “It’s happening. Liam! This is too fast.” She glances at Mallory, her eyes wild. “I thought they were just Braxton Hicks then it went to this.” She screams again, and birds scatter from the trees. “Oh, my God, what do we do?”

“Shh…” Liam murmurs. “You’re fine. We’re fine.”

His voice is calm, though his expression, which she can’t see, is anything but. I glance from Mallory to Aria to Liam. It’s there my gaze stops. For all we’ve been through, and for all the slow steps we’ve taken this last year, we’re back to the spot where there is nothing between us but friendship.

He bleeds emotion when he says, “Help me.”

That’s when I spring into action. I roll up my sleeves and step forward, calling out to Mallory. “Call the hospice, Mallory, tell them to come immedaitely. Get blankets. Hurry.”

She grabs my arm and gasps, “What are you going to do?”

I glance over my shoulder and grin. “I’m going to deliver a baby.”

She gives me that smile that I love so much before she turns and punches forward toward the cabin, where it all started for us. Where my life changed forever.

When I kneel in front of Aria, I know that our adventures, both mine and Mallory’s, and Liam’s and Aria’s, are only just beginning. And that the years to come will be spent, just like this.

Together.